Hospitality industry leaders are exploring this question at the upcoming Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference.

"The key to investing successfully in emerging markets is firstly timing, closely followed by evaluation of risk and reward," said Mark Wynne-Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. "The hotel investment opportunities presented by the BRIC countries are numerous."

Mark Wynne-Smith moderates the RHIC conference session titled "What is the View from Industry Leaders on Developing Russia & CIS Compared to Other Destinations." Session panelists include Ed Fuller, President and Managing Director of Marriott International Lodging; Steve Goldman, President Global Real Estate & Development of Hilton Hotels Corporation; Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of The Rezidor Hotel Group, together with one of the new generation of hotel investors Erkan Erkek, CEO of Capital Partners.

This prestigious group of industry professionals will explore such questions as:

1. How does Russia's investment case for hotel brands, operators and investors compare to its major competitors in China, India and Brazil?

2. Is Russia more risky than these three? Is the potential reward greater?

3. Does the income of growth potential outweigh the attractions of other mature markets which may have a lower cost of entry as the credit crunch continues to stifle activity in the US and part of Western Europe?

The Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (RHIC) programme is led by a powerful line-up of more than 60 speakers including HRH Prince Michael of Kent, who is Conference Patron and the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov who will receive the Leadership Award. To access a full list of participating speakers and review the conference programme in detail, please visit: www.russia-cisconference.com/programme

"The hotel market in Russia and the CIS is in its infancy and RHIC offers a fabulous opportunity for senior executives from the hospitality industry to explore the development potential in the region, meet investment partners, and uncover new business opportunities," said Jonathan Worsley, RHIC conference co-organiser. "With the government's plans for infrastructure spending, Russia and the CIS countries represent one of the biggest investment opportunities globally in the hospitality industry."

The Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference will run from 21-22 October 2008 at the Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, and is jointly organised by The Bench and Questex Media Group, Inc.