IHIF conference postponed due to coronavirus concerns

The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), due to take place next week in Berlin, has been postponed due to the global concern regarding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

Event organiser Questex has announced IHIF and its co-located event Adjacent Spaces@IHIF, which were set to take place 2-4 March 2020, will be moved to 4-6 May at the InterContinental and Pullman hotels respectively in the German capital.

Paul Miller, chief executive of Questex, said: "This was a very difficult decision as many in the community were asking us to proceed with the show. Ultimately there is no greater importance than the health and safety of our community members and that will always be the guiding principle that drives our business.

Alexi Khajavi, Questex managing director EMEA, added: "We are sorry to disappoint our delegates but their safety and wellbeing, as well as that of our presenters and staff has to come first. We have the support and commitments of our industry partners and IHIF will be back as always better and bigger."

Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, has warned that the UK will suffer "an economic hit" as the result of the spread of the coronavirus. While he said that it is too early to be certain about the extent of the impact, he recognised that tourism was being negatively affected.

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