SAHIC Proudly Presents 8 Global Hospitality Executives at its Prestigious Leadership Panels

Extraordinarily Impressive Executives to Highlight Brand Initiatives and Interests in South America

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. July 09, 2014

July 9, 2014 - Arturo Garcia Rosa, president of the South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (SAHIC) proudly announces the impressive line-up of CEOs who will be sharing the stage during the Conference's featured CEO panel discussion.

"It is an absolute honor for us to bring together some of the most influential leaders of brands with representation in our region," claims Garcia Rosa. "Their interest in participating in our Conference, as well as their desire for growth in South America is to be respected and revered by the investors, operators and developers who gain so much from SAHIC."

What promises to be a highlight of the Conference will feature this impressive group of global hospitality executives:

• David Berg, Chief Operating Officer, Carlson . Joining Carlson in January 2014, Berg's primary area of focus is leading and managing the global hotel business, with the global hotel team reporting directly to him. He also participates in the overall strategy for Carlson, and works closely with key leaders to develop and implement strategic initiatives for growth.

• Roland de Bonadona, Chief Operating Officer of the Americas, Accor . Accor offers the largest and most complete range of accommodation in South America, where the company operates under the international brands Sofitel, MGallery, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, ibis styles AND Ibis budget. He is the co-founder of the Hotel Operators Forum in Brazil (FOHB), member of ABIH and the Brazilian Academy of Events. Since March 2011, Bonadona is member of the Global Management Committee of the Accor.

• Joel Eisemann, Chief Development Officer of the Americas, IHG . He is responsible for all development and conversion activities (both managed and franchised) for the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands in the Americas. Eisemann is also responsible for the company's Capital Investments & Transactions group for the Americas, which handles asset dispositions, workouts and restructurings and asset management. Further, he heads up the region's Owner & Franchise Services team which leads the IHG organization to attract, support and grow with those owners and franchisees who will help the company to continue to grow its brands' distribution and preference.

• Osvaldo Librizzi, Co-President of the Americas, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide . Librizzi directs the operations of the 77 hotels in the region, including hotels in Mexico, Central America and South America. Highly respected within the industry he is one of the most acknowledged hotel leaders in Latin America. Previously, he served as President of Latin America for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, in charge of supervising the expansion of the company, which he successfully positioned as the region's leading hotel operator.

• Pat McCudden, Senior Vice President Real Estate and Development of Latin America, Global Hyatt Corporation . McCudden leads the brand's efforts to pursue development opportunities throughout Latin America for all brands in the Hyatt's portfolio. Additionally, he assists with opportunities for new Hyatt Vacation Ownership properties and other large-scale, mixed-use resort developments across the entire Americas region.

• Ted Middleton, Senior Vice President Development of the America, Hilton Worldwide . His responsibilities include overseeing the managed and franchised development of Hilton's family of brands in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also assists Hilton Grand Vacations Company with timeshare development Paulo Pena, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Latin America, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Having just joined Wyndham this May to assist the brand with its rigorous efforts in the region, Pena is responsible for leading Wyndham Hotel Group's development efforts in Latin America, an integral region in the company's international plans, as well as providing operational, marketing, revenue management and sales services to the company's franchisees and robust network of multi-unit development partners Craig S. Smith, President of the Caribbean & Latin America, Marriott International. He is responsible for more than 75 hotels in eighteen countries spanning nine lodging brands including The Ritz-Carlton and its brand extensions, JW Marriott Hotels, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, and Marriott Executive Apartments. His focus is to double the company's portfolio in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The 2014 edition of SAHIC -- South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference- will be hosted at the JW Marriott Hotel in Quito, Ecuador, September 15-16, 2014. This annual event brings together more than 450 industry decision makers from 30 countries, and has established itself as the venue to uncover new development and investment opportunities in the region and establish new business relationships.

For more information about SAHIC and to register, visit www.sahic.com.

ABOUT SAHIC

SAHIC, the South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference, is an international annual event with the goal of promoting hotel and tourism businesses and related real estate projects in the region. The Conference is held in different cities in South America each year. Previous editions of SAHIC were held in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Cartagena de Indias, Santiago de Chile, Lima and Bogota. Attended by more than 450 senior executives and industry leaders from over 30 countries, delegates include investors, hotel brand and real estate executives, hotel operators, developers, financial advisors, lawyers, designers, architects, consultants, and regional government authorities. SAHIC is the go-to event for the hotel real estate and investment community seeking to capitalize on a region that continues to grow. www.sahic.com.

ABOUT QUITO, ECUADOR

In recent years, numerous factors have heightened the popularity of Quito as a visitor destination: the opening of the new Quito airport; the designation as a top tourism destination in South America by the World Travel Awards; becoming a finalist among 28 cities in the "Seven World Wonder Cities" competition; and 18% growth of non-resident tourists in 2013. Hotels in Quito report positive occupancy and RevPAR and one of the most competitive rates in the region with renowned outstanding service and hospitality. The market for business travelers, conferences and events has increased consistently in recent years, placing Quito as a major conference destination in South America and the first in Ecuador.

Contacts:

In the US: Leora Halpern Lanz, LHL Communications, Inc, +1-516-680-8529, [email protected]

In South America: Corina Holste, SAHIC, +54-11-5217-4544, [email protected]