Boutique Group signed MoU with Sommet Education. Sommet Education will support Boutique Group through customized and bespoke training pathways, enabling Boutique Group employees to benefit from Sommet Education’s vast experience in crafting hospitality programs, tailored to the talent development of the company’s employees. As Boutique Group continues to recruit talent, locally and internationally, Sommet Education has the opportunity to play a significant role through its established network to ensure that the unique talents from its Hospitality schools join the Boutique Group’s team. A leading international network of hospitality management and culinary arts schools, Sommet Education encompasses prestigious institutions such as Swiss originated hospitality business schools Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches, together with culinary and pastry arts school École Ducasse. Boutique Group is a one-of-a-kind hospitality company developed to deliver a unique ultra-luxury Saudi experience that contributes to the local economy and enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading cultural tourism destination in line with the Vision 2030. The collaboration between Boutique Group and Sommet Education will focus on three main areas: training programs, recruitment, and internships. Boutique Group will offer internship programs for students, providing them with invaluable hands-on training and experience. In turn this will help to establish a talent network, ensuring a flow of passionate individuals who are familiar with the company’s ethos and standards.

Radisson Hotel Group revealed at the Future Hospitality Summit 2023 its latest target to reach 100 operational hotels in the Middle East by 2026. Radisson Hotel Group cements its position as one of the leading international hotel groups in the Middle East with the signing of 11 hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments to date across the region in 2023. With a strong belief in the future of the travel industry in the region, the Group has set its sights on grander goals, planning 150 properties in operation and under development by 2030 across the Middle East. After an impressive track record of new signings and significant partnerships, Radisson Hotel Group’s strategic focus remains on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Simultaneously, the Group is making significant strides in the wider Middle East region, including Iraq, Oman, and Jordan, underlining its ambitious plan to develop more than 90 hotels across its ten distinct brands.  

An official UAE delegation led by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, will be in France this week to explore further development of economic partnerships between the two countries. The visit will focus on enhancing partnerships in the sectors of trade, entrepreneurship, tourism, aviation, travel, new and circular economies, education, health, energy, anti-money laundering, space, AI, and intellectual property in particular. H.E. Bin Touq will hold several bilateral meetings with French ministers, officials, and private sector representatives to further enhance the economic and trade relations between the two sides by exploring more promising investment opportunities. The Minister of Economy will also participate in a meeting with the private sector, which will also be attended by several officials from both sides, to highlight the promising investment and commercial opportunities offered by the UAE economy. It will turn the spotlight on the advantages that the UAE’s business environment offers to investors and entrepreneurs, especially since French investments in the UAE continue to grow. More than 12,500 French economic licenses are active in the UAE as of July 10, 2023. H.E. Bin Touq will visit some of the largest business incubators and accelerators in France, namely ‘Station F’ and the ‘Airbus’ Creative Center to exchange experiences and best practices in entrepreneurship, startups and technology, and to learn more about their operations. In addition, he will visit the First Abu Dhabi Bank branch in France.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister, and Chairman of Soudah Development has launched the masterplan to develop Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa into Soudah Peaks – a luxury mountain tourism destination set 3,015 meters above sea level on Saudi Arabia’s highest peak, contributing more than SAR 29 billion to the Kingdom’s cumulative GDP, and creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities. It is strategically aligned with Vision 2030 goals of expanding tourism and entertainment, supporting economic growth and attracting investments. Situated within an extraordinary natural and cultural environment in the Aseer region (southwest Saudi Arabia), the project is a key part of the Public Investment Fund (PIF)’s efforts to diversify the economy by expanding vital industries such as tourism, hospitality, and entertainment, and supporting Aseer development strategy. HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of Soudah Development’s Board of Directors, stated that Soudah Peaks represents a new era of luxury mountain tourism by providing an unprecedented living experience while preserving the natural environment, cultural, and heritage richness.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announced the addition of InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh Resort & Spa to its portfolio of resorts in KSA, and debuting its first urban luxury resort and spa in Riyadh. After a 45 million SAR refurbishment, the stunning property is now the first InterContinental Resort in Riyadh, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle collection. Located at the northern gate of Riyadh, the resort resides on 154,000 sqm of a lush green oasis with a lagoon and exclusive cascades for guests to unwind and relax. The resort offers 162 extensive guestrooms, suites and stately private villas each with a private outdoor swimming pool, six dining outlets and exclusive Club InterContinental privileges and lounge access. “Durrat al Riyadh’s heritage as a place to escape to has been reimagined with an array of ways to unwind, celebrate and retreat. We can’t wait to welcome our guests from both near and far to experience the resort and our service,” says General Manager Marc Reissinger. “InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh Resort & Spa will set the tone for unbounded adventure in the area, marrying deep knowledge of the destination with an understanding of what luxury means to the discerning modern-day traveller.”

Kanoo Travel and Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) have signed a travel services agreement. The agreement will provide ADDC employees, and their families access to Kanoo Travel’s comprehensive travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and travel insurance. Aubrey Heldt, Divisional General Manager in Operations of Kanoo Travel, said, “We are delighted to partner with ADDC, one of the most important government entities in Abu Dhabi. This agreement is a testament to our commitment to providing our clients with the highest quality travel services and our strong relationships with leading companies in the region.” Kanoo Travel Divisional CEO Zaeem Gama, commented, “The service agreement is a significant milestone in our pursuit of innovation and consumer experience. Our partnership with ADDC adds a distinct and compelling dynamic as we unlock an exceptional potential to serve our high-profile clients with unique opportunities for travel suited to their specific needs.” “We are forging an innovative path in the sector by leveraging our skills to push the boundaries of travel management and provide remarkable experiences that exceed expectations. This agreement highlights our dedication to staying ahead of changing industry trends and cements our position as a leader in the field of travel management”, Gama added.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Mubadala Foundation signed a partnership agreement, where the latter will contribute AED 50 million to the emirate’s cultural industry over the next five years in a first-of-its-kind agreement. The partnership marks a significant step forward in their shared mission to transform and elevate the emirate’s vast cultural landscape, with Mubadala Foundation also being appointed as an ‘Education & Community Partner’ of DCT Abu Dhabi’s across the culture sector, including the Saadiyat Cultural District and other similar sites. The close cooperation between DCT Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Foundation presents an important commitment to fostering cultural programmes and initiatives, including projects with the renowned Louvre Abu Dhabi and the highly anticipated Zayed National Museum. His Excellency Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “At DCT Abu Dhabi, we have cultivated compelling partnerships that are central to community development and fuel economic progress that aid Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions. Our commitment to this is reinforced by the signing of this partnership with Mubadala Foundation, underscoring our promise to transform the emirate into a global centre for culture and creativity. Through this stakeholder collaboration, we are poised to deliver unparalleled experiences to visitors from around the globe and enable the creation of a dynamic cultural ecosystem that invites exploration and engagement.”  

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have signed a pioneering agreement that opens a new chapter for cultural collaboration, chartering the course for a new phase in AlUla’s long history as a nexus for cultural exchange and development. The agreement was announced at the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee, chaired by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh this month. It launches Phase 2 of the five-year umbrella accord that RCU and UNESCO signed in November 2021 encompassing heritage conservation and interpretation, safeguarding intangible and tangible cultural heritage, engagement, capacity-building, and creative arts. Phase 2 of the partnership focuses on two main projects: an Integrated Cultural Programme for the development of AlUla, and the advancement of the UNESCO/Kingdoms Institute Fellowship Programme focusing on heritage and archaeology. The RCU-UNESCO Integrated Cultural Programme, which is the centrepiece of the new agreement, will over the next two years provide technical assistance and capacity building, support in the development of international networks, and enhance visibility and recognition of cultural heritage and creativity as a driver of AlUla’s sustainable development. It will also address the role heritage and creativity can play in building sustainable cities and regions, building social capital through a culture-engaged, people-centred development model for AlUla.  

Rotana announced at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS), its growing pipeline as it looks to expand its operations with 30 planned openings in the next three years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains a key focus for the hospitality brand as it signed four “Edge by Rotana” and one “Rayhaan by Rotana” properties in Riyadh earlier this year. The new hotels will add an impressive 618 keys to Rotana’s expansive portfolio in the Kingdom. In line with Rotana’s ambitious goal to triple the number of rooms it currently runs in the Kingdom to 6,000 over the next four years, the group added an “Edge by Rotana” property in Al Baha to its portfolio in 2023. Across the region, Rotana is gearing up to open several new properties during the last quarter of 2023, leveraging the buoyant hospitality trade. For the remainder of 2023, Rotana will see the opening of Riviera Rayhaan by Rotana in Doha, Qatar and Bomonti Arjaan by Rotana in Istanbul Türkiye. Commenting on the announcement, Makram El Zyr, Corporate Vice President of Development at Rotana, said: “We are excited to be participating in the Future Hospitality Summit again this year, offering a fantastic opportunity for Rotana to showcase its latest developments and connect with industry peers. Leveraging our keen understanding of the market, we look forward to further developing our brand presence across the region as well as entering new markets globally, always delivering on our brand promise of ‘Treasured Time’ to guests across the world.”

Cruise Saudi’s AROYA Cruises promises a design- led, luxurious environment from which to explore the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, and Cruise Saudi has announced that it will be collaborating with leading brands in cruise ship design, SMC and PARTNER SHIP DESIGN (PSD) to support in this vision. SMC, the original designer of AROYA Cruises first ship, has been chosen as the lead designer for the refurbishment project. As lead designer, SMC will provide interior and architectural design, branding and art consultancy to Cruise Saudi for its visionary new cruise line. Based in London, SMC are an established design firm and a pioneer within the maritime interior design arena. Hamburg-based firm PSD has been assigned by Cruise Saudi as a partner designer. PSD provides ship design and building services, with expertise in new ship builds, refurbishments and conversions of cruise ships, river cruises, yachts and ferries. As a design partner for AROYA Cruises, PSD will perform the interior design, design details and documentations, follow-ups, and engineering support. Commenting on the announcement, Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: “We are delighted to be working with some of the best visionary innovators in cruise ship design for our premium cruise offering, AROYA Cruises. Working with sector-leading experts such as SMC and PSD will play a crucial role in ensuring that AROYA Cruises offers a comfortable, luxurious and inspiring environment from which passengers can enjoy the highest standard of service and facilities.” AROYA Cruises is Saudi’s first cruise line, designed for nationals, expatriates and regional guests. Announced in June 2023, AROYA Cruises will offer a premium travel experience from booking to boarding and beyond.