"It's a unique event for the marketplace because hotel investors and developers will have ready access to those dealmakers that finance and provide debt and equity for the deals," says Jason Young, RealShare conference producer. "Our aim is to create the perfect venue in which these two parties can meet up, talk, trade cards and get deals started, while having a chance to hear some of the leading dealmakers forecast the market during a series of panel sessions."

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

The speaker line-up also includes Patrick Ford, president of Lodging Econometrics; Mike Cahill, president and founder of HREC-Hospitality Real Estate Counselors; Rob Stiles, managing director and principal of Sonnenblick Goldman; Neil Shah, president and COO of Hersha Hospitality Trust; and Bob White president of Real Capital Analytics. Planned sessions will touch on a variety of topics including the 2007 development pipeline, financing ideas for deals under $20 million, future predictions and mixed-use deal trends.