CMS sponsors IHIF for eighth year running in Berlin

The CMS Hotel Group ranks number one in Europe and will once again, for the eighth year in a row, be the proud sponsor of the International Hotel Investment Forum 2009 (IHIF) on 9^th – 11^th March in Berlin.

The IHIF has developed into the leading platform for decision makers in the European hotel sector. In 2008, it was attended by over 1900 visitors from 55 countries. Each year, delegates attend the conference to listen to those who are shaping the European hotel industry, keeping abreast of the latest trends and developments. The theme for 2009 is Searching for deals, and exploring ways in which to tackle the current economic climate and the challenging investment outlook.

A keynote speech will be given by Paul Sheridan, Environment Partner at CMS Cameron McKenna on Green Law And The Impact On Hotel Investment: The things you need to know. He will address the direct and indirect impacts of green changes on the Hotel industry and how the issue of the environment is mainstream, not merely a matter of corporate conscience.

Thomas Page, the newly appointed head of CMS Cameron McKenna’s Hotel & Leisure Group, is the moderator of Management Agreements - the differences in management agreements from an owner and operator's perspective. The panel will be looking at owners' objectives that are not just financial, such as environmental sustainability and Shariah compliance.

Charles Romney, partner of CMS Cameron McKenna and global head of the CMS Hotel & Leisure Group will be stepping down from his leadership role at the conference (he has held this role for eight years) and, Hermann Stapenhorst, partner at CMS Hasche Sigle in Berlin, will be announced as the new global Head of the CMS Hotel & Leisure Group.

The CMS Hotel & Leisure Group is a dedicated cross-border and cross-practice team of lawyers, specialising in the hotel, leisure and tourism sectors – the group counts seven of the European continent's ten largest hotel groups as clients. CMS are ranked number 1 legal advisor by volume of deals (number 2 by value) in the whole Leisure section (including hotels) in Europe for 2008 by Mergermarket, and are ranked number 1 in UK and North Africa by Legal 500.