CHI Hotels & Resorts (formerly Corinthia Hotels International) recently held its annual International Financial Controllers Conference at the five-star Corinthia Hotel Prague in the Czech Republic.

Directors of Finance and Senior Executives from the Company's head office in Malta and hotels in the Czech Republic, The Gambia, Hungary, Libya, Malta, Portugal, Russia and Tunisia, attended the three-day event that had 'Bridging The Difference’ as its main theme.

The conference was addressed by CHI Hotels & Resorts Chairman Joe Sita and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Tony Potter, who gave details on the Company’s future vision and growth plans. A number of topics of general interest and others of specific interest to finance personnel were presented by various internal speakers, led by CHI's Chief Financial Officer and Administration Director Paul Bugeja.

Prompted by the title 'Bridging the Difference’ the conference discussed CHI’s new role as a multi-brand hotel operator following its joint venture agreement with the US based Wyndham Hotel Group and how this development impacts the financial protocol, policies and procedures of the company. Besides continuing to operate the luxury Corinthia Hotels brand worldwide, CHI is now also the exclusive operator of the Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Other topics on the conference agenda included corporate governance, job motivation, internal audits, cash flows, reporting processes, operation results for 2008 and business plans and targets for 2009.

Guest speaker topics included Sun Accounting Systems by Computime Malta, Insurances by AIG Memsa of Dubai and a lecture on leadership, assertiveness, and presentation skills by Maltese management consultant Paul Gauci.

The conference also served as an opportunity for all participants to meet on a social level and also experience the many attractions that Prague has to offer. Special thanks go to Air Malta for their assistance in supporting the conference.