Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s leading listed property development, investment and management company, has announced that it will support the Gulf and Indian Ocean Hotel Investors’ Summit (GIOHIS) as Founding Patron when it returns to Abu Dhabi for the third consecutive year from 29th to 30th January.

GIOHIS has brought the region’s top hotel owners and investors together in Abu Dhabi for the last two years to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the dynamic hospitality industry.

Run by the global hotel owners’ alliance, HOFTEL, GIOHIS will present a forum to debate key themes such as investing in frontier markets, the merging of hotel and residential offerings and coping with downturns and disruptors.

Commenting on the announcement, Jahed Rahman, Director of Hospitality & Leisure at Aldar, said, "Aldar is very pleased to support GIOHIS again, which has established itself as a revered platform for hotel owners across the Gulf and Indian Ocean to debate current industry issues. Our support reinforces Aldar’s commitment to developing the region’s burgeoning hospitality industry and providing a forum where top industry professionals can discuss how to work most efficiently with hotel operators to attract even more visitors to experience this very special part of the world."

Simon Allison, Chairman & CEO, HOFTEL, said, "GIOHIS continues to be the hotel investor summit where hospitality property owners come together and discuss major trends and opportunities for the sector, as well as speaking their minds about key challenges such as overbuilding, the power of the Online Travel Agents, the scale of the big brands or economic and political volatility. We are delighted to be welcoming CEOs and heads of hospitality from many of the largest owners in the Gulf, East Africa and Indian Ocean region to speak openly and frankly at GIOHIS 2018."

GIOHIS 2018 will take place at the Yas Viceroy in Abu Dhabi, with around 90 speakers, including 35 hospitality industry CEOs, confirmed to participate. The event will offer a global range of perspectives with speakers attending from across the globe, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Finland, the UK, Egypt, Malaysia, Uganda, Thailand, Singapore, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and South Africa