As the SVP of acquisitions, Europe, for Host Hotels & Resorts, Carmen Hui's responsibilities are focused on buying and selling assets on behalf of the REIT throughout Europe. Since joining Host in 2004, Hui has been involved with hotel real estate transactions totaling more than US$6 billion. As such, Hui knows the investment pulse of Europe and, specifically, the UK market.
A past recipient of the IHIF Young Leader Award, Hui will again be part of IHIF, March 7-9, at the InterContinental Berlin. Hui will represent the Owner side during a panel session entitled: "White Label vs. Boutique vs. Owner vs. Affiliations." The panel will explore the growth of white-label operators in the context of the advantages and disadvantages to owners? In addition, what then is the value of the brand on an asset?
She will be joined in the session by moderator Ömer Isvan, president of Servotel; representing Boutique (Kimpton), Matthew Luscombe, chief commercial officer, Europe, for InterContinental Hotels Group; representing White Label, Carlton Ervin, CDO, Europe, for Marriott International; and representing Affiliation (BW Premier Collection), Oliver Cohn, CEO of Best Western France.
Ahead of the conference, IHIF and Questex Hospitality hosted a sponsor dinner in London, which was attended by more than 400 of the top executives and deal-makers in the hospitality industry. There, we caught up with Host's Hui, who, in the video below, offered her take on 2016 and just why there could be a slowdown this year in Europe as it relates to large portfolio deals.
Fore more video, check out IHIF's interview with Tim Helliwell, head of hotel finance at Barclays Bank.