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The Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) 2016 will take place in Lomé, Togo, on April 5–6. The AHIF conference, scheduled to hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel 2 Fevrier in the capital, will bring together prominent international hotel chains, investors, business leaders, and government officials from across Africa.

Togo attracts a variety of tourist visitors keen to explore its beautiful scenery and enjoy its tropical climate. Latest figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council show that the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was 6.7% in 2014 and is forecast to rise by 5.4% by the end of 2015.

“Our government is keen to see sustainable economic growth, and travel and tourism is a major contributor to that effort,” Togo’s Minister for Commerce, Industry, Private Sector Promotion and Tourism, Bernadette Essossimna Legzim-Balouki, said. “Of course we face a number of challenges, and discussion between government and business, such as at AHIF, will help us find the best way forward.”

Organizers of the event say the AHIF 2016 will reflect the country’s optimism for further economic expansion. Lomé’s new airport terminal will increase passenger capacity from 400,000 to two million, and triple the international airport’s passenger and cargo potential. It will accommodate direct flights from Cairo, Turkey and Dubai. Within the next decade, the expansion of the capital’s sea port will triple its capacity, to 1.2 million containers a year.

“Our decision to host an additional AHIF conference in Lomé comes at a pivotal time for Togo. Business and tourism is growing and we’re confident this will fuel increased demand for hotel capacity,” Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of Bench Events, organiser of the event, said. “We believe the airport and port expansion will trigger other infrastructure projects, presenting significant opportunities for business and tourism. Togo is increasingly becoming an important investment destination.”
 
Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Carlson Rezidor, which manages the Radisson Blu Hotel 2 Fevrier in Lomé, said, “The emerging market of Africa is one of our key focus growth areas. We have high expectations for the AHIF conference this year based on its track record of attracting high-calibre speakers and delegates. I look forward to this prominent educational and a deal-making event.”
 
In addition, Ashok Gupta, CEO of Kalyan Hospitality Development, Radisson Blu’s partner at the Lomé hotel, said, “What attracts us to Togo is the combination of several factors, not least the natural asset of its port with the government’s vision to create a trading hub for West Africa. Kalyan had been willing to develop activities in Africa for some time and Togo appears to be the best choice in terms of business implementation.”  

The Africa Hotel Investment Forum is organised by Bench Events (www.benchevents.com). Apart from organizing Questex Travel + Hospitality and MEED Events, Bench Events is known for several top-level hotel conferences around the world including in Berlin (IHIF), Dubai (AHIC), Istanbul (CATHIC) and Moscow (RHIC).