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.
How to make your coffee shop stand out
Forming an important part of the F&B industry, the coffee segment needs no introduction. And with new concepts and products arriving in the market thick and fast, customers are increasingly looking for quality and traceability. Nagi Morkos, founder and managing partner at Hodema consulting services, identifies the differentiating factors of a successful coffee shop.
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.
Project Planning 101
Project planning is no easy feat, especially in business. Industry professional Chirine Salha outlines the fundamentals of getting a project off the ground and the key to ensuring it runs smoothly.
New projects redefining the GCC hotel landscape
The hotel industry never stands still, which is ironic when you consider that as an industry, it encourages clients to sit back and relax! Kostas Nikolaidis, Middle East and Africa executive for STR, gives us the lowdown on the fast-paced GCC hotel market, which is definitely raring to go.
Let’s talk art: Lebanon’s guesthouses and boutique hotels
Considered the art hub of the Middle East, Beirut — a city that has witnessed immense challenges over the past few years — has been upping its game in the boutique hotel world to offer guests something a little different. Yara Moukarzel, director of operations of L’Hôte Libanais, takes a closer look at how hotels in the capital and around Lebanon are using this powerful medium to their advantage.
GCC hotels can achieve net zero emissions by 2050
Hotels throughout the region can create a bespoke roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. While many independent hotels, three- and four-star properties lack the necessary support of consultants to design, plan and execute a carbon-neutral roadmap, major international hotel brands already have the necessary resources to achieve their sustainability goals. The main challenges are: carbon footprint assessments across the hotel and its value chain; a lack of financial resources, with little or no budget allocated for climate-related activities; higher costs associated with sustainable products; and insufficient regulatory incentives to support a hotel’s net zero transition.
Ecolodges in the Middle East: The new big thing
While global interest in ecotourism has been growing at a rapid pace, inflation has also started to shape travel choices. Nagi Morkos, founder and managing partner at Hodema consulting services, guides us around the ecolodges in the region which are increasingly attracting environmentally conscious travelers from around the world.
Dining etiquette with protocol expert Fadi LeSidon
Knowledgeable in protocol and etiquette, Fadi LeSidon is a sommelier, hospitality management consultant and faculty member of Sagesse University. Here, he provides a quick guide to dining etiquette..
What’s behind ESG in tourism?
The number of governments and businesses introducing environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks and principles has grown significantly in recent years. But what are the implications of ESG specifically for the tourism industry? Richard Stolz, principal at Roland Berger Middle East’s transportation, tourism and logistics practice in Dubai, provides a pragmatic overview of the latest ESG practices in the sector.