Saudi HORECA celebrated its ninth edition at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from November 26–28, 2019. Here are just some of the highlights.

As consumers seek out more unique experiences, hoteliers are stepping away from the traditional bricks and mortar business and diversifying their offerings.

At its core, a CRM system aggregates customer information collected throughout the guest stay at a hotel and uses this information to improve services and offerings in key target markets. In addition, CRM assists in the development of programs that reward guests for their loyalty.

The market devoted to leisure and recreation is flourishing, thanks to a rising middle class with higher levels of purchasing power and retiring baby boomers who have more disposable income to spend on fun. Nada Alameddine, partner at Hodema consulting services, tells us more

According to Allegra’s World Coffee Portal, the only specialist information platform built for senior coffee industry leaders, the world entered the 5th Wave a few years back. This, saw greater influence exercised by high quality boutique chains adopting a more advanced set of business practices and delivering well-crafted artisan concepts at scale.

Sharpen your knives and fasten your aprons: it’s that time of the year when we look at what’s going to be on trend in the coming months. There are no major outsiders in this year’s trends - food lovers are continuing to set store by healthy eating, traceability and authenticity, alongside efficiency and creativity in their dining options. However, classic establishments, such as sushi restaurants and steak houses, are also returning to the spotlight. Nagi Morkos, managing partner at Hodema consulting services, gives us the must-know trends for next year

Airport hotels were once a place where very few people would choose to stay. Four decades ago, they remained, for the most part, a collective of basic accommodation, fulfilling a fatigued traveler’s primary needs for sleep and refreshment. Chirine Salha, senior consultant at Ulysses Consulting, tells us how things have changed

Top line hotel performance in the Middle East is heading towards its fifth year of continuous decline. Kostas Nikolaidis, Middle East & Africa executive for STR, navigates the choppy waters of the current hospitality market

Daniel During, principal and management director of Thomas Klein International, fills us in on Dubai’s restaurant wave which is proving to be a bumpy ride for entrepreneurs playing the waiting game ahead of the World Expo 2020

A successful business model is dependent on its ability to generate revenues from different streams throughout the various stages of its journey. While this definition applies to most businesses, the F&B industry appears to be trapped in the sales of food and beverage items, mostly to a limited target clientele. Manal Syriani, managing director, WAY Consultants, gives us a few options for diversifying along the way