J.W. 'Bill' Marriott, Jr. to Chair Hotel Investment Conference in Berlin, Germany

Hosts of the 6th Annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) have announced that J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. will serve as the chairman of next year's event. The 2003 IHIF will be held 11-13 March. The Hotel Inter·Continental Berlin, Germany, once again, will serve as the location for this prestigious hotel industry gathering.

Marriott is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Marriott International. "We are honored that Mr. Marriott has agreed to chair the 6th annual IHIF. Under Marriott's leadership, and with his vision, Marriott International has become one of the best known and most highly respected hotel companies in the world", stated IHIF co-host Jim Burba, Vice President of Worldwide Advisory Services, WATG and President, BHN.

Organised and hosted by Insignia Hotel Partners, BHN and Hotel & Motel Management, the IHIF has become the largest annual gathering for the European hotel investment community, with over 900 delegates from more than 40 countries attending the 2002 Forum last March. Delegates included the top decision-makers from many areas of the hotel investment and finance industries. According to IHIF co-host Jonathan Worsley of Insignia Hotel Partners, a capacity crowd is expected for the 2003 IHIF. "We are anticipating a very large crowd in 2003. Each year the event draws a larger group of top-hotel industry executives, and we anticipate that Bill Marriott's participation, as well as that of other key industry leaders who will address the delegates, will help to bring us to capacity." Added Worsley, "the quality of the program topics, the first-rate production and caliber of delegates makes the IHIF a must-attend for hotel industry executives wanting to network with their colleagues in the European region."