Industry leaders to take part in...

The FHS will comprise two events, taking place in Riyadh and Dubai

Taking place on the 24 and 25 May 2022, the first Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) of the year will be held in the Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel in the Saudi Arabian capital.

The event will serve as a platform for high-level investment communities from diverse, opportunity-packed markets to come together and discuss the future of hospitality in Saudi Arabia, a tourism and hospitality growth market.

The two-day event in Saudi Arabia will be followed by FHS Middle East, focusing on the wider region and taking place in Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE, from 19 to 21 September.

Both events will have a hybrid format for those who would like to access conference sessions remotely

Those able to attend the events in person in Riyadh and Dubai will have access to hundreds of C-level delegates and be able to take advantage of targeted content promotion opportunities through the Hospitality Tomorrow digital media service.

Key topics to be covered during the two-day programme in Riyadh include the future of hotel asset management, hotel technology, loyalty schemes, destination investment, travel and restaurant trends, sustainability and innovation, human capital, the impact of air connectivity and dining in the Metaverse.

Event organisers Bench are working with a handpicked group of advisory board members to help tailor the FHS programmes and discussions to directly address the most pressing needs of the market.

Among the esteemed members in attendance will be Sultan Bader Al-Otaibi, CEO of Dur Hospitality; Haitham Mattar, managing director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG; Ross Veitch, CEO and co-founder of Wego; founder of Gates Hospitality, Naim Maadad; Emma Banks, Hilton vice president of F&B Strategy and Development EMEA, and Connecting Travel’s editorial director Sarah Hedley Hymers.

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Speaking about the summit, advisory board member Naim Maadad said: “I’m delighted to be on the advisory board along with my peers sharing ideas and best practices, and setting the tone of the sector’s exciting future. The Future Hospitality Summit will be a forum where likeminded hospitality and tourism leaders will gather and openly discuss opportunities and possibilities, and draw the future of the sector. A wealth of knowledge, camaraderie and development is shared in such events for the better of the industry.”

Emma Banks, who will also be contributing her expertise at this year’s events, said: “The Future Hospitality Summit will be a great opportunity for the industry to come together to network, collaborate and spark innovation. At this year’s edition, I’ll be speaking about sustainability in F&B, highlighting Hilton’s great work with local suppliers, and I look forward to sharing more details in Riyadh in May.”

Another participating industry heavyweight, Socius Group partner, strategic advisor and coach, David Singleton sees the event as an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s resilience and look ahead at what’s to come.

Singleton said: “Our hospitality industry has been through the toughest period we will ever experience, but the resilience of our people, our brand and the industry has brought us back even stronger. The early post-Covid era for hospitality is at its most exciting and determined; this gathering of the industry’s best will demonstrate this in Riyadh.”

Sarah Hedley Hymers added: “Connecting Travel is proud to be a media partner for the Future Hospitality Summit where industry standards and objectives will be defined, and post-pandemic recovery can be accelerated through dynamic collaboration, partnership and investment. It will be an event not to be missed.”

For more information, visit www.futurehospitalitysummit.com