The Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR) is pleased to invite you to the major event of the year: FIHR 2026 Conference – Romanian Tourism 2026: Connecting resources for the competitive future of destinations!
What will we explore? This year's edition of the FIHR conference is structured around the essential pillars for tourism development: Strategic Dialogue, Digitalization, Innovation and Education. We will address the challenges and opportunities of the moment, with the aim of identifying concrete solutions and building solid partnerships.
AGENDA
09:30–10:00 — Participant registration
10:00–10:15 — Official opening
- Simona Constantinescu, President of FIHR
- Cyprian-Nicolaus Vacaru. State Secretary MLFTSS
10:15–11:25 Panel 1 "Strategic Dialogue for Romanian Tourism: Public Policies, Social Dialogue and Competitiveness"„
- Human capital – strategic priority: Integrated solutions – education, occupational standards, labor import – for staff retention and skills development necessary for tourism operators.
- Destination as a local development ecosystem: How can local and county administrations transform tourism into an economic engine through coherent strategies.
- Institutional dialogue and compliance: Moving from control to prevention and collaboration between economic operators and state institutions.
Invite:
- Simona Constantinescu, President of FIHR
- Astrid Fodor, Mayor of Sibiu*
- Cosmin Adrian Rosu, Executive Director of AJOFM Sibiu*
- Wolf Alexander George, Chief Inspector ITM Sibiu*
- Nicolae Cojocaru, Executive Director of DSP Sibiu
11:25–11:45 — Coffee break
11:45–13:00
Panel 2.1 "Sustainability, competitiveness and talent retention: legislation, financing and benefits in hotels"„
- European legislative framework and local impact: Adapting hotels to new directives (ESG, Green Claims) and transforming compliance into competitive advantage.
- Green transition financing opportunities: Accessing grants and loans for energy efficiency and modernization.
- Social sustainability (the "S" in ESG) and team motivation: Effective staff retention strategies in HoReCa through value vouchers, extra-salary benefit packages and tax optimization.
- Sustainability certifications and efficient operations: The role of international standards in increasing market value and examples of good practices applied in hotels (operational efficiency, consumption reduction).
Invite:
- Ana Maria Icatoiu, FICSIMM
- Marta Machado, HOTREC
- Marius Soranescu, Bellaria
- Ioana Dospinescu, Edenred*
Panel 2.2 "Digitalization & Innovation: AI, Operational Efficiency and Data"„
- Artificial Intelligence in daily operations: Automate repetitive processes and increase staff productivity.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Using data for promotion strategies and destination management
- Digitizing the guest experience: From booking to check-out – technological and payment solutions for a smooth tourist journey.
- Return on investment in technology (ROI): How we choose the right digital solutions to maximize profitability.
Invite:
- Bogdan Patru, Mastercard
- Ionela Mitran, Global Payments
- Laurentiu Matei, Bitsoft
- Romulus Oprica, Horwath HTL
13:00–14:00 — Lunch / networking
14:00–15:15 Panel 3: „Sustainable Destination Promotion and Strategic Partnerships: The Role of the WCO and Data”
- Destination management models: Good international practices and their adaptability to the specifics of Romanian tourism.
- Strengthening the Public-Private Partnership: The role of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in coagulating local strategies.
- Destination branding and tourist perception: How we build and monitor the reputation of a city or region.
- Integrated sales and distribution strategies: Correlating destination promotion campaigns with hoteliers' sales channels.
Invite:
- Ádám Czelleng, Visit Hungary
- Maya Janssen, Amsterdam&partners
- Alin Chipaila, OMD Sibiu
- Florian Filat, Institute for Visionary Cities
15:15–15:35 — Conclusions and networking
Why participate? The FIHR 2026 Conference is a unique opportunity to:
- Access breaking news and relevant case studies.
- Interact with decision makers and industry leaders.
- Discover innovative solutions and best practices.
- Expand your professional network through dedicated networking sessions.
Registration: Participation is free within the limit of available places. Registration for the event is done by email: [email protected].
FIHR. We connect resources. We build competitiveness. We develop communities.
