General News and Information
Message
“ Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel honoured to welcome you all to the International Tourism and Investment Corporation (ITIC) Global Investment Summit in London from the 8 to the 9 November 2022.
Despite the World Bank warned that the world might be edging dangerously close to a recession in 2023, the future looks bright for the travel and tourism industry. The World Travel & Tourism Council has forecasted that the Asia-Pacific travel industry could fully recover by next year while the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) pointed out the strong signs of recovery with international tourist arrivals almost tripled from January to July 2022 (+172%) compared to the same period in 2021.
I would like to seize this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the high-profile speakers and panellists who, during the ITIC Global Investment Summit, will unveil thoughtprovoking insights about new trends in sustainability, changes in customers’ behaviour that are affecting the ROI of hotels and the critical factors which are attracting investments in tourism, especially the right mix of incentives and conducive policies.
This continent has always been a land of untapped opportunities which only need to be unleashed. The time has come for us to trigger the impetus for a new start of Africa’s tourism industry.
The tourism industry has stood the test of time and showed outstanding resilience. Nowadays, with the growing concerns for environmental, social as well as good governance dimensions, investments in the tourism industry are undergoing a paradigm shift.
In this context, ITIC is acting as a facilitator by connecting tourism project owners/ developers from all over the world with the investors sharing a common vision of social inclusion and sustainability.
Next year, we plan to impart a new momentum to those interactions by promoting the investment opportunities of several tourism destinations through our conferences and summits with the ultimate objective of contributing to the betterment of society at large.
In this context, ITIC is acting as a facilitator by connecting tourism project owners/ developers from all over the world with the investors sharing a common vision of social inclusion and sustainability.
Lastly, I would like to thank Botswana, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Brazil for their recent sponsorship of our summit. We are thrilled to establish and nurture symbiotic working relationships with them. As sponsors, your contribution is vital to continue our important work. We cannot succeed without the generosity of supporters like you.
I wish all of you a very fruitful summit.
Yours sincerely, ”
Key Facts and Figures
- PRIOR TO PANDEMIC 10.3% GLOBAL GDP (USD 9.6 TRILLION) Following a lost of USD 4.9 in 2020, a decline of -50%, in 2021 post-pandemic contribution to global GDP increased by USD 1 TRILLION (+21.7% RISE) with a forecasted average annual growth of +5.8% compared to average Economy GDP average annual growth rate of +2.7%.
- 10.3 % OF ALL GLOBAL JOBS WITH 333 MILLION and 18.2 MILLION were recovered in 2021, representing an increase of 6.7% year-on-year and with a forecasted of 126mn new jobs from 2022 to 2032.
- Following a decrease of 47.4% in 2020 domestic visitor spending increased by 31.4% in 2021.
- Following a decrease of 69.7% in 2020, International visitor spending rose by 3.8% in 2021.
Nadia Keza
Nadia is an experienced leader with extensive knowledge in the service industry especially hospitality industry. Being a Managing Director of International Travel Agency (ITA) from its inception, Keza Nadia is a seasoned travel and tourism professional with more than 20 years’ experience assisting customers fulfill their domestic and international travel needs.
She possesses extensive knowledge of many of the top travel destinations and proficiency in the latest travel operation and coordination. She is gifted at developing custom-built travel itineraries that exceed expectations while still fitting into clients’ budgets. Dedicated to helping clients reach their dreams of traveling the world.
She has served in the number of positions including a country representative for BCD, a world leader in travel solutions and management since 2014 to present, a Vice-President of Board of Directors the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR) from 2010 to 2017, a Chairman of IATA APJC Rwanda since 2019 up to now and a Chaiperson of Rwanda Travel and Tourism Association (RTTA).
Mohammed Murtadha Al Eissa
With over 15 years of experience in managing corporate reputation, planning, and transformation, Mohammed Al Eissa serves as the Chief Corporate Planning and Communications Officer at OMRAN Group – the executive arm for tourism development in the Sultanate of Oman. Mohammed’s rich experience is testament to his knowledge, expertise, and passion for emerging technologies, travel & tourism and sustainable growth.
Al Eissa has held challenging, and foresight driven roles in the public and private sector, where in he was responsible for developing national strategies, implementing performance management tactics, and executing various aspects of brand positioning, and crisis communication protocols. His ability to think out-of-the-box, and an unmatched acumen, has led him to manage special projects in several industries, including the formalization of a national in-country value roadmap for the tourism sector with the Ministry of Heritage & Tourism.
He played a pivotal role in developing a national implementation framework to help execute the state led KPIs for the sector. Moreover, Al Eissa steered the National Strategy for Environmental Sustainability for Oman’s Environment Authority to align with key economic, innovation and energy strategies of the country.
Mohammed holds a master’s in marketing from the University of Leicester, UK. He currently oversees key functions with OMRAN including MarCom, Innovation, R&D, business plans, sustainability, art and culture, and local content development.Mohammed also served as a Board of Director at several of OMRAN Group’s subsidiaries, as well the Middle East Leadership Academy, besides being a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, UK.
He is a strong advocate for innovation, youth development, placemaking and purposeful leadership.
Arvind Singh
Mr. Arvind Singh joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1988 after acquiring Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and the Delhi School of Economics.
Mr. Arvind Singh has joined as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism in January, 2021. His previous assignment was as Chairman, Airports Authority of India. He has also served as Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) in Government of Maharashtra and as Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd. (MSPGCL) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. (MSETCL). He has also served at the Embassy of India, Tokyo as Minister (Economic & Commercial) between 2014-17.
Mr. Singh has attended mid-career training courses at the Graduate Institute, Geneva and Harvard University and is fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi.
Michael Nagy
Comercial Director at Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, Michael Nagy has extensive experience in the field of tourism and hospitality. Graduated in Hospitality & Marketing Management from Westminster College in London, his career in the segment started in 1998, as Director of Sales and Marketing at Othon. Then, he joined the Hotel Pestana Rio de Janeiro, with the same position, where he remained for 12 years.
Nagy still held the position for a year at the Grand Meliá Hotel. At the same time, he reconciled his activities in the hotel business with the direction of Golf Corporate Brasil, where he stayed until 2013. That same year, he took over the executive board of the Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau.
In a challenging scenario, he sought to generate business for different segments, with the objective of strengthening the receptive tourism industry in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Michael Nagy was awarded with awards such as Personality of the Year 2018, Caio Destination Marketing Award and the Tiradentes Medal, an honor granted by the Fluminense Government to people who rendered relevant services to the public cause of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Upon being announced as Sales and Marketing Director at Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana in 2018, Nagy took on the challenge of launching the brand’s first hotel in South America, in addition to working on product positioning and attracting strategic customers, as well as converting Groups, Congresses and Events, as well as attracting new businesses. “I take on the new position with great joy and with commitment to make this project a success. I intend to put into practice all the experience I acquired during my career and generate many results”, said Michael Nagy at the time.
Heitor Kadri
The National Secretary Heitor Kadri has an extensive experience in the field of Law combined with a solid performance in Foreign Relations.
Before his work at the Ministry of Tourism, the Secretary was head of International Affairs Advisory Office at Embratur, Brazilian Tourism Board.
Europe
Insurance & Energy Group
It is one of the largest independent insurance group in SEE by gross written premium. A leading financial & utility services group in CEE & SEE, public listed on two markets. They have presence in 13 countries in Europe with 25 years of history. The company has €1.92 billion in annual revenue, €1.93 billion in assets, 7 million customers and 30 acquisitions. Their subsidiaries are positioned in the region of Central and Southeast Europe. The main markets in which the Group operates are Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Georgia and Greece. In the markets of Italy, Greece (through a branch), Spain, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the insurance group offers insurance services distributed under the – right of freedom of establishment and freedom to provide service.
Summary of the types of core services and activities offered by conglomerate by economic segment:- Insurance General Insurance; Life Insurance; Travel Insurance; Motor claims collection and processing services
- Energetics Access to and transmission of electricity on the electricity distribution network and connection of new consumers to the electricity distribution network; Public supply of electricity; Trade in electricity; Comprehensive information, communication and technology services; Commercial consulting, purchase and sale of equipment and materials. The Energy company supplies 40% of electricity in Bulgaria and is currently expanding into Romania and Greece.
- Automotive Sale of new cars; Car service; Sale of spare parts; Import and sale of lubricants for transport vehicles; Fuel card operator; Showroom management
- Leasing Financial leasing; Operating leases; Rent a car services; Used Car Sales
- Investment intermediation and management on activism Investment intermediation; Investment bankers; Management on activities
The company is looking for an equity partner in order to acquire shares into the company in order to pursue its future development in the energy sector.
For more information, please contact Ibrahim AYOUB
Tanzania
About the Group
Our client, the developer has more than 20 years of experience in developing, building and operating hospitality assets with eight existing 5-star branded hotels, sport complexes, real estate golf resort and hunting sites. Its existing hospitality and tourism related assets are worth approximately USD 300m. The group’s vision is to develop several more luxury branded hotels in strategic destinations within the next 10 years.
About the 5-star Safari Lodges and Tented Camps in Tanzania
The company is developing and constructing the 5-star Safari lodges and tented camps with 147 units under license agreements with Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) located within Tarangire National Park (Kitbong Hill), Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara. It has already secured the management agreement with the world-renowned hotel brand to operate, manage and market the hotel. The company has already obtained its EIA licences for the three sites to start construction. The project is a sustainable tourism investment which offers environmental and social inclusion for the benefit of the Tanzanian people and SMEs businesses in the three regions, as well as opportunities to generate significant returns, notably in the areas of energy, water, waste and biodiversity. The opening of the 5-star Safari lodges and tented camps is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024. The construction company has already been selected through a tendering process.
The total cost of the project is estimated at USD 77.8 million. The company will invest USD 23.3 million in the project. The Company would like to raise the sum of approximately USD 54.5 million as debt financing, re- construction loan. The required funding will fully be used to finance the construction of the three Safari lodges and tented camps located in Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks with a total number of 147 units.
The financial projections have been prepared in a conservative way with the sales /turnover based between 46% to 55% of occupancy.
The calculated rate of return is 3.57 and Project IRR is 14% based on the conservative financial projections we have prepared.
We believe that once the project would be launched in 2024 there is no doubt it would be a success given that the quality will be higher compared to existing competition.
Please note at this stage the company has been able to secure part of the financing from a Bank which is willing to go through syndication in order to raise the full loan amount. The company is open to discuss further with potential lenders and investors.
For more information, please contact Ibrahim AYOUB
Ibrahim Osta
Ibrahim Osta is an international tourism development expert based in Sarajevo with experiences in international trade and investment promotion, youth entrepreneurship and tourism development. He has managed international development projects exceeding $140 million in scope with additional quarter billion dollars in leveraged funds from public, private and international institutions. Currently, he is chief of party of the USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Earlier he was based in Washington, D.C. as Senior Economic Growth Advisor and Middle East & North Africa Region Director for Chemonics International. Between 2005 and 2017, he served as Chief of party of the $100 million USAID tourism development portfolio in Jordan which helped grow the tourism sector several billion dollars. He has led, advised and supported tourism development activities in various countries such as Nepal, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Timor Leste, Egypt, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.
Currently, he is member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Panel of Experts and served earlier on the Governing Body of United Nations Foundation World Heritage Alliance, where he co-designed the People Protecting Places campaign adopted by UNESCO to conserve World Heritage sites. With a background in finance and economics, Mr. Osta is a regular speaker in international tourism forums and co-led the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism Global Forum with the World Bank, UNWTO and Government of Jamaica.
He advises on tourism development and economic impact strategies, destination resilience and experience design. He supported formulation of Egypt’s business reform agenda in 1999, the first of its kind since the Gamal Abdel Nasser socialist revolution and led creation of Injaz a youth entrepreneurship organization modeled after the US-based Junior Achievement International, that has now reached over three million children in over 12 Arab countries. In his early career, he was Executive Director of the US-based American Arab Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Osta holds a degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Michigan, A Masters of Tourism Administration from George Washington University and Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Law from the University of London.