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HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, beyond mainstream
The Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum 2024: Athens Hosts the Future of Hospitality and Real Estate Innovation
- Stella Manferdini
- HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, beyond mainstream
The Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R) unites forward-thinking investors, developers, and operators from across the globe to redefine the future of tourism and hospitality. Set in dynamic Athens from November 18-20, 2024, this gathering ignites collaboration and fresh innovation, transforming ambitious ideas into real-world results as the industry faces rising real estate transactions and evolving market challenges.
A pivotal event in the complex and multifaceted tourism and hospitality sector, the Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R) brings together investors, developers, and industry operators each year to explore new market opportunities and growth strategies. With a significant increase in real estate transactions anticipated by the end of 2024, stakeholders face complex challenges, such as managing diversified assets, assessing macroeconomic risk, and identifying new opportunities. The forum addresses these challenges by offering a meeting platform to share knowledge and foster partnerships. R&R’s goal has always been to turn ambitious visions into tangible results, and this year will be no different.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of Athens, a renowned Mediterranean tourism hub, this year’s forum will take place from November 18 to 20, 2024 at the InterContinental Athenaeum Athens. In alignment with R&R’s commitment to meaningful communication within the hospitality sector, Design Courier is proud to be a business partner. Our readers will enjoy an exclusive ticket discount – stay tuned for our upcoming newsletter!
The rich program unfolds through a series of talks, round tables, data insights, industry expert contributions, and networking moments.
Monday, November 18, at the R&R Forum offers participants an immersion in one of Europe’s most innovative urban regeneration initiatives: The Ellinikon. This project, located on the Athenian Riviera, aims to transform the former international airport area of Athens into a sustainable, smart city of the future, creating a new lifestyle model. Spanning a large and diversified area, The Ellinikon includes modern residences, commercial districts, business hubs, luxury hotels, entertainment spaces, as well as educational and healthcare facilities, all set against the spectacular backdrop of the Aegean Sea. This avant-garde destination aims to become a global attraction by combining smart residences, high-end retail spaces, and top-level dining and entertainment options. Described by LAMDA Development’s CEO Odisseas Athanasiou as an opportunity to rediscover Greece, the project offers a new urban regeneration model for 21st-century Greece, with a positive impact on tourism and the local economy.
Following this, participants are invited to a high-speed networking hour, the Power Hour, which, based on an AI matchmaking system, facilitates targeted meetings. This innovative technology enables delegates with similar goals to connect, fostering effective synergies and inspiring conversations. With these experiences, Monday opens a glimpse into the future and paves the way for strategic relationships.
InterContinental Athenaeum Athens, Venue
Tuesday, November 19, begins with a plenary session focused on growth dynamics in the hospitality and leisure sector. It covers the macroeconomic context and the commercial and financial strategies that enable investors to face challenges and seize new opportunities. A segment on economic volatility follows, exploring its impact on the hospitality market as experts discuss critical issues such as inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical instability. A market data overview then highlights key trends and performance metrics in the residential and leisure tourism sector to support more informed strategic decisions.
The day continues with a session on sustainability (ESG), examining how to balance economic, environmental, and social impacts to design long-lasting tourist destinations. This is followed by a roundtable on leisure investment, where experts discuss strategies to identify essential funding opportunities and partnerships for project success. Investors delve into the full investment process, from value creation to exit strategy, addressing risk management and portfolio positioning challenges.
In the branded residences sector, a session on collaborations between brands and designers showcases the most effective branding models, with case studies on operational and sales successes. Experts analyse the economic benefits of branded residences and discuss strategies to increase profits through optimal partnerships, concluding with an interview on a flagship residential project illustrating the journey from design to operational management.
The day continues with International Hospitality Forum: powering hotel growth, where top national and international experts discuss growth strategies in the Greek hotel sector, highlighting the potential of economy, premium, and midscale segments. In the final session, Partnering for Success: aligning stakeholder interests in leisure hospitality, speakers explore operational models and collaborations essential for successful hospitality projects, ending with a keynote on emerging technologies, including AI, and their potential to drive innovation and sustainable growth.
R&R Forum 2023, Epic Sana Lisboa Hotel
Image copyright: @Simon Callaghan
The final day of the R&R Forum, Wednesday, November 20, explores new frontiers in leisure hospitality, with a focus on investment, sustainability, and innovation. The day begins with an overview of the evolution of the open-air segment, covering campsites, caravan parks, and glamping, where experts discuss the importance of strong relationships between investors, financial institutions, and managers to create value and returns in this growing sector.
The issue of overtourism is addressed in a debate on balancing economic, environmental, and social impacts in popular European destinations. Innovative strategies for promoting sustainable tourism are shared, with hotels and accommodations playing a key role. This is followed by a session on leisure property development, emphasizing the importance of location, design, and construction to offer unique guest experiences and ensure long-term success. A panel of developers and industry experts discusses how to create integrated and iconic projects with an eye on environmental sustainability and local community involvement.
The day includes regional roundtables to discuss investment opportunities in the Greek, Italian, and Spanish markets, while a panel on wellness evolution examines the shift from wellness to longevity concepts and how these enhance asset value.
In the final session, strategies are explored to maximize profits in leisure facilities, considering variable costs, seasonality, market volatility, and ESG factors. Experts discuss asset optimization, strategic partnerships, and the use of technology and artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency. The forum concludes with an inspirational keynote encouraging participants to rethink the future of travel and hospitality, aiming for an ambitious and creative vision to drive sustainable growth in the sector.
R&R Forum 2023, Epic Sana Lisboa Hotel
Image copyright: @Simon Callaghan
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