News today from a new hotels industry meet-up called “CHAT” shows directed knowledge and influence aimed at China’s hotel and tourism industry. This new summit being held at the Sofitel Wanda Beijing this week promises expanded interrelationships in between European and Chinese decision makers.
CHAT Beijing
Organized by Horwath HTL, STR Global and China Tourist Hotel Association, CHAT is a new brand identity with the goal of encouraging people to gather, create dialogue, and to network in exchanging experience, knowledge and potential business. Short for “China Hotels And Tourism”, CHAT runs from March 22-24th.
CHAT Beijing is essentially a reboot/enhancement of the “China Hotel Development and Financing Conference,” which has been held for 11 years. Some 650 plus delegates attended last year, mostly representing the Chinese domestic hotel owners and developers. Among the dozens of key speakers are: Kevin Colket, Starwood Capital Asia Head of Hotels; Horwath HTL Managing Director, Robert Hecker; Shiyong Hu, Beijing Shiji Kunlun Software Co., Ltd., Managing Director; Samuel Lim Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group VP, Development, China; Kenneth MacPherson InterContinental Hotels Group CEO, Greater China; SnapShot GmbH CEO, Stefan Tweraser; Rongxiang Xie Shanghai Smart Travel Investment Co., Ltd. Chairman; and many more.
The topical coverage across the three day event reach across the spectrum of today’s hospitality niche. On Day one experts discussed; developmental and operational topics, as well as brand design and other subjects. Today’s talks ranged from; China’s place in the world market, to The Arrival of the New Hotel Digital Era! discussed by key tech decision makers like former Google Germany Director, SnapShot CEO, Dr. Stefan Tweraser (above). The final day will reveal top China experts at breakfast and networking, plus talking about key tourism topics like family vacation and new hotelier take-aways.
The program concludes with networking events, a classroom segment, and a closing by the organizers.