AN online debate by 50 of the region’s tourism leaders has determined the agenda for the first Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) to be held in Dubai from April 30 to May 2, 2005.

The conference will discuss the future of regional tourism and the drive to encourage inward investment. 
The advisory panel includes Dubailand’s Salem bin Dasmal, Jumeirah Intl’s Gerald Lawless, IFA’s James Wilson, Nakheel’s Wahid Attala, Qatar National Hotels’ Jurgen Baumhoff and directors from international hotel groups.
AHIC organiser Jonathan Worsley said the launch of the conference reflects the region’s tourism growth. “Arabia is one of the fastest-growing regions for tourism, which is, in fact, driving the economies for many of these countries,” he said. The conference will run at the new Madinat Jumeirah resort on the eve of ATM 2005 and is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels and MEED Conferences.