4 minute read
“We Are Certainly Expecting a Different IHIDC Conference in 2020”
-TANJA MILLER
BY RUDINA HOXHA & JOSE PINTO
Tanja Miller, the Managing Director of INTERNATIONAL HOTEL INVESTMENT & DESIGN CONFERENCE (IHIDC), which is yearly organized in the heart of Vienna, Austria, has completed the training by the Austria Red Cross to become the official COVID-19 representative to prepare a prevention concept according to the Austrian government’s regulations to ensure a safe and healthy conference environment. Given the high interest on the event, “we have made the conscious decision to hold the first international hotel investment conference with physical presence postcorona.” She says that further details on the conference will be revealed at the beginning of September. “ But I can assure you already at this stage that we will be following the ‘leading global protocol for the new normal for meetings & events’, published by the World Travel & Tourism Council,” Miller stated to TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. Albania continues to get a great interest in the IHIDC. “Against a background of previously rising tourist demand, international investors are increasingly turning their
attention to “We do believe venue. Albania, so we do believe that it is vital to draw that it is vital to draw a Having monitored the situation over the last few months, a focus on the focus on the seeing the shift to country and its neighbours this year,” Miller said, country and its neighbours virtual conferences and noticing the desire of people to adding “We this year” meet again, we have would welcome made the conscious guest speakers decision to hold the from Albania any time, so watch out first international hotel investment for the programme to be released by conference with physical presence end of September 2020.” post-corona. Further details on the Hosting the IHIDC Vienna beginning of September, but I can will be different this year assure you already at this stage that due to COVID-19. What is the we will be following the ‘leading difference in organisation in global protocol for the new normal comparison to the previous years? for meetings & events’, published by TM: The organisation of the the World Travel & Tourism Council. INTERNATIONAL HOTEL In addition, I have completed the INVESTMENT & DESIGN training by the Austria Red Cross CONFERENCE has always been a to become the official COVID-19 year-long process starting with the representative to prepare a acquisition of partners, securing prevention concept according to the venues and compiling the program. Austrian government’s regulations to In 2020, even tough the process ensure a safe and healthy conference has been started, everything had environment. to be put on hold including the cancellation of the originally booked conference will be revealed at the
Are you expecting any constraints or difficulties? If yes, what could they be?
TM: We are certainly expecting a different conference in 2020. International speakers especially from the US or UK, are expected via a livestream rather than in person. Nevertheless, we are convinced that we have to learn how to live and operate under the new normal in the safest way possible, hence we would like to showcase in partnership with our chosen venue, how to conduct safe conferences during these challenging times.
Can you reveal more about your partnership with PKF hotelexperts group ? How can this boost the investors to support the IHIDC Vienna?
TM: The INTERNATIONAL HOTEL INVESTMENT & DESIGN CONFERENCE has entered into a partnership with PKF hotelexperts group, headquartered in Vienna, to jointly develop hotel investment conferences on an international level, providing an independent platform for our industry to network as well as share experiences and best practice. PKF hotelexperts group is an
internationally “Our industry of topics to cover. recognised market leader in the field of hospitality, has to continuall y Against a background of previously rising tourist demand, tourism & leisure redefine itself” international consulting. investors are Our joint goal is to develop an increasingly turning their attention independent brand for hotel to Albania, so we do believe that investment conferences, becoming it is vital to draw a focus on the the global market leader in the long country and its neighbours this year. term. We would welcome guest speakers The expertise of the PKF from Albania any time, so watch out hotelexperts group within hotel for the programme to be released investment, combined with excellent by end of September 2020. organisation skills, provides the perfect basis for an informative program and the attraction of industry leading speakers, in turn attracting the right audience and investors to our conferences.
Can we expect a particular focus on investment and tourism development in Albania this year? Will there be any guest speakers from the country?
TM: Our industry has to continually redefine itself, especially in the circumstances we face this year, and there is certainly no shortage
