Morocco: more than meets the eye
With its unique culture, landscapes and culinary riches, Morocco is among the world’s most enchanting countries. Hala Matar Choufany, president for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia at HVS, describes the hospitality scene in the North African jewel and what makes it such an intriguing tourism destination.
Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning hospitality scene ranks first among Arab nations for inbound visitors in 2022
Saudi Arabia registered more international arrivals than any other Arab nation during the first nine months of 2022, as government officials aim to attract 100 million annual visitors by the end of this decade.
OPINION: The evolution of Saudi Arabia by Dagmar Symes
Dagmar Symes, the GM of Hill Robinson Project Management shares her views on the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and hospitality landscape.
A new initiative by the Culinary Arts Authority
Saudi Arabia’s culinary traditions are as rich and varied as the nation’s diverse landscapes, with each area offering a variety of ingredients and mouthwatering specialties. Indeed, these delectable hidden gems are simply waiting to be discovered. The latest initiative, the Saudi Feast Food Festival, wrapping up on December 29.
Pulse check Saudi Arabia
With Saudi Arabia’s development pipeline looking stronger than ever, Nada Alameddine, partner at Hodema consulting services, guides us through the list of upcoming megaprojects and what they will bring to the kingdom’s hospitality scene.
How major sporting events are spurring growth in the GCC
Over the past decade, the GCC region has transformed from a business destination to an experiential one, evidenced by an increase in international arrivals, private investments and government visions, initiatives and developments. Hala Matar Choufany, president for HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and managing partner of HVS Dubai, outlines the market developments and what’s on the horizon.
Forecasting 2023 with 11 hospitality experts
As 2022 draws to a close, 11 hospitality contributors unpack the past and share their predictions for the coming year. Here’s what they said…
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.
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.
International travel: what to expect in 2023
The pandemic taught us that nothing should be taken for granted. And, with most countries having now lifted all Covid-19-related restrictions, the vast majority of people are keen to once again make travel an important part of their lives, albeit in a year of no-normal, as Nada Alameddine, managing partner at Hodema consulting services, explains.