Hilton to quadruple its presence in KSA over the next few years
Hilton has unveiled its plans to open over 50 new hotels across 10 of its brands, making the country the company’s largest pipeline market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Hilton has accelerated its growth strategy in Saudi Arabia in recent years, announcing multiple signings as the company works towards its plans to increase its portfolio to more than 75 trading properties across the country.
Crafting exceptional guest experiences with Mehdi Zaanoun
Mehdi Zaanoun, a seasoned hospitality expert and the GM of Four Seasons Resort and Residences at The Pearl-Qatar, talks about his two decades of expertise in crafting extraordinary guest experiences through authentic and intuitive service.
A new chapter in the region’s growth story
Strategic master plans and reforms point to a growing appetite for hospitality investment and development across the GCC, bringing opportunities to benefit from attractive returns and contribute to the growth and diversification of regional economies. f, president, HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia, maps out the openings and challenges, and crunches the numbers.
Dubai breaks the record of international visitation in H1 2023
Dubai’s resurgent tourism industry is celebrating a successful first half of 2023, after welcoming a record 8.55 million international overnight visitors, compared to 8.36 million tourists in H1 2019.
A new chapter with Eddy Tannous, COO of Rotana
With over two decades of experience in the hospitality sector across the Middle East, Eddy Tannous has held prominent positions at major hotel brands. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of operations at Fairmont, overseeing the operational performance across the brand’s Middle East and Asian properties.
Shaping the future of gastronomy with Valrhona’s new Essentials recipes
The revisited Essentials — a collection of must-have recipes from L’École Valrhona — was launched at Sirha 2023 and will be officially introduced in the Middle East on September 14, 2023, at the SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences. Chefs from the Middle East, Africa and India will join Valrhona for an afternoon of “measured” indulgence. In addition, a digital version of the event with a live feed will be made available for Cercle V chefs who cannot attend in person.
5 minutes with chef Simon Mouannes
Executive chef and consultant Simon Mouannes believes that in order to become a great chef, one must work with the best in the business. Here, he gives us a taste of the Saudi market and his upcoming projects.
Tech talk with Diego Martin, commercial manager for Furukawa Electric EMEA
As commercial manager for Furukawa Electric in EMEA, Diego Martin is an expert in the telecommunications market. Here, he sheds light on how Furukawa is helping hotels become digitally advanced to meet the needs of modern travelers.
60 seconds with Mary Choueiry, director of PR and MC at InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut
Mary Choueiry, director of PR and marketing communications at InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, lifts the lid on what’s new at the iconic hotel and how it is enhancing its luxury offering.
Growing with the Middle East
With regional tourism in the midst of a robust rebound, the timing is ideal for businesses across the industry to put their own expansion plans into practice. It’s all about seizing the moment, according to Naim Maadad, chief executive and founder, Gates Hospitality.