Tag Archives: hospitality

Minor Hotels signed a strategic hotel management agreement for a prominent beachfront property on Dubai’s iconic Palm West Beach in collaboration with valued partners, Seven Tides. Effective by 1st August 2025, the addition of this new resort and serviced residences—currently operating as Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel—to Minor Hotels’ managed portfolio further strengthens the group’s growing footprint in the United Arab Emirates and establishes it as the largest operator on the Trunk of the Palm. The resort, which includes 273 hotel keys and 287 serviced apartments, boasts a premier beachfront location adjacent to NH Collection Dubai The Palm, which launched in February 2023. This agreement will see Minor Hotels’ total key count on Palm Jumeirah increase to 1,524 keys across three properties including Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort and NH Collection Dubai The Palm under three distinctive brands, reinforcing the group’s long-term commitment to the region. Located on the vibrant Palm West Beach, one of Dubai’s most desirable lifestyle destinations, the property offers direct access to a lively beachfront promenade featuring upscale restaurants, beach clubs, and entertainment venues. Its prime location also places guests within easy reach of major and is a convenient 30-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, making it an ideal choice for both leisure and business travellers. The property comprises a range of room and suite options, and the 287 serviced apartments include studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts. Guests can enjoy six dining venues, from a specialty restaurant and pool bar, along with a private beach, infinity pool, lazy river, and extensive wellness and family-friendly facilities. Minor Hotels will also implement a soft refurbishment of the guest rooms and public spaces prior to a rebranding of …

Sumou Investment and Abu Dhabi Capital Group announced a major Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in investment and development. The agreement marks the beginning of a strategic partnership designed to unlock high-impact opportunities across key sectors, including hospitality, real estate, and infrastructure. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to sustainable growth and economic diversification, aligning with long-term strategic visions in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE.  Both parties view this MOU as a pivotal step toward launching transformative projects that will enhance value creation and drive investment momentum across the Region. As part of the wider Abu Dhabi Capital Group ecosystem, STORY Hospitality — the Group’s hospitality arm — is expected to play a supporting role in hospitality-related initiatives arising from the partnership.

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, …

Sabre Corporation will showcase how its technologies are redefining the travel and hospitality landscape—across the region and around the world at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025. With Sabre and its hospitality division, Sabre Hospitality, participating in five high-impact panel sessions, the company will showcase how its technologies are redefining the travel and hospitality landscape—across the region and around the world. Reaffirming its commitment to transforming the future of travel through intelligent retailing, hyper-personalization, AI-driven innovation, and sustainable practices. As a sponsor of the ATM Future Stage for several years—ATM’s hub for travel technology thought leadership—Sabre continues to lead the industry dialogue, hosting key debates and discussions on the transformation of travel retailing, operational efficiency, and the smarter adoption of emerging technologies across airlines, hotels, and travel sellers. “ATM is a key platform for Sabre to share our vision for a smarter, more connected travel ecosystem,” said Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “From AI and automation to personalized offers and seamless servicing, our focus is on helping travel businesses in the region grow stronger, more agile, and be future-ready.” Among the featured sessions is “Turning Fragmentation into Opportunity for Smarter Retailing,” on Tuesday, April 29 from 15:15–16:00 at the Future Stage. Frank Trampert and Ramzi Al Qassab will be joined by senior leaders from Saudia, Jumeirah, and Almatar to discuss how the industry can overcome technology and content fragmentation. The panel will highlight how collaboration and innovation can turn complexity into opportunity—delivering seamless and connected travel experiences. “Today’s guests are no longer just booking rooms—they’re booking experiences,” said Frank Trampert, Global Managing Director, Community Sales, Sabre Hospitality. “At Sabre Hospitality, we’re empowering hoteliers to rethink …

Sabre Hospitality shared plans to release SynXis Pay, its new solution that eases payment pain points for travelers and hoteliers alike. For travellers, SynXis Pay integrates with over 250 alternative payment methods, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Klarna, WeChat Pay and more, adding much needed flexibility when it comes to checking out on their favorite hotel websites. Additionally, it enables a new express checkout experience in SynXis Booking Engine if the guest selects Apple Pay or Google Pay. Those integrations are just one part of the equation. For hotels, SynXis Pay greatly reduces the complexity of managing multiple payment types in one place. SynXis Pay’s orchestration layer – powered by CellPoint Digital, the leader in payment orchestration –optimizes global payment acceptance by seamlessly connecting to multiple gateways and dynamically enabling the most relevant payment methods based on the guest’s location. In collaboration with other payment partners within the ecosystem, hotels can customize payouts in their local currency, converting from the guest’s preferred currency. This minimizes exposure to foreign exchange rates and simplifies reconciliation. Plus, the enhanced guest experience contributes to increased conversion rates. “At Sabre Hospitality, we love to solve complex travel challenges in ways that benefit both our customers and travelers,” said Juan Abello, Vice President of Product Management at Sabre Hospitality. “SynXis Pay is a prime example of that mission, offering travelers the flexibility and personalization they desire, while simplifying the resulting output and payout for our hoteliers. For some time, both sides of hospitality transactions have been hungry for improved payment processes. This is the truest definition of a ‘win-win’ scenario.” SynXis Pay will be released in phases over the coming months.

Hotel Management Company “Adeera” signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism to open new horizons for developing the hospitality and tourism sector in the Kingdom. This agreement aims to enhance national capabilities, creating new opportunities, exchange expertise and knowledge, and launch specialized training initiatives. These efforts align with the national tourism strategy and Adeera’s goals to strengthen the commitment of developing exceptional hospitality experiences and elevating Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector in line with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Through this partnership, Adeera seeks to strengthen the Kingdom’s position on the global tourism map and transform Saudi Arabia into an exceptional tourist destination sought by the world, highlighting the Kingdom’s hospitable nature with national expertise capable of providing exceptional services and experiences. The memorandum includes key pillars to developing the tourism sector in the Kingdom, including: Workforce Planning: Building clear career paths and quality job opportunities, enhancing national capabilities and efficiency. Training, Development, and Localization: Designing specialized training programs to prepare Saudis for work in the hospitality sector, with incentives to promote employment through attractive support packages. Quality Improvement: Collaborating with leading educational institutions to provide innovative educational programs that ensure the highest standards in tourism education. Supporting Tourism Projects: Facilitating procedures and promoting the growth of tourism projects, enhancing the presence and visibility of Adeera in the sector. On this occasion, Mr. Stefan Leser, CEO of “Adeera,” expressed his affirmation of the importance of this strategic partnership in supporting and empowering the tourism infrastructure. He added: “At Adeera, we believe in the importance of developing qualified national talents equipped with the skills and expertise to compete on the global stage.” He further stated, “Our aim is not …

The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) announced its new partnership with Chapter Zero Egypt, a collaboration poised to transform the hospitality industry’s approach to sustainability and propel the concept of Net Positive Hospitality throughout the region and beyond. Chapter Zero Egypt is a vital member of the global Climate Governance Initiative, working alongside the World Economic Forum to equip boards with the necessary skills, tools, and processes to meet their fiduciary responsibilities in the face of climate change. This initiative aims to enhance climate governance across organizations, providing engagement opportunities to develop essential knowledge and practices. The partnership, signed during the Annual Conference of Chapter Zero Egypt, marks a significant step in the Alliance’s ongoing mission to advance sustainability within Egypt’s hospitality sector. Through collaboration with Chapter Zero Egypt, the Alliance aims to: • Enhance Awareness: Develop comprehensive educational programs focused on the importance of sustainability and best practices within the hospitality industry. • Mobilise Expertise: Engage leaders from various industries to lend their expertise in the practical implementation of sustainable practices. • Facilitate Dialogue: Organise roundtables to share insights, recommendations, and tackle pressing sustainability challenges. • Access Financial Solutions: Offer pathways to secure funding for sustainability projects in the sector. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are delighted to partner with Chapter Zero – Egypt to share our knowledge and expertise in addressing sustainability challenges within the sector. This groundbreaking partnership will foster collaboration throughout Egypt’s hospitality industry and strengthen our commitment to sustainability and climate governance.” Ayman Salah, Founder & Executive Director of CHAPTER ZERO EGYPT highlighted the importance of cooperating with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance …

Dubai College of Tourism (DCT)  has partnered with Coursera to reach 155 million learners worldwide. Through this collaboration, DCT will introduce 16 new courses focused on essential skills in the tourism and hospitality sectors, including hospitality marketing, budgeting and events, revenue management, inventory management, front office operations, housekeeping, and many more. The global hospitality sector is expected to grow to $4.99 trillion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%. In the GCC, the industry is set to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2023 and 2028, reflecting the region’s continued investment in the sector. With this growth comes a rising demand for skilled professionals, underscoring the need for targeted education. This partnership with Coursera helps address the talent gap in the industry and supports efforts to equip learners across the region and beyond with the skills needed to thrive in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of Dubai College of Tourism, said: “Our partnership with Coursera represents a significant advancement in our mission to provide world-class tourism and hospitality education, aligned with Dubai’s vision to become a global hub for business and tourism. By leveraging Coursera’s cutting-edge platform and our expertise in tourism and hospitality training programmes, we are confident that our 16 new courses will make a meaningful impact on the careers of learners worldwide. This collaboration also underscores our commitment to inclusive education and our dedication to shaping the future of the industry. Together with Coursera, we aim to contribute to the talent pipeline, fostering a new generation of tourism professionals equipped with the skills and knowledge to excel in a rapidly evolving landscape.” “This partnership with the Dubai …

Taiba Investments unveiled a strategic partnership with Hilton to bring the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand to the holy city of Madinah. Signed during the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World in Dubai, this agreement underscores Taiba Investments’ ongoing expansion into the high-end hospitality market and further reinforces the company’s commitment to elevating Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector by partnering with world-renowned hospitality companies such as Hilton. Commenting on the partnership, Sultan Al Otaibi, CEO, Taiba Investments, said: “This agreement marks a pivotal moment in our strategic growth, reflecting our unwavering commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s hospitality offering across diverse segments. Our collaboration with Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts will elevate tourism and hospitality by delivering an extraordinary guest experience in line with the “Pilgrim Experience Program”. This project not only reaffirms our leadership in the sector but also highlights our dedication to Saudi Vision 2030 by providing world-class accommodation that honor the Kingdom’s rich heritage.” Set to open in 2028, Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will mark the debut of the award-winning brand in Madinah, introducing its unparalleled standards of luxury and signature service to the holy city. Uniquely situated on the northern side of the Prophet’s Mosque (PBUH), the hotel boasts exclusive, direct views of the holy site and is only a few minutes’ walk away. Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, Middle East and Africa, Hilton, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Taiba Investments through this remarkable project. Saudi Arabia remains one of our fastest-growing markets where we plan to grow our footprint to exceed 100 hotels in the coming years. Waldorf Astoria Al Madinah will bring the brand’s timeless hospitality and elegant service …

Future Hospitality Summit World unveiled its stellar line up of speakers, an action-packed agenda and a wealth of new features at its biggest event to date, which will see more than 1,500 hospitality and tourism leaders descend on Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, 30 September to 2 October with TravTalk Middle East. Under the theme ‘Invest in our Future’, the FHS World programme will present three days of strong debate, insight and groundbreaking news, covering everything from investment opportunities to innovation and ESG to exclusive announcements. Among more than 110 confirmed top-flight speakers and presenters at FHS World is His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy for the UAE who, having played a crucial role in developing some of country’s most important hospitality and tourism policies, will share his insights on the world of hospitality investment in a welcome address moderated by Stephen Sackur, Presenter of HARDTalk, on 1 October. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of FHS World organiser, The Bench, said: “FHS World is all about bringing together the best in the industry and connecting decision-makers, investors, hotel owners, operators and innovators across the global hospitality investment sector. As the hospitality and tourism industry reaches new heights in terms of investment, innovation and sustainability, our bursting agenda will push boundaries and challenge the norms to set the tone for the immediate, short-term and long-term future and success of the ever-growing and evolving sector. We look forward to three days of strong discussion, hot debate and industry-changing decision making it our biggest, boldest event yet.” Who is speaking at FHS World? The growing list of speakers at FHS World features renowned names in hospitality, investment and tourism. Among them: His Excellency …