Tag Archives: FHS

Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia 2025 offered a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the importance to modernise hospitality education to meet the growing demands of the sector. The overarching theme centered on the critical importance of investing in human capital, addressing talent shortages, and enhancing the appeal of hospitality careers to young people. The discussions repeatedly emphasized the need for collaboration between educational institutions, industry operators, and government bodies to create sustainable pathways for talent development and retention. Several insights emerged about the integral role of education, leadership, and culture in shaping the future of hospitality in Saudi Arabia and globally.  A recurring theme was the urgent need to modernize hospitality education to meet the growing demands of the sector. Speakers highlighted the inadequacies of traditional educational formats and proposed innovative approaches, such as technology-enabled training, shorter courses, and integrating hospitality education into secondary schools. Vocational training and continuous professional development were underscored as essential components for upskilling and reskilling the workforce. The discussions also stressed the significance of sustainability in attracting and retaining talent, with younger generations increasingly seeking employers with clear sustainability practices and purposes. This calls for educational institutions to update their curricula to reflect modern sustainability practices. Leadership and organizational culture were identified as pivotal factors in enhancing employee engagement and retention. The speakers emphasized creating work environments where employees feel a sense of belonging, respect, and opportunities for growth. Transparent remuneration and development pathways were highlighted as vital in retaining talent, especially in competitive markets. The concept of inverting the organizational pyramid, placing frontline employees at the top, …

Branded residences, one of the fastest-growing sectors in hospitality, will take center stage at FHS World (30 September to 2 October), with a dedicated, full-day conference led by one of the sector’s leading innovators Accor One Living. Debuting at FHS World on 2 October, The Branded Residences Forum will feature workshops and conference sessions exploring the sector’s rapid growth in the Middle East and across the world. The event will examine key topics related to the development and operation of branded residences, including value creation opportunities, the growing array of branding options available to developers, the emerging trend towards standalone branded communities, and the arrival of non-traditional players such as luxury automotive and fashion brands in the sector. Sustainability strategies, legal structuring, design and sales & marketing case studies are also on the robust agenda, along with the exploration of sector-related topics including co-working concepts, the evolution of shared living and the rapid growth of private clubs as places to work. According to Savills Residential Development Consultancy, the branded residences sector has grown by 160 per cent globally over the last decade. By the end of 2023, there were approximately 1,300 projects around the world, with hotel branded residences accounting for 82 per cent of them. Savills data also shows that the Middle East – which is rapidly emerging as a global hub for the sector – currently has 45,000 residential units in 200 branded developments across 80 brands. With a staggering 500 per cent increase in branded residences in the last decade – from 10 in 2014 to 50 in 2023 with another 50 in the pipeline – Dubai is the most active market worldwide and now rivals Miami, New York …

Bringing together government leaders, hotel investors, owners, developers and operators at what is set to be the biggest Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) to date, FHS Saudi Arabia will take place from 7-9 May at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. Launched in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s G20 Secretariat in 2020, FHS Saudi Arabia is the most influential hospitality investment conference for industry leaders and senior decision-makers in the hospitality industry of Saudi Arabia and beyond. This will be the sixth industry conference organised by The Bench for the Saudi market. “We are thrilled to be back in Riyadh in May following the overwhelming success of our sold-out 2022 edition, and we’re delighted to be in a new and larger venue this year thanks to our host sponsors Al Khozama Investment Company and Al Faisaliah Hotel,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. “The demand for our hospitality events in Saudi Arabia continues to grow and with the Kingdom named as the fastest expanding tourism industry within the G20 countries in the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, there will be so much to share about tourism and hospitality investment and development at FHS Saudi Arabia this year.” This year’s conference theme, ‘Invest in Change’, highlights the importance of the positive change that can be brought forward through the investment in time, intellect and expertise in the hospitality industry to keep up with changing times and trends to better shape the future of the industry. The action-packed three-day conference agenda will include tracks from the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will have a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, start-ups and human capital development. “Delegates will have over 50 opportunities to network, learn and …