The conference, which this year focused on the theme "Investments in the hospitality sector and the evolution of the market towards new models of hospitality business", was held in Warsaw on 21 April.

In total, experts from 12 countries gave their time and resources to attend and to contribute.

The morning session was led by Jörn Brockhuis (BSJP). Frederic Le Fichoux (MIRICS Partner, Cushman & Wakefield) delivered the opening lecture, presenting to the public an inside view of the hotel investment market in Europe and the latest global trends. Adrian Bojczuk (Associate Director, BNP Paribas Real Estate) talked about the hotel market in Poland. Hotel transactions and deal structure was the topic of Christiana Fojtl's (Managing Director and Partner, WX Management Services) presentation, whereas Johannes Bauer (Asset Management CEE, S+B Gruppe AG) discussed hotel investment and hotel management.

The afternoon session featured a discussion panel moderated by Giulia Comparini (Cocuzza & Associati). The debate was organised around the most common contractual tools utilized in different jurisdictions in the hospitality sector, risk management in the hotel industry as well as the impact of Airbnb and alternative vacation homes websites and apps on the hotel business.

The speakers – Jan Stoop and Harm Heyen (Boels Zanders), Chris Marks (Ashfords), Duane Keighran (Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers), Burkhard Herzog (Schellenberg Unternehmeranwaelte) and Alessandro Barzaghi (Cocuzza & Associati) – delivered a very pragmatic overview of each country’s experience and legal regulations.

The conference was followed by an evening cocktail reception to celebrate the 15th anniversary of BSJP law firm and a tour to the new BSJP office in Warsaw.