Officials Announce 2009 International Hotel Conference in Venice

VENICE, Italy—Organizers of the International Hotel Conference, one of the most significant annual gatherings of international hotel experts, today announced participants will receive complimentary water taxi service from the airport to the hotel and a €50 per night room rate reduction from €365.

The seventh annual event is scheduled October 21-23, 2009 at the Hilton Molino Stucky, in Venice, Italy.

“We chose ‘Time to Get Back in the Game’ as this year’s conference theme, which certainly seems to be the overall feeling in the industry,” said Morris Lasky, (middle right photo) conference co-chairman and president of Lodging Unlimited Inc.

“Europe is beginning to show signs of bottoming out and should be in the early stages of recovery in October. We expect to see significant acquisition activity taking place during the conference.

“Pre-registrations are ahead of last year and we have gathered over 100 notable speakers to address the various issues facing hoteliers today,” Lasky added. “We are confident that this is the strongest speaker list in our seven-year history.”

Speakers will include:

Dr. Sabina Giese, (top left photo) Director of Development Central & Eastern Europe, Choice Hotels International

Peter Gee, (middle left photo) Partner, King Sturge, LLP

Jean Gabriel Pérès , President & CEO, Mövenpick Hotels & Resort

Simon Vincent, (bottom right photo) President - Europe, Hilton Hotels
Russell Kett, Managing Director, HVS

Blanche van Berckel, (bottom left photo) Managing Director, Fairquest Hotels

· Babette Marzheuser-Wood, Partner, Vice Chair of the European Franchising Network, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

· Paul McCartney, Partner, Davies Arnold Cooper LLP

· Wilma Kellermann-Baans, Vice President Business Development, Steigenberger Hotels AG

“This is a special opportunity to offer attendees a new reduced rate on accommodation at the Molino Stucky,” said Lasky. The new rate of €315 per night is available only if booked before August 31, 2009.

The International Hotel Conference is the premier annual gathering of senior level hospitality executives, including owners, operators, franchisors, lending institutions, bankers, architects/designers, attorneys, brokers and other members of the hotel and related communities.

Information about the International Hotel Conference may be found at the event’s Web site http://www.ihconference.com/, or by contacting the conference organizer, Morris Lasky at mlasky@aol.com.

Media contacts: Jerry Daly or Patrick Daly, 001 703 435 6293