Middle East leisure real estate symposium to take place in Dubai

The Symposium is being hosted by the RCI Global Vacation Network, the global leader in leisure accommodations, and NorthCourseSM Leisure Real Estate Solutions, an international leader in providing advisory, asset management and turnkey solutions and services.

The two-day conference will cover a range of timely shared ownership issues relevant to key players -- including developers, owners, operators and financial institutions -- in the Middle East leisure real estate industry.

Attendees will benefit from sessions that cover global and regional tourism trends, including NorthCourse research as well as presentations on new real estate models such as PURE (Personal Use Rental & Exchange). The Symposium dovetails neatly with the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, (AHIC), whose sessions begin the following day, followed immediately by the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which kicks off May 1, 2007.

According to Preben Vestdam, Chairman & CEO of NorthCourse Leisure Real Estate Solutions, ¡§The insights revealed will be especially useful to all involved with mixed-use developments and resorts. The information provided will offer a valuable edge for planning and the successful delivery of these projects.¡¨

The speaker line-up draws heavily on executives from the region¡¦s leading property and leisure organizations, including Nakheel Hotels, IFA Hotels & Resorts and Al Sharq Investments. Kenneth N. May, Chairman and CEO, RCI Global Vacation Network; Carlos Vogeler, Chairman Affiliate Members, United Nations World Tourism Organization; and David Evans, Group Vice President Legal, Government Operations, RCI Global Vacation Network will be among the global industry leaders who will speak at the conference.

Some of the specific panel titles scheduled for the symposium are:

•Mixed Use Developments: Future Scenario
Upscale Timeshare Fractionals, Private Residence Club
•Foundations for Success: The Right Business Model Asset Management, Sales and Marketing Planning
•Dynamic Solutions in a Diverse Market
•From Sukuk to Success: The Toolkit for Shared Ownership in the Middle East; How Is It Working?
•Update on the Latest Property Legislation in the Region
•Number Count: The Bottom Line Stockholder Dividends

The symposium also heralds the launch of the latest offering from the RCI Global Vacation Network on short term vacation rentals in the Middle East through their new venture, Arabian Breaks. Nick Turner, Arabian Breaks Managing Director, will be on hand to discuss the company's plans to tap into the huge demand for self catering accommodations in the Middle East, particularly among tourists from the Middle East and Europe.