"It's a unique event for the marketplace because hotel investorsand developers will have ready access to those dealmakers thatfinance and provide debt and equity for the deals," says JasonYoung, RealShare conference producer. "Our aim is to create theperfect venue in which these two parties can meet up, talk, tradecards and get deals started, while having a chance to hear some ofthe leading dealmakers forecast the market during a series of panelsessions."

The event begins at 8:25 a.m. with opening remarks from MichaelDesiato, group publisher and editorial director of Real EstateMedia, and Geoff Davis, president of HREC. Steve Mendell, EVP ofHEI Hotels & Resorts, will give the keynote address sharingwith attendees his thoughts on today's hotel investment and financeclimate as well as his predictions for the year ahead.

The speaker line-up also includes Patrick Ford, president ofLodging Econometrics; Mike Cahill, president and founder ofHREC-Hospitality Real Estate Counselors; Rob Stiles, managingdirector and principal of Sonnenblick Goldman; Neil Shah, presidentand COO of Hersha Hospitality Trust; and Bob White president ofReal Capital Analytics. Planned sessions will touch on a variety oftopics including the 2007 development pipeline, financing ideas fordeals under $20 million, future predictions and mixed-use dealtrends.