IH&RA 41st Annual Congress: Highlights > Istanbul Conference Programme Highlights > Stelios, Easy Group Chairman, Addresses IH&RA Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Chairman & Founder, EasyGroup - Congress Keynote Speaker Naming Richard Branson as a role model and USA'S Southwest Airlines as inspiration, Stelios launched EasyJet to satisfy a dream to build an airline. He not only realized this dream, but changed the face of the European Airline industry and is about to do the same with hospitality when Easy Hotel opens in 2005! Dubbed the “Serial Entrepreneur”, Stelios is the mastermind behind the revolutionary “Easy” brands – Easy Jet, Easy Hotel, Easy Cruise, Easy Car… At the IH&RA Congress in Istanbul, he gave his view on how to remain competitive in today’s volatile and rapidly evolving tourism industry, challenging current business models and partnerships with airlines, tour operators, travel agents and e-distribution channels. Stelios is now almost as recognisable as his bright orange empire. At 37, Stelios had already created 16 companies, the biggest of which is easyJet, the leading low cost airline he launched in 1995 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2000. Stelios remains the largest shareholder in easyJet PLC and the owner of the "easy" brand. In 2000, Stelios formed easyGroup, his holding company, to explore new ventures to extend the ‘easy’ brand, and to capitalize upon the expanding use of the Internet. Among others, these companies include easyInternetcafé, easyCar, easyMoney and easyCinema. easyGroup branded activities are currently being launched in the following sectors: hotels, entertainment, cruise lines, mobile telephony, pizza delivery and even men's toiletries. His love for his businesses means this is one entrepreneur that won’t walk away when the going gets tough! You can listen to Stelios' Keynote Speech on the Post-Congress Review available on the IH&RA website by clicking here: www.ih-ra.com/events Copyright 2003 International Hotel & Restaurant Association. All rights reserved. International Hotel & Restaurant Association 51 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau 75001 Paris France Tel: 33 (0) 1 44 88 92 20 Fax: 33 (0) 1 44 88 92 30 www.ih-ra.com