Five sustainable trends to look out for in the Middle East’s travel sector
According to Sustainable Travel International, tourism-related activities account for approximately 8 percent of worldwide carbon emissions. Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME of Arabian Travel Market, highlights five sustainable trends that have already gained significant momentum in the Middle East and look set to play a critical role in the industry’s ongoing journey to decarbonize.
A life of luxury
Offering one-of-a-kind experiences to meet the needs of today’s uber-demanding travelers has become the new definition of luxury in hospitality, as Daniel During, principal and managing director of Thomas Klein International, points out.
Phocuswright forecasts a boom in the global tours, activities and attractions industry
According to Phocuswright’s joint travel research report with Arival — The Outlook for Travel Experiences 2019-2025 — travel experiences represented USD 253 billion in global gross ticket revenue in 2019, making it the third-largest sector of tourism after transportation and accommodation. Tours, activities and attractions (TAA) was the hardest-hit area of travel during the pandemic but has bounced back largely due to shifts in traveler behavior. Post-pandemic changes in shopping and booking behavior have fueled the growth of the TAA industry.
Behind the scenes: Baghdad’s hospitality potential
After years of conflict, Iraq is beginning to finally find its feet. Ralph Nader, CEO of Amber Consulting, investigates how the country’s hospitality sector is shaping up and why the capital is proving appealing to F&B brands.
UAE country report: the great rebound
While most countries are back to pre-pandemic growth after two years of economic turmoil, the United Arab Emirates is reaping the rewards of its early vaccination efforts and measures to support hard-hit sectors. Nada Alameddine, managing partner at Hodema consulting services, paints a promising picture of the Emirates’ growth path and the exciting new development in its hospitality offering.
Dubai: the gateway to the FIFA World Cup 2022
With just a month to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar, Dubai’s hotels are reporting an extraordinary increase in bookings. Chadi Chidiac, managing partner of Protocol Hospitality Management and Consultancy, tells us more about how the UAE is benefiting from the event.
RDCL’s “Keys to Recovery: Revitalizing Lebanon’s Tourism Sector” roundtable reaffirms Lebanese will to rise again
On September 30, 2022, the RDCL, an association of business people who share the same vision of the Lebanese economy, organized a roundtable to discuss the keys to recovery and the means to revitalize Lebanon’s tourism sector.
“The Future of Travel Starts Now” with Juliette Losardo, WTM director
World Travel Market (WTM), the global travel reunion, is gearing up for its forthcoming edition at Excel, from November 7-9. We sat with Juliette Losardo, WTM’s exhibition director, to hear her thoughts on the travel industry’s evolution and what’s in store at this year’s exhibition.
The rights and wrongs of hotel refurbs
While a costly, time-consuming and logistically challenging renovation is feared by many hotel owners, Daniel During, principal and managing director of Thomas Klein International, a Dubai-based hospitality and F&B consultancy firm, highlights the correct way to approach a property refurb and explains how international events are motivating hotels to undergo a facelift.
On the up: mapping out east Africa’s potential
It’s true that East Africa’s travel, tourism and hospitality sectors have experienced numerous ups and downs in recent years. However, there are positive signs of growth, as Thuku Kimani, manager of hotels MENA at Colliers International, points out.