2007 Hotel Investment Conference Announces Keynote Speakers

Marriott's Arne Sorenson, Noble Investment Group's Mit Shah are Keynote Speakers

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. October 14, 2008

FEBRUARY 15, 2007. Officials of the Hotel Investment Conference today announced that hospitality industry leaders Arne M. Sorenson, executive vice president, chief financial officer, and president of continental Europe for Marriott, and Mit B. Shah, chief executive officer for Noble Investment Group, will be keynote speakers at the 2007 Hotel Investment Conference, to be held March 18-20, 2007 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Ga. The Hotel Investment Conference is one of the industry's four major annual nationwide events designed specifically for hotel owners and investors.

"For more than 10 years, Arne Sorenson has played a key role in the growth of Marriott, one of the premier hotel companies, and Mit Shah is one of the great American hotel success stories," said Bob Hunter, conference founder and president of Hunter Realty. "Both bring a unique perspective to hotel ownership and investment, which is the essence of our annual gathering. This year in particular, we have spent a great deal of time putting together a list of senior hotel industry executives who can address current issues of relevance in a very tangible and meaningful way."

The conference theme, "Your Next Move: Seizing Opportunities," will focus on strategies and creative ideas for hotel owners at this phase of the hotel investment cycle. "We've set record attendance in each of the last three years, and advanced bookings indicate 2007 will likely make it four years," Hunter said. "We're anticipating participants from at least 35 states and a number of foreign countries. We're moving the conference to the Atlanta Marriott Marquis this year to accommodate that, but also to maintain the comfortable atmosphere that has always characterized the conference. The Marriott Marquis is a dynamic space; it will allow attendees to network easily and not get lost in the crowd."

Dr. Rajeev Dhawan, director of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University, will set the conference tone with an economic forecast for 2007. Among the 90 speakers slated to appear are:

o Greg O'Stean, senior vice president of GE Franchise Finance, Arizona

o Stephen Schwartz, chairman and CEO of First Hospitality Group, Illinois

o Neil Shah, president and chief operating officer of Hersha Hospitality Trust, Pennsylvania

o Steve Mendell, executive vice president, HEI Hospitality, Pennsylvania

o Johns Sturgess, corporate vice president, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Inc., Washington, D.C.

o Bharat Patel, CEO, Sun Companies, Indiana.