Hodema participated in the Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conference 2011 (CATHIC) as part of its continuous presence in international conferences and exhibitions. Karim el Asmar Founding Partner and Nada Alameddine Regional Director of Sales & Marketing represented Hodema at this fair which took place in Istanbul on February 7th 8th and 9th 2011. Asmar moderated a panel on “Outward Investment Opportunities: Iran & Syria For The Serious Investor”. The panelists among which were consultants and directors of international and regional hotels shared their experiences about the opportunities and risks related to the Middle East region.

On June 17 2010 Hodema in collaboration with apave specialists in risk control and Aleph Editions launched at Librairie Antoine ABC Ashrafieh a practical guide on HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point) entitled “Food hygiene and safety – Application of the HACCP method”. This guide was developed in English French and Arabic. Karim el Asmar from Hodema spoke about the numerous gaps still hindering HACCP application in hotels and restaurants all over the Arab countries where the legislation in this domain is still premature yet missing; he also described the guide’s added value: “This guide is the first one to feature guidelines on working in Halal environment and help professionals evaluate and apply necessary hygiene practices with regards to the Halal processing requirements”. The guide is aimed at helping professionals in the restaurants and hotels industries in the MENA region meet food hygiene and safety international standards and establish good manufacturing practices.

Karim el Asmar Hodema’s CEO took part in a CEO debate during “Estate Lebanon 2010” a fair which took place at Moevenpick Hotel on June 2 and 3 2010. This session was moderated by Oula Ghawi the anchor of CNBC Arabia TV channel. Karim el Asmar discussed the real estate sector in Lebanon with regards to hotels and restaurants industries its current situation as well as the opportunities and challenges of the Lebanese real estate sector.

Hodema exhibited in Beirut International Franchise Forum and Exhibition (BIFEX) a two-day fair which took place at Adnan Al Kassar Edifice for Arab Economy in Beirut on May 27th and 28th 2010. This forum gathered highly successful entrepreneurs and investors with the guidance of internationally renowned experts in the various fields of franchising such as legal managerial financial distribution and retail marketing etc. Hodema was the only expert in the field of hospitality franchising.

After 5 years of presence at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Dubai Hodema was for the second year a gold sponsor at this internationally renowned event which took place on May 1st 2ndand 3rd 2010. Karim el Asmar Hodema’s CEO moderated the panel “A focus on the Levant”. Among the participants were consultants as well as international and regional hotel operators. In addition Hodema’s COO Nagi Morkos was a speaker at a round table entitled “Ask the experts – Navigating the Market in Saudi Arabia” with two other key hospitality figures in the kingdom. This session gave the opportunity to the audience to get advice from leaders and experts in the field.

Hodema participated in Horeca the yearly hospitality and food exhibition which took place from April 27 until April 30 2010 in Biel Lebanon. It featured numerous F&B brands in addition to products and equipments related to Food & Beverage. It also presented various services among which franchising catering technology furniture media university hospitality programs maintenance and hygiene hotels banks etc.

Hodema participated for the first time in Hospex the International Exhibition for Hospitality and Hotel Equipment in Syria. The exhibition took place in Damascus Fairs Ground from March 15 until March 18 2010 and gathered over 90 participants from Thailand Turkey Tunisia Jordan Lebanon UAE and Syria representing more than 400 international and local brand names.

For the first time Cityscape held a KSA – specific event in Jeddah proving once again that the Kingdom is emerging as one of those countries that have been least affected by the international crisis and firmly placing the spotlight on one of the world’s most exciting emerging real estate markets: Jeddah. Hodema having participated as a visitor this year is already preparing its participation as an exhibitor during Cityscape Arabia 2010.

Hodema participated in the first Entrepreneurs Forum on May 21st and 22nd in Biel’s “Pavillon Royal” among 50 exhibitors and leading businesses offering a comprehensive range of services.

Hodema was a gold sponsor at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Dubai on May 2nd 3rd and 4th 2009. This prestigious conference gathers international industry leaders and key regional hospitality industry players. Mr. Karim el Asmar one of Hodema’s managing partners moderated the panel “Pipeline promises” which hosted lively discussions of the situation regarding the regional pipeline in the context of the international financial crisis. Among the participants were architects consultants and international and regional hotel operators.

For the fourth consecutive year Hodema participated in HORECA the annual hospitality and food exhibition that took place at Biel from April 27 until April 30 2009.

Hodema participated in a workshop on the creation of an Arab Tourism Bank by presenting the trends in financing and development of projects in the Arab countries in April 2009 during the Arab Tourism Organization conference in Damascus.