A facilitated roundtable discussion centering on prominent trends and challenges within the hospitality sector. Participants will engage in dialogue and gain insights into a specific industry topic.

14:00 - 14:45 45 minutes

Main Conference Room

Domestic Demand Generator – how can big brands become more attractive for the local market?

Daniel Trappler

Senior Director Development: Southern & Eastern Africa
Radisson Hotel Group

14:00 - 14:45 45 minutes

Main Conference Room

Management Agreements and Franchise Models as Viable Strategies in Emerging Markets?

Scott Antel

Founder & Owner
Scotts FZ LLE

14:00 - 15:30 1 hour 30 minutes

AHIF Clinic

Gain valuable insights into the complex legal landscape of the hospitality industry from Wisefields, an award-winning specialist law firm.

More Detaisl Here!

14:30 - 16:00 1 hour 30 minutes

Workshop Room 1

Powering Investments into Namibian Hospitality

This interactive session provides delegates an opportunity to gain valuable insights into Namibia's vibrant tourism industry and emerging investment opportunities as Namibia positions itself as a premium destination for leisure and business tourism.

Opening Remarks:

Francois van Schalkwyk, Executive: Investments & New Ventures, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Investment Opportunities in Namibia

Nangula Uuandja, Chief Executive Officer, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Roundtable Discussion

Moderator: Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor

Speakers:

Sebulon Chicalu, Director of Tourism & Gaming, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

Peter-Hain Kayapua, Founding CEO, Uakii Wilderness Safaris

Ram Lokan, Principal - Investments, Kasada Capital Management

Bornventure Mbidzo, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Namibia Tourism Board

Gitta Paetzold, Chief Executive Officer, Hospitality Association of Namibia

Closing Remarks

Philip Chapman, Chief Executive Officer, RMB/FNB Namibia

Moderator

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

In conversation with

Philip Chapman

Chief Executive Officer
RMB/FNB Namibia

Sebulon Chicalu

Director
Tourism & Gaming, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

Peter-Hain Kayapua

Founding CEO
Uakii Wilderness Safaris

Ram Lokan

Principal - Investment
Kasada Capital Management

Bornventure Mbidzo

Acting Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Tourism Board

Gitta Paetzold

CEO
Hospitality Association of Namibia

Francois van Schalkwyk

Executive Director
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

Nangula Nelulu-Uaandja

Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)

14:45 - 15:30 45 minutes

Main Conference Room

What is the best use for AI in training talent in Africa?

Johan Steyn

Chief Executive Officer
Artificial Intelligence for Business

14:45 - 15:30 45 minutes

Main Conference Room

Is Conservation Big Business? Private Sector Impact on Africa's Conservation

Joe Pietersen

Founder
Nkombe Rhino NPC

15:00 - 17:00 2 hours

Workshop Room 2

YPO Networking Reception

15:30 - 16:00 30 minutes

Exhibition Hall

Coffee Break

16:00 - 16:45 45 minutes

Workshop Room 1

Workshop - Elevating Hospitality:
Addressing Global Skills Deficiency in Tourism

Discovering the balance between investment in infrastructure and investment in human capital, while examining the role of AI - a solution or a setback for the industry's retention issues?

Moderator

Tonderayi Prosper Mageza

Consulting Expert
UNESCO-UNEVOC

In conversation with

Gitta Paetzold

CEO
Hospitality Association of Namibia

16:45 - 17:30 45 minutes

Workshop Room 1

Workshop - What are the lessons learned from Mature Markets in Destination Development?

Jillian Blackbeard

Chief Executive Officer
Africa's Eden

17:30 - 18:30 1 hour

Main Conference Room

Sundowner Speed Networking

18:30 - 21:30 3 hours

Welcome Reception at Movenpick Hotel Windhoek

Join us for the welcome reception indulging in African culture at the Movenpick Hotel Windhoek, hosted by Kasada Capital Management.

Wednesday 26 June

08:00 - 09:00 1 hour

Registration

09:00 - 09:10 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Welcome

Matthew Weihs

Group Managing Director
The Bench

Thami Nkadimeng

The Message Architect
Thami Nkadimeng Group

09:10 - 09:20 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Opening Remarks

Nangula Nelulu-Uaandja

Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB)

09:20 - 09:40 20 minutes

Main Conference Room

Africa in the New Global Geopolitical Order:
The Impact on the Hospitality Industry

As the world undergoes significant geopolitical shifts, Africa's role and influence are becoming increasingly pronounced.

Lullu Krugel

Partner, Strategy& and Chief Economist
PwC South Africa & PwC Africa ESG Platform Lead

09:40 - 10:00 20 minutes

Main Conference Room

Setting the Scene for Destination & Hotel Development in Africa

Philip Wooller

Senior Director Middle East & Africa
STR

10:00 - 10:20 20 minutes

Official Welcome

H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Vice President
Republic of Namibia

Hon. Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta

Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism
Republic of Namibia

10:20 - 10:45 25 minutes

Coffee Break

10:45 - 11:15 30 minutes

Main Conference Room

Government Initiatives to support the Hospitality Industry

The role of Government in developing sustainable tourism across the continent in emphasizing the potential for collaborative efforts among various countries to promote similar initiatives.

Moderator

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

In conversation with

Hon. Lola Ade-John

Minister of Tourism, Federal Ministry of Tourism
Nigeria

Hon. Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta

Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism
Republic of Namibia

11:15 - 11:30 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

Fireside Chat:
How to Align Tourism Strategies Across Key African Markets for Sustainable Growth

Moderator

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

In conversation with

Haitham Mattar

Special Advisor, UN Tourism
Managing Director MEA & South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts

11:30 - 11:45 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

Fireside Chat:
How to Align Tourism Strategies Across Key African Markets for Sustainable Growth: From an Investor's Perspective

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

Olivier Granet

Managing Partner & Co-CEO
Kasada Capital Management

11:45 - 11:55 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Setting the Scene:
Assessing Market Dynamics through an Investor's Lens

Wayne Godwin

Co-Chief Executive Officer, JLL Africa
Head, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Africa

11:55 - 12:25 30 minutes

Main Conference Room

Investing with Insight:
Strategies for Implementing Optimal Capital Structures in High-Interest Rate Environments

How to capitalize on emerging opportunities on the continent while devising strategic exit plans simultaneously.

Moderators

Wayne Godwin

Co-Chief Executive Officer, JLL Africa
Head, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Africa

David Damiba

Managing Partner & Co-CEO
Kasada Capital Management

In conversation with

Folaseto Akin Olugbade

Investment Professional
Actis

Marc Wachsberger

Chief Executive Officer
The Capital Hotels & Apartments

12:25 - 12:45 20 minutes

Main Conference Room

What’s whetting Investors’ Appetite for Resorts?

Moderators

Justin Kenny

Senior Consultant
Colliers

Artur Gerber

Chief Executive Officer
TUI BLUE Hotels & Resorts

In conversation with

Chris Du Toit

Head of Commercial
Collins Group Residential

12:45 - 13:00 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

Hospitality with Purpose:
Balancing Profitability with ESG and Culture

Moderator

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

In conversation with

Jameel Verjee

Founder & CEO
CityBlue Hotels (a member of The Diar Group)

13:00 - 14:00 1 hour

Lunch

14:00 - 14:30 30 minutes

Main Conference Room

Capitalizing Growth:
Spotlight on Active Development Financial Institutions

What do active DFIs and commercial banks require to commit and at what cost?

Moderator

Mark Dunford

Chief Executive Officer
Knight Frank

In conversation with

Ewan Cameron

Director, Africa
Westmont Hospitality

Connie-Marlene Theyse

Head: Enterprise Banking, High Touch & Mid Corporate
FNB Commercial

John Steytler

Chief Executive Officer
Development Bank of Namibia

14:00 - 14:45 45 minutes

Workshop Room 1

Workshop - Decoding Investment Opportunities in African Tourism Destinations

Naiara Lopez Giner

Tourism Advisory Lead
Colliers MENA

14:30 - 14:50 20 minutes

Main Conference Room

In the Pipeline

Trevor Ward

Managing Director
W Hospitality Group

14:50 - 15:10 20 minutes

Crafting Success:
A Comprehensive Journey through Hotel Project Development in Africa

Decoding the process of building a hotel from its inception by focusing on the key players and a well-defined project scope.

Moderator

Turab Saleem

Partner - Hospitality,Tourism & Leisure Advisory Services - MENA
Knight Frank

In conversation with

Erwan Garnier

Senior Director Development - Africa
Radisson Hotel Group

Paola Musoni

Head of Real Estate
RSSB

15:10 - 15:25 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

Driving Growth in the Hospitality Market:
Strategies for Scaling Brands

Moderator

Rishabh Thapar

Director
HVS Middle East & Africa

In conversation with

Paul Kendall Stevens

COO - Middle East & Africa
AccorHotels Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC

15:25 - 16:00 35 minutes

Main Conference Room

Assessing the Significance and Economic Viability of International Brands in African Destinations

Moderators

Fiona Craw

Vice President – Hotels & Hospitality Group, Sub-Saharan Africa
JLL Africa

Hamza Farooqui

Chief Executive Officer
Millat Investment

Bani Haddad

Founder & Managing Director
Aleph Hospitality

Amith Khanna

Head of Franchise, IMEA
IHG Hotels & Resorts

In conversation with

Haddis Tilahun

Founder & Chairman
United Africa Group

16:00 - 16:30 30 minutes

Coffee Break

16:30 - 16:45 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

AHIF AWARDS

AHIF 2024 Outstanding Contribution to Africa Award

Alain Sebah, President, Louvre Hotels Africa

AHIF 2024 Leadership Award

Dupe Olusola, Managing Director &CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc.

Moderator

Matthew Weihs

Group Managing Director
The Bench

In conversation with

Dupe Olusola

Managing Director & CEO
Transcorp Hotels Plc.

Alain Sebah

President
Louvre Hotels Africa

16:45 - 17:00 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

The Urbanisation and changing Demographics in Africa and how it will shape the Future of Humanity

Aradhana Khowala

CEO & Founder
Aptamind Partners

17:00 - 17:25 25 minutes

Main Conference Room

Our Greatest Asset:
Nurturing the Power of People

How to foster a positive change in the hospitality industry across the African continent by advancing principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and addressing gender disparities in leadership roles.

Moderators

Tonderayi Prosper Mageza

Consulting Expert
UNESCO-UNEVOC

Dimitris Manikis

President EMEA
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

In conversation with

Mehdi Morad

Vice President Operations Africa, Mauritius, Reunion & Seychelles
Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems

Lee-Anne Singer

Chairperson
FEDHASA Cape

17:25 - 17:35 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Hotelification of the Workplace:
Introducing a new asset class for hospitality investors on the continent

How the emerging trend of 'hotelification' in workplace environments is unveiling a new asset class to captivate hospitality investors across the continent

Michael Aldridge

Founder & CEO
KOFISI

17:35 - 18:00 25 minutes

Main Conference Room

Redefining the Workplace:
The Future of Hospitality-Driven Office Spaces

A panel discussion which goes beyond the traditional real estate investment, introducing alternative asset classes tailored for hospitality investors.

Moderator

Dr. Mmatsatsi Ramawela

Managing Director
Africa Tourism Connect

In conversation with

Michael Aldridge

Founder & CEO
KOFISI

Khalil Ketari

Senior Consultant – Asset Management
Kasada Capital Management

Mark Somen

Former Director
Soho House North America

18:00 - 18:05 5 minutes

Main Conference Room

Recap of the Day

Thami Nkadimeng

The Message Architect
Thami Nkadimeng Group

18:05 - 22:00 3 hours 55 minutes

Evening Reception at Droombos Vineyard Country Lodge

Delve into Namibian culture with an evening reception at Droombos Vineyard Country Lodge, situated on the picturesque foothills of the Auas mountain range.

Thursday 27 June

07:00 - 08:00 1 hour

Charity Run

08:00 - 09:30 1 hour 30 minutes

Refreshments

08:00 - 09:30 1 hour 30 minutes

Workshop Room 1

Spotlight on Namibia:
Unveiling Potential through Projects

Francois van Schalkwyk

Executive Director
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

09:00 - 09:15 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

Welcome Back

Thami Nkadimeng

The Message Architect
Thami Nkadimeng Group

09:15 - 09:40 25 minutes

Main Conference Room

Skybound Synergy:
Public-Private Partnerships for Enhanced Aviation Connectivity

This session focuses on the imperative for collaboration between private stakeholders, public entities, and key airlines.

Andre Compion

Managing Director
FlyNamibia

Bisey Uirab

Chief Executive Officer
Namibia Airports Company

09:40 - 10:10 30 minutes

Main Conference Room

A New Dawn:
Pioneering the Rise of Lifestyle Hospitality Brands in Africa's Urban and Leisure Destinations

Moderators

Paul Mack

Group Executive Director
The Latitude Hotels Group

JS Anand

Founder & CEO
Leva Hotels

In conversation with

Wytze van den Berg

Vice President International Operations EMEA/ Vice President EMEA WorldHotels
BWH Hotels

Markus Lehnert

SVP International Hotel Development & Affiliations
Marriott International, Inc.

10:10 - 10:20 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Sustainability from a Namibian Tourism Perspective

Gys Joubert

Managing Director
Gondwana Collection

10:20 - 11:00 40 minutes

Main Conference Room

Guests' Quest for Unique Experiences:
The African Approach to Authentic Leisure

Understanding the shift in tourist preferences to meet the growing demand for distinctive and authentic experiences by travelers

Moderators

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor
CBS News

Wesam Okasha

Head of Global Development
TUI BLUE Hotels & Resorts

David Vely

Vice President Development, Middle East, Africa & India
Club Med

In conversation with

Chris Nader

Co-Founder
ENVI Lodges

Amos Wekesa

Chief Executive Officer
Great Lake Safaris & Uganda Lodges

11:00 - 11:30 30 minutes

Coffee Break

11:30 - 11:40 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Charity Presentation

Herman Aindongo

Ecologist
Donald Hamer Conservation Leadership Program

11:40 - 12:00 20 minutes

Main Conference Room

Innovating Hospitality:
How AI is shaping Africa's Tourism

Johan Steyn

Chief Executive Officer
Artificial Intelligence for Business

12:00 - 12:15 15 minutes

Main Conference Room

Leading the Way:
Pioneering Green Vision in Hospitality Investment

Laurinda Marsh

Key Account Manager Global Projects - Africa
Hansgrohe

12:15 - 12:50 35 minutes

Main Conference Room

Conscious Hospitality:
Preserving Africa's Natural Heritage

Highlighting the social, environmental, and economic impact of sustainable hospitality by taking a closer look at tangible projects in Africa. How equipped is the continent for more sustainable guest experiences?

Moderator

Thami Nkadimeng

The Message Architect
Thami Nkadimeng Group

In conversation with

Jutta Berns

Head of Sustainability
IPP & Karingani

Gys Joubert

Managing Director
Gondwana Collection

Lopang Rapodile

ESG Manager
Kasada Capital Management

Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya

Chief Executive Officer
African Wildlife Foundation

12:50 - 13:00 10 minutes

Main Conference Room

Closing Remarks

Matthew Weihs

Group Managing Director
The Bench

13:00 - 14:00 1 hour

Lunch

14:00 - 16:00 2 hours

Main Conference Room

Hospitality Leaders Unplugged:
Ask Us Anything

An interactive round of Q/A with top leaders in the industry - moderated by the young leaders of NIPDB Youth Leadership Program.

Moderators

Lara Dupre

Co-Founder & General Manager
Le Palais d'Akwa

Mark Dunford

Chief Executive Officer
Knight Frank

Tonderayi Prosper Mageza

Consulting Expert
UNESCO-UNEVOC

Dimitris Manikis

President EMEA
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

In conversation with

Zarna Soni

Chief of People
CityBlue Hotels (a member of The Diar Group)

Lee-Anne Singer

Chairperson
FEDHASA Cape