Hotel Investors Reveal Thoughts About Investment Opportunities in Central America

HOTEL INVESTORS REVEAL THOUGHTS
ABOUT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA

Costa Mesa, CA, March 10, 2009 – Earlier this year, a survey that had polled 3,000 past and current delegates of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), revealed a split decision on predictions for an economic upswing in 2009. Despite the widespread “dooms day” predictions, a significant portion of the ALIS delegates had a reasonably optimistic outlook for the hotel investment community.

In the same fashion, delegates of the Central America Tourism & Hotel Investment Exchange (CATHIE) were polled regarding the economic climate for investment in Central America. Results show that over a third of poll respondents believe that an economic turn-around will begin in Central America before the year is over. More than half of the poll respondents believe that the majority of investment funds for the hospitality industry in Central America in the next 12 months will come from the United States, Canada and from within Central America.

The majority of poll respondents felt that the region’s governments should set a priority in creating growth for the hospitality industry by stimulating visitor arrivals and tourism product investment.

To see and learn more about the results of the CATHIE survey, please visit the conference website at www.CATHIEconference.com .

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Central America Tourism & Hotel Investment Exchange (CATHIE) is a conference for: hotel owners, investors, lenders, hotel executives, government and tourism officials, financial advisors, investment bankers, hotel architects/designers, real estate brokers, and consultants, focusing on hotel and tourism investment opportunities in the seven Central American countries. An important feature of CATHIE is the active involvement of the national investment promotion agencies in the region, and the showcasing of new and exciting investment opportunities from each of the participating countries. A full conference program runs along side an active networking/exhibit hall. CATHIE is supported by The Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) of The World Bank Group.

Burba Hotel Network (BHN)
With more than two decades of experience and over 70 events completed to date or in production, BHN is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. BHN conferences have become “must attend” events for industry leaders who come together to network, conduct business, and to learn about the latest trends. In addition to CATHIE, BHN events include: the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) taking place in San Diego in 2010; the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) taking place in Bermuda in 2009; the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong; HICAP UPDATE Japan in Tokyo; HICAP UPDATE Southeast Asia in Singapore and the Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI) in Mumbai. The BHN Website at www.burba.com is the gateway for information about the conferences BHN produces, as well as a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world.