IHG adds Yas World Resort (formerly Yas Plaza Hotels) to its Vignette Collection, making the 1,400-room, six-hotel Yas Island complex the brand's largest property worldwide.
Aleph Hospitality takes over management of the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan from 1 July 2026, adding the Dubai landmark to a portfolio that already includes two properties in the same owner's Jewel of the Creek complex.
FHS World 2027 will be held at Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah in November, expecting 1,200 delegates including 250 investors from 60+ countries.
Aleph Hospitality added 1,330 keys across nine properties in Nigeria, Pakistan, Dubai, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ivory Coast, targeting 100 hotels under management by end of 2029.
Radisson Hotel Group reports 12 months of regional growth including 1,500+ new keys signed in Saudi Arabia, UAE resort and branded residence projects, and Egypt pipeline targeting 30 hotels by 2030.
FHS World 2026 opened in Dubai with 1,000 delegates from 50 countries, 200+ investors managing over $6 trillion in assets, and 170+ speakers covering investment, sustainability, and technology through October 1.
Aleph Hospitality takes over management of the Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan from 1 July 2026, bringing its Dubai portfolio to three properties including two others in the Jewel of the Creek complex.
Top hospitality investors share views ahead of FHS World 2026 in Dubai, citing cost inflation, geopolitical risk, and selective conviction as defining the current investment climate.
HVS data shows 200,000 rooms worth $90B in the GCC and North Africa pipeline, with Saudi Arabia leading at 110,000 rooms and over 55% of supply due by 2030.
TOURISE 2027 Summit will convene global tourism, technology, and investment leaders in Riyadh on March 23-25, 2027, under the theme "Alliances That Move the World," building on $113B in portfolio investments announced at its 2025 inaugural event.
UAE-based Phoenix Hospitality Group officially launched at Arabian Travel Market, consolidating 15+ properties and F&B concepts under one platform with expansion targets in India, Georgia, Lagos, Zanzibar, and London.
FHS World 2026 takes place at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai from 29 Sept to 1 Oct, featuring 100+ speakers including the UAE Minister of Economy and a focus on investment, innovation, and deal-making.
I see AI as a tool, not a strategy in itself. Today, its greatest value for us is business intelligence: helping our teams analyze information faster, identify patterns, challenge assumptions and give owners better insight into performance.
Chris Nassetta was right to call this AI’s “early days.” However, we are seeing consistent evidence that shows great promise for owners and operators.First, AI improves data consolidation and presentation. For decades, we have been trying to organize and bring data into clear, actionable reports.
Executives from Meliá, Rotana, Wyndham, and STORY Hospitality outline the forces behind branded residences' rise, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE highlighted as top investment markets.
The Bench rebrands its Branded Residences Forum as FHS Living, expanding scope to cover student, senior, co-living and mixed-use assets across Dubai, Cairo, Paris, and Riyadh editions.
The Middle East pipeline hit a record 724 projects/178,003 rooms in Q2 2026, led by Saudi Arabia's 387 projects; LE forecasts 102 new hotel openings in 2028.
Marriott and Misr Italia Properties signed a deal for nine properties totaling 1,500+ keys across Egypt, spanning Ritz-Carlton, Luxury Collection, and Autograph Collection brands.
Amsa Hospitality will manage three Riyadh properties under Hyatt brands for owner Artal Hotels, covering one new-build and two conversions across Al Muhammadiyah, Al Sahafa, and Al Nafel, all expected to open by end of 2026.
Minor Hotels will manage Shurooq's seven nature-led and heritage-inspired boutique properties across Sharjah, with plans to integrate them into its upper-upscale and luxury portfolio following investment and enhancements.
Ongoing geopolitical tensions across the Middle East are having a real commercial impact on hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses worldwide. Uncertainty is now shaping how travellers make decisions — where they go, how far ahead they book, and how confident they feel about travel at all.Airspace restrictions and rising operating costs have dampened visitor demand in some regions, while destinations seen as safer alternatives — particularly in Southern Europe, Asia and the Americas — are picking up displaced demand, especially at the luxury and ultra-luxury end of the market, notoriously oblivious of geopolitical tensions.Investors and developers are also treading more carefully.
Much of the industry conversation has focused on what recent Middle East tensions might take away from travel demand. The more interesting question, from where I sit in Portugal, is where that demand goes instead.In my recent piece on the next European hotel buy cycle, I noted that while top-line demand should remain broadly stable in the short term, it will be increasingly reallocated across destinations.Portugal’s latest tourism statistics show the country entered this recent period of geopolitical tension from a position of sustained strength.