BY: Atul Kapoor Staff Writer for World Liberty TV

Hospitality and Financial Industry Executives Discussed the Latest Trends, Economic Influences and Projections at the 46th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference.

This week at the 46th annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference (NYU IHIIC), operated by Questex, a leading information services and event company, in partnership with the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) and its Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, top industry executives, from CEOs of hotel brands to various investment and real estate executives, discussed the latest trends, economic influences and projections.

The NYU IHIIC hosted more than 2,100 delegates, 20% of which were equity investors, representing more than $70B in hotel assets under management.

Sixty percent of investor attendees attended the conference for the first time, demonstrating the increasing appeal of hospitality as an investment class.

The NYU IHIIC has been the touchstone for hotel investment and development in the Americas for over 40 years.

Yearly, the conference program delivers unparalleled thought leadership through keynotes, general sessions, workshops, and networking events.

Over 180 top industry executives delivered unparalleled thought leadership through keynotes, general sessions and workshops.

This year’s event theme “Driving Alpha” showcased opportunities for those with expertise of the hotel/hospitality sector to drive profitability through operational innovation.

The opening keynote address was delivered by Ellen Zentner, Managing Director and Chief US Economist at Morgan Stanley, who set the tone with an overview of the ever-evolving macroeconomic landscape and its impact on the hospitality industry and the capital markets.

Other prominent leaders who presented at NYU IHIIC include: Geoff Ballotti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Brian Kelly, The Points Guy, Gloria Guevara Manzo, Chief Special Advisor, Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia (and former Secretary for Tourism of Mexico and former President and CEO of the WTTC).

Patrick Pacious, President and Chief Executive Officer, Choice Hotels International, Craig S. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Aimbridge Hospitality , Larry Cuculic, President and CEO, Best Western Hotels and Resorts , Chad Sorensen, ISHC, CEO, CHM Warnick , Kendra Plummer, CEO, Elise Capital, Greg Juceam, President and Chief Executive Officer, Extended Stay America,  Tyler Morse, Chairman and CEO, MCR Hotels,  Mit Shah, Chief Executive Officer, Noble Investment Group, John Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sonesta International Hotels , Edward Pitonyak, CEO, Vici Properties and many more.

The “Leader of Finance Interview: Insights on Changing Markets​” session explored the determining considerations that guide leadership, performance, and adaptability in uncertain times at a leading financial institution.

David Solomon​, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.​ shared insights on thriving in ever-changing markets, and discovering cross-sector lessons for success. ​

Blackstone’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Jon Gray, received the inaugural Jonathan Tisch Active Citizenship Award.

The award celebrates the positive impact and achievements of a leader in the hospitality industry. Gray also participated in a Fireside Chat with Tisch, covering the state of the industry and his philanthropy.

“The CEOs Check In: Industry Titans on Driving the Hospitality Market” session brought together the leaders of the world’s major hospitality companies to share their insights on the shifts in the hospitality, travel, and real estate markets.

Anthony Capuano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International; Christopher J. Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hilton; Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts; Mark S. Hoplamazian, President and Chief Executive Officer; Hyatt Hotels Corporation; and Sébastien M. Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Accor will share the macro-trends that will have the most significant impact on the market, the events that will reshape the industry, and the strategies for surpassing goals. The session was hosted by Sara Eisen, Anchor, Closing Bell, CNBC.

“For more than four decades, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference has been the go-to event for industry business leaders,” said Alexi Khajavi, Group President Hospitality, Wellness and Travel, Questex.

“In its first year under Questex management control, we have helped the conference grow while also delivering unparalleled content.

The robust discussions and insights shared by industry leaders highlight the resilience of our sector and also paved the way for innovative strategies and renewed growth.

I am particularly impressed by the forward-thinking approaches that emerged from the sessions. I expect they will set a strong foundation for future success.”

Nicolas Graf, Jonathan M. Tisch Chaired Professor and Associate Dean of the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, said, “This year’s event carried on the tradition of engaging discussions and debates, emblematic of our industry’s dynamism and its innovative thinking and actions.

We look forward to seeing how the thought-provoking ideas and themes discussed here play out in the coming months and learning more about their impact when we gather again for the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in June 2025.”

A share of proceeds from the event will help fund student scholarships at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and further support the program’s mission of educating and preparing future leaders and innovators for careers in global hospitality management, travel, and tourism.

NYU IHIIC 2025 takes place June 1-3, 2025 at the Marriott Marquis in New York.

About the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality: The NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, now celebrating nearly 30 years of academic excellence, is a leading center for the study of hospitality, travel, and tourism.

Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center was established in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education.

Its cutting-edge curricula attract bright, motivated students who seek to become leaders in their fields The Tisch Center recently launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), which will foster entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it serves.

About Questex: Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences.

We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.

Three roundtable and special presentations were in the hospitality sector and tourism we attended, if you or your company is interested further go to each of the countries websites to learn about some of these projects.

Invest Saudi: where the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mahmoud Abdul Hadi, and his team spoke at the conference and shared their vision, for investors to come to Saudi Arabia, to build hotels, and engage in different business ventures, the minister and his team shared their vision of the Crown Prince Bin Salman’s Neom Project, a futuristic, technologically advanced city and economic zone aimed at diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy away from oil dependence.  to learn more about this 1 Trillion-dollar project, click here the NEOM Project. , other projects discussed were to learn more and to be part of these projects, click here for more information.

SMIT Morocco, Ministry of Tourism for Morocco: Younes Hajoui, Asset Management head and Salim Mikram, Independent Advisor of ISTICH Consulting, spoke about great opportunities   in Morocco, Morocco will become the second African country to host a FIFA football world cup after South Africa in 2010. The football’s world governing body announced on Wednesday (Oct. 04) that the north African kingdom together with Portugal and Spain will be joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup. Mr Hajoui, went on to say, they are building the world’s largest soccer stadium in the world, and many people are buying hotels, in the area, and will benefit hugely with millions of people in attendance. He also went on to say, they have great airports in the area, great rail service and other great infrastructure in place to handle the masses of people. To learn more or to invest in SMIT Morocco, click here.

Turismo De Portugal: 2 People Spoke about great opportunities, one of the speakers was Jose Tiago Silva, Partner of Explorer Investments, Mr Silva spoke how his company has close to 1 billion dollars of investment in Portugal in the Hospitality, sectors.

He also went on to say, there is many great opportunities’ in the hospitality sectors and the government is very friendly and offering many incentives for investors to invest in the hospitality sectors. To learn more click here.

It was a well-attended event, one of the elite hospitality conferences of the world, bring who is who? see more conferences like this in our World Liberty TV, Business Channels by clicking here.