PLENARY SESSIONS
19 November 2025
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Open exhibition, guest welcoming and registration | |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Networking lunch | |
| 13:00 – 13:30 | INVEST speed networking (Electra room) | |
PLENARY SESSIONS
| 13:30 – 13:45 | Introduction to INVEST • Victor CHIRILĂ, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania |
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| 13:45 – 14:25 | A.1 • Attractive Romania: Growing Investments • Claude BÉGLÉ, Chairman & CEO, Swiss NeWater Holding • Radu-Dinel MIRUȚĂ, Romanian Minister of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism • Cristian POPA, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Romania • Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Acting President, Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade • Emil HUREZEANU, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Moderator: Ray F. IUNIUS, CEO, Winsedswiss Education Group |
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| 14:25 – 14:50 | A.2 • CEE Hospitality Outlook • Césarine CALAFELL, Analyst Hotel Transactions, Cushman & Wakefield • Ryandeep BAINS, Account Director, STR |
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| 14:50 – 15:30 | A.3 • Focus Moldova: Hospitality Rising Star • Ion IORDACHI, President, REDIA (Association of Real Estate Developers and Investors from Moldova) • Valentin CEBAN, Head of Product Development and Tourism Infrastructure Department, National Tourism Office, Moldova • Ion STURZA, former Prime Minister of Moldova • Irina TOLSTOUSOV, Deputy Director, Invest Moldova Agency Moderator: Nina MOLDOVAN, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in Cluj & CEO, Winners First |
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| 15:30 – 16:00 | Networking break | |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | A.4 • Building Resilience: Real Estate Ownership in Turbulent Times • Vlad DRĂGOESCU, Partner, CEE Head of Portfolio Management, Revetas Capital • Răzvan GHEORGHIU-TESTA, Partner, Țuca Zbârcea & Asociații • Magsud RAHMANOV, Founding partner, Dosfield Group • Dan SCHWARTZ, Co-founder and leading partner, RSM Romania • Vlad MICU, CEO, BT Inno Investments (BT Property Fund) • Augusto HASMAN, Associate professor, EHL Moderator: Tinu SEBEȘANU, Managing Partner, Trend Hospitality |
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| 17:00 – 17:20 | Mic compendiu hotelier & Hospitality Finder • Ray F. IUNIUS, CEO, Winsedswiss Education Group • Marius-Adrian MOLDOVAN, Executive President, Transilvania Investments Moderator: Răzvan PÎRJOL, President of the Board, National Center for Tourism Education |
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| 17:20 – 17:50 | Special moment: Accor - Over 30 years of History in Romania • Paul DUBRULE, Co-founder, Accor • Philippe BIJAOUI, Chief Development Officer Europe & North Africa Premium, Midscale, Economy, Accor |
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| 17:50 – 18:40 | A.5 • International Brands: Shaping the Industry Landscape • Marius-Adrian MOLDOVAN, Executive President, Transilvania Investments • Takuya AOYAMA, Vice President, Development, Hyatt International - CEE, the Balkans & former USSR • Pankaj BIRLA, Regional Vice President, Eastern Europe Marriott International • Michael COLLINI, Vice President Development Central, Eastern & Southern Europe, Hilton • Farhan SHUBAILAT, Corporate Director of Development, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC • Mikhail KOLESNIK, Regional Development Director, Eastern Europe & CIS, Minor Hotels Europe and Americas Moderator: Russell KETT, Chairman, HVS London |
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20 November 2025
| 8:30 – 09:00 | Open exhibition and guest welcoming | |
PLENARY SESSIONS
| 9:00 – 09:45 | B.1 • Designing the Next Hospitality Experience: the New Customer Journey • David JENKINS, Vice President Business Development, Radisson Hotel Group • Jamil HEBALI, Senior Lecturer, EHL • Yateendra SINH, Principal, YS & Associates – Switzerland • Saar SHARON, Managing Director, West Ridge Asset Management • Cristina FROLOV, President, Constantin Mimi Foundation Moderator: Mircea DRĂGHICI, Co-founder, Brimerock Hospitality Fund |
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| 9:45 – 10:45 | B.2 • Hospitality's Greatest Asset: Human Capital • Achim SCHMITT, Dean, EHL Hospitality Business School • Michel ROCHAT, President VAUD Promotion & former CEO, EHL Switzerland • Colin JOHNSON, Professor, San Francisco State University • Mihai GHIGIU, President of the Commission on Education, Romanian Parliament • Simona CONSTANTINESCU, President, FIHR • Ana DEMIAN, Executive Director, ohma Oradea Moderator: Ray F. IUNIUS, CEO, Winsedswiss Education Group |
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| 10:45 – 11:15 | Networking break | |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | B.3 • Breathing New Life: Hospitality Renovations and Conversions • Aniela CRISTOLOVEAN, CEO, ADDrest • Gheorghe ȚUCU, Managing Partner, Valeg Creative Solutions • Joel GOLDMAN, Founder, Key2 Hotels • Anja GRAF, CEO, Founder and Chairwoman, Visionapartments • Aurel DOSAN, VP of Sales, Intelligent Infrastructure, Datacor • Joern SIEBKE, Founder and Principal, Studio Lux Berlin Moderator: Christine SCHILLINGS, CEO winsed.swiss Romania |
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| 12:15 – 13:15 | B.4 • Future of Hospitality: Riding the Wave of Innovation, Automation, and Digitalization • Vlad DOICARU, Business Environment Executive, Huawei Romania • Adina OPREA, Channel Sales Manager, CEED Sales Romania, Samsung Electronics • Gabriel IOVU, CEO, Expressoft Technology • Ben WOLFF, Co-Founder & CEO, Oasi; co-founder, Onera • Joël IUNIUS, Founder, NexSwiss • Simona NIJNIC, Sales Director, TP-Link Romania Moderator: Ilie DINACI, Business Developer & Consultant, EHL Innovation Hub |
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| 13:15 – 14:30 | Lunch & exhibition | |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Special moment: Sustainability and Energy - Designing Tomorrow's Solutions • Bogdan-Gruia IVAN, Romanian Minister of Energy • Sebastian BURDUJA, Honorary Counsellor of the Prime Minister Interviewer: Răzvan PÎRJOL, President of the Board, National Center for Tourism Education |
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| 15:00 – 16:00 | B.5 • The Owners And Brand Relations: Love Story? • Attila JOOS, CEO, Aro Palace SA • Dan MIHAI, Mihai & Co. business lawyers • Tinu SEBEȘANU, Managing Partner, Trend Hospitality • Vassilis THEMELIDIS, Regional Director, South & East Europe, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts • Dennis WERIAN, Asset Manager CP Holdings • Fabrizio DORIA, Chief Development Officer, BWH Hotels Italy & South-East Europe Moderator: Jens-Henning PETERS, Consultant, EHL |
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| 16:00 – 17:30 | Wine tasting Mic compendiu hotelier – book signing |
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| 19:30 – 23:00 | GALA DINNER Special guest: HRH Prince Radu Dress code: « black tie » |
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LISTEN TO THE Event Speakers
Dr. Sebastian Burduja
Minister of Energy of Romania
Dr. Sebastian Burduja
Minister of Energy of Romania
Sebastian-Ioan Burduja is the Romanian Minister of Energy, appointed in June 2023. He has previously served as the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, between May 2022 and June 2023. Since December 2020 he has been elected to the Romanian Parliament and is also the President of the Bucharest branch of the National Liberal Party. Before starting his political career, he acted as the Founding President of the League of Romanian Students Abroad (LSRS), now the largest Romanian non-profit network in the world, and the co-founder of the CAESAR Foundation, a think tank connecting 500 top Romanian and international policy experts. Previously, he served as a Regional Development Specialist for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., focusing on Europe and Central Asia. Mr. Burduja has also worked for Dalberg Global Development Advisors, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, McKinsey & Co., and the National Endowment for Democracy. He graduated from the Stanford University as member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society with a major in Politics and sub-specializations in Economy and Sociology. From 2008 to 2011, he continued his studies at Harvard University, being a David Rubenstein's fellow and graduating two master's programs: MBA from Harvard Business School and MPP from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He was honored in 2009 and 2010 with outstanding academic achievement, including the "First Year Honors" and "Second Year Honors" awards given to the best students at Harvard Business School. Mr. Burduja holds a PhD in Economics and International Affairs from the Romanian Academy of Economic Studies, with the "Summa Cum Laude" qualification.
Radu Savopol
President, Romanian Hotel and Restaurant Employers' Organisation - HORA
Radu Savopol
President, Romanian Hotel and Restaurant Employers' Organisation - HORA
Radu Savopol is a seasoned Romanian entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in the HoReCa industry, successfully implementing similar business concepts across various regions in the country. His most significant venture to date is the 5 to go coffee shop chain, a project born from the desire to offer high-quality coffee at an affordable price. The chain aims to create a consistent daily experience for customers at any of its over 150 locations, where both service and coffee quality are standardized. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Mr. Savopol, who is also an interior designer, personally crafted the interior design of the 5 to go locations. He placed a strong emphasis on creating a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to a diverse clientele, including high school and college students, as well as corporate clients. Recently, 5 to go was recognized as one of the top three coffee shop chains in Central and Eastern Europe at the largest HoReCa symposium in Europe.
Russell Kett
Chairman, HVS London
Russell Kett
Chairman, HVS London
Russell Kett is Chairman of the London office of HVS, the leading global specialist hotel valuation, consulting, asset management and brokerage firm, which he joined in 1995. Russell has 40+ years' specialist hotel consultancy, investment and real estate experience, focused on providing valuation, feasibility, property, brokerage, investment, asset management, strategy and related consultancy services, advising hotel, serviced apartments and hostel companies, banks, developers and investors on all aspects of their hospitality industry related interests, throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is a frequent writer, moderator and speaker on the international hotel industry, especially on topics relating to hotel valuation, investment, marketing and finance. Russell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from HOSPA in 2011 and the ‘Hall of Fame’ Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hot.E hotel investment conference in London in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a member of the International Hotel Investment Council. He and his wife are blessed with two children and three grandchildren.
Simona Constantinescu
President, FIHR
Simona Constantinescu
President, FIHR
Simona Constantinescu is a distinguished leader in Romania’s hospitality and finance sectors, with over two decades of experience in business transformation and strategic leadership. As the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at FIHR, the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation, and the CEO of Ana Hotels for about 10 years, one of the largest hotel chains in Romania, Simona plays a key role in shaping the industry. She holds a Master of Arts in Board Practice and Directorship from Henley Business School - UK, as well as an Executive MBA from ASEBUSS and the University of Washington. Her expertise spans corporate governance, hospitality management, change and crisis leadership, strategy formulation, capital markets, and wealth management, particularly in the context of family-owned companies and succession planning.
Simona is deeply committed to elevating Romania’s tourism sector, promoting its international potential, and advocating for sustainable and high-standard practices. During the crises as COVID-19 pandemic or geopolitical turbulence at borders, she demonstrated agile leadership by implementing innovative recovery strategies for the hospitality business. She has actively contributed to national tourism policies and fostered collaboration between the public and private sectors. Her strategic vision, combined with a passion for excellence and impact, continues to position her as a key figure in Romania’s economic and tourism development landscape.
