The EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne hosted the 9th Hospitality Finance & Economics (HFE) Conference. This event occurred on July 7–8, 2025. It was a joint effort with Hitotsubashi University’s Center for Urban and Real Estate Studies. The NUS Institute of Real Estate & Urban Studies also participated. Seventeen academics from three continents attended. They led lively discussions in every session. Topics included climate risks and housing costs. Digital real estate markets were also a focus.
Achim Schmitt, EHL’s Dean, spoke at the opening. He linked EHL’s 1893 start as the first hotel school. He noted its growth into a leading hospitality university. Schmitt highlighted EHL’s adaptation to a changing world. He stressed its focus on hospitality, finance, and technology. This expansion made EHL a fitting host for the conference. The event explored financial and economic forces in the industry.
The conference featured structured academic discussions. Experts analyzed each research paper. They provided useful feedback. This method improved the quality of discussions. Attendees found the interaction refreshing. Researchers from various fields shared ideas. This led to interdisciplinary connections.
Several key research areas emerged. New studies showed climate risks affect mortgage prices. These risks also influence planning policies. One study proposed a new way to value tokenized real estate. This method might predict value differences. Other talks discussed investor involvement in funds. They examined when too many investors hurt profits. A long-term view on housing costs came from data spanning six centuries.
What AI Can Do for Us—Hype versus Reality Keynote I by Dr. Nikodem Szumilo (UCL) Dr. Nikodem Szumilo from UCL gave the first keynote. His talk was “What AI Can Do for Us: Hype versus Reality.” He stated that people using AI well will not be replaced. He cited AI use at companies like Klarna and UPS. These companies are automating tasks and improving roles.
Szumilo described this change as an experimental process. Klarna automated jobs but then hired people. These new teams combined humans and AI. They focused on quality. This shows that success comes from blending AI with human skill. It is not just about using AI.
Dr. Szumilo introduced a practical model called VIBE. It prioritizes user intent. Experts define goals. Then AI creates a first draft. Humans review and refine it. Instead of building models piece by piece, people set objectives. AI generates the content. Humans then adjust assumptions and check sources.