Event organizers with the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, one of the nation's top four hotel investment conferences, announced today that Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton Worldwide, will be the keynote speaker at the 26th annual event. The conference will be held on March 26 - 28, 2014, at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Ga.

Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton Worldwide (Photo: Business ...

Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton Worldwide (Photo: Business Wire)

"Mr. Nassetta has demonstrated outstanding leadership in fostering a healthy and vibrant corporate culture, and has made tremendous strides in global hotel development, best practices and corporate responsibility," said Bob Hunter, conference co-chair and chief executive officer of Hunter Hotel Advisors. "He will share his invaluable viewpoints with our industry's top executives."

Nassetta is largely credited for leading Hilton Worldwide's growth by a third since taking the reins in 2007. The global lodging company has more than 4,000 hotels and nearly 672,000 rooms worldwide (including timeshare) with an industry-leading 97,520 rooms under construction.

The three-day Hunter Hotel Investment Conference is owner and investor-focused, with a strong emphasis on real estate and finance, and has the highest percentage of hotel owners in attendance of any of the major hotel conferences. In addition to Chris Nassetta, the agenda will feature speakers and panel discussions by a wide cross-section of the leading industry innovators and thought leaders on topics ranging from financing to new development. The 2014 conference theme is "The Time is Now!" to reflect optimism in the solid rebound of every sector in the hotel industry.

"This conference is all about education and networking," said Lee Hunter, conference co-chair and chief operating officer of Hunter Hotel Advisors. "We've earned the loyalty of our patrons by featuring the most influential industry experts (including this year's keynote Mr. Nassetta) and by providing an environment conducive to deal making."

The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference was awarded the prestigious Allie Award as Best Tradeshow and Conference in 2013. Proceeds from the Hunter Conference provide scholarships to hospitality students within the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at Georgia State University. For on-line registration, please visit the conference website at www.HunterConference.com or contact Nancy Petenbrink, conference director, at 770-916-0300 or Nancy.Petenbrink@HunterHotels.net.

Hunter Hotel Advisors
Martha Seabrook, 404-725-5854
Martha.Seabrook@HunterHotels.net