The Middle East is increasingly asserting its role as a pivotal force in global tourism, both as a high-value outbound market and as a destination defined by immersive, experience-led travel. With a forward-looking strategy, Meliá Hotels International has taken a significant step in its regional growth by announcing its first property in Bahrain, set within the exclusive enclave of Amwaj Island.
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Al Ashraaf Developments to launch Holiday Inn Cairo Al Obour. This 170-key property will be located in Al Obour City, an urban fast-growing destination northeast of Cairo recognised for its connectivity to Cairo International Airport and proximity to large-scale residential, commercial, and industrial developments.
Leading luxury hospitality and branded residential company Four Seasons in partnership with Red Sea Global announce Four Seasons Private Residences Red Sea at Shura Island. Located within The Red Sea, Red Sea Global's flagship regenerative tourism development, just 75 Four Seasons residences are being released. Comprised of 43 Dune Villas and 32 Waterside Villas, each home will embody elegant design, personalized service, and seamless living on Shura Island.
Accor, a global leader in hospitality, is pleased to announce the signing of Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah, a landmark property located in the heart of makkah, within walking distance of the holy mosque. Set to open in 2026, this hotel will be the largest sofitel property in the world, with 1,141 rooms and suites.
In the future, brands and OTAs will need to: Reduce their inventory and storytelling — so it's portable, embeddable, and instantly bookable anywhere. Invest in API-first distribution — enabling social, AI, and agent ecosystems to transact on their behalf.
That's an interesting question. However, I don't believe social media will become transactional when it comes to travel and hospitality. That doesn't mean it can't and won't become so for other industries - I can see this already happening for everyday purchases: apparel, jewelry, consumer goods, clothings, etc.
Good one! 💡 I definitely get a lot of product and service inspiration through my social media feeds. Entertainment is a big factor, but as someone tied into the hospitality sector, I particularly enjoy seeing industry offerings—whether that's cutting-edge technology or tangible experiences like hotels, resorts, and restaurants.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced it has surpassed the milestone of 100 hotels trading and in the pipeline in Saudi Arabia – representing a combined investment of USD $8 billion from hotel owners and investors into Hilton’s growing portfolio, and underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to supporting Vision 2030 by expanding its footprint and delivering world-class hospitality throughout the Kingdom. The announcement was made ahead of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Saudi Arabia, a global forum that convenes world leaders, policymakers, and investors to discuss the future of global investment and economic trends.
Set among coral reefs, turquoise lagoons, and soft white sands, Shura Island opens as the beating heart of The Red Sea, the place where the destination truly comes alive. As the vibrant hub of this pioneering new world of travel, the island brings together world-class hospitality, adventure, and relaxation across one extraordinary setting. Master planned by Foster + Partners, the island’s design takes inspiration from the Coral Bloom vision. Shaped to blend seamlessly with its surrounding land and sea, Shura captures the destination’s spirit of energy, culture, and connection, an island alive with beauty and purpose.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of an agreement with The Zubair Corporation to open three hotels in Muscat under the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton brands – doubling its footprint in the Sultanate. The signings mark the debut of the iconic Waldorf Astoria brand in Oman and underscore Hilton’s plans to diversify its portfolio and deliver trusted hospitality to emerging and established destinations across the region.
The shift toward experience-based booking is absolutely transforming the game. AI can finally solve the paradox of choice. Hotels can now showcase everything they offer but in a way that's targeted and relevant. Don't sell me a romantic getaway when I'm traveling alone.
There is a massive industry gap here. Full stop. Discussion about this capability in the industry is topical. Those in a position to enable it are few, if even thinking about it. Packages are a clumsy solution to the underlying problem of being able to successfully deliver rooms digitally.
If the game has shifted...so must our KPIs. Today's revenue leaders must zoom out and focus on TRevPAR, capturing not just what happens in the room, but around it. Whether you're luxury or budget, you can take advantage of experiential revenue, something that thanks to digitalization, every hotel can play (and not only ultra-luxury resorts).
Accor, a global hospitality leader with a portfolio of more than 5,700 properties across 110+ countries, is pleased to announce the signing of the Creekside Hotel in Dubai, one of the city's most iconic hospitality and sporting landmarks. Owned by Dubai Duty Free and operated by United Hospitality Management, the hotel will join the Accor network under a white-label franchise agreement before being fully repositioned and added to the MGallery Collection following a detailed renovation plan.
Rising above Bahrain's capital with 594 residential-style studios, suites, and penthouses - all featuring fully-equipped kitchens - Hilton Bahrain City Centre Hotel & Residences will introduce a new standard of extended-stay and short-stay hospitality to the Kingdom. Guests will enjoy four inviting restaurants and lounges, multiple swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre with a state-of-the-art fitness facility, Kids and Teens Clubs, and sweeping views of the city skyline and the Arabian Gulf.
Knight Frank is anticipating an active market for hotel deals in the UAE as the Emirates continue to be a magnet for hospitality capital. In its UAE Hospitality Market Review – Autumn 2025, the global property consultancy says an increasing range of regional and international investors are being attracted to a maturing market characterised by strong growth fundamentals and a deepening pool of institutional capital.
Online personalisation is easy, as it's mostly a pattern-matching algorithm between known guest likes and available services, and the results are pumped out via emails or into a guest portal. It isn’t personalisation, rather it is just mass customisation.
We all talk about personalization, but I worry that we lack a common and agreed definition of the term - a definition that is crucial if we are to deliver on the personalization promise.
The problem isn't that personalization fails on property. The problem starts much earlier: we still don't speak the right language of guest experience in the digital space. Take booking. A traveler may want a big bed, a walk-in shower, and a quiet location.
Online personalisation is easy, as it's mostly a pattern-matching algorithm between known guest preferences and available services. It isn't personalisation, rather just mass customisation. On property, a guest walking around is essentially anonymous, even after checking in.
This is a question at the heart of hospitality’s digital transformation. Hotels excel at digital personalisation (curated offers, smooth booking, and tailored communications) because online, data is structured, accessible, and actionable.
Future Hospitality Summit - FHS World has unveiled its line-up of over 200 high-level speakers and an action-packed agenda for its biggest summit to date, which will see more than 1,600 hospitality and tourism leaders descend on Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, 27-29 October.
Saudi entrepreneur Mr. Mohammed Khalid A. Sabbagh has announced plans to open a new Ramada by Wyndham hotel in Madinah, one of the world's most revered destinations for Muslim travellers.
Novotel Cairo Airport is now offering guests the option to stay in newly renovated rooms, designed to deliver enhanced comfort, style, and functionality. These updated accommodations are part of the hotel's ongoing efforts to refresh and upgrade its facilities while maintaining the welcoming atmosphere for which it is known.
Set along the white sand of Shura Island on Saudi Arabia's western coastline, EDITION reveals its second property in the country with the opening of The Red Sea EDITION, following its debut in Jeddah last year. Synonymous with redefining the codes of traditional luxury, the newest EDITION is positioning itself as the premiere hotel to launch on the island and embodies the country's visionary roadmap.
Ennismore, the lifestyle hospitality group behind brands such as SO/, SLS, and Hyde, has announced the upcoming SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, set to open later this year on the UAE's Al Marjan Island. The new property will mark SO/'s first all-inclusive resort outside Europe and Ennismore's debut lifestyle hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, reinforcing the company's growing presence in the luxury all-inclusive segment.