Beijing, 31 March 2010 ————– Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP, moderated a panel discussion at the 6th Annual 2010 China Hotel Development and Financing Conference. Held at the Crowne Plaza Sun Palace in Beijing from 24 – 26 March 2010, the well-attended breakout session, entitled “Sustainable Development, Development Costs and Brand Standards,” included Garard Fung of Davis, Langdon & Seah (Beijing), Francis Killory of Jumeriah, Jules Kwan of URBN Hotels & Resorts, and Michel Van Der Hoeven of Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas.
Session topics included the implementation of hotel brand standards, hotel development and renovation costs and strategies, and LEED and green certification of hotel projects. Topics also included the return on investment and project costs relative to sustainable design, and a case study of a sustainably designed hotel in Shanghai: The URBN Hotel.
Organized by Horwath HTL, STR Global, and China Tourist Hotels Association, The China Hotel Development and Financing Conference aims to be the leading industry forum to analyze and discuss the latest trends for the hotel industry in China. Delegates of the 2010 conference included hotel owners and developers, senior members of hotel management companies, industry professionals (lawyers, architects, interior designers, and consultants), representatives of investment banks and financial institutions, as well as the media.
Schmidt was additionally requested to create the conference illustration depicting the theme of the 2010 conference, “Finding the New Opportunities,” which was integrated into all conference printed matter.
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures.