WTTC's Executive Council approved eight strategic priorities covering digital journeys, sustainability, AI, connectivity, and workforce, shaped by 200+ CEO interviews.
WTTC urges calm and evidence-based responses to the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda, warning that misinformation and overbroad travel restrictions risk harming unaffected African destinations.
FHS Saudi Arabia's Startup Den returns for 2026, with six finalists pitching live for prizes including FHS World access and curated meetings with VCs and investors.
FHS Saudi Arabia (22-24 June, Riyadh) previews the Kingdom's 358,000-room pipeline and investment outlook, featuring perspectives from Wyndham, The First Group, Amsa, and Ewaa Hotel Group.
The Middle East hotel construction pipeline hit a record 717 projects and 177,110 rooms in Q1 2026, up 13% YOY, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE leading by project count.
WTTC gathered former presidents, ministers and industry CEOs aboard Crystal Serenity for unprecedented leadership summit focused on accelerating global tourism recovery through enhanced public-private collaboration.
WTTC's four-decade analysis shows tourism contributed $11.6 trillion to global GDP in 2025 and confirms destinations always recover from crises with strong government leadership.
UAE hospitality leaders and Minister of Economy discuss recovery strategies amid regional conflicts, with Oxford Economics forecasting resilient long-term demand despite near-term challenges.
WTTC brings together 300+ industry leaders aboard Crystal Serenity to discuss global tourism recovery, with Egypt showcasing tourism revenue growth from $4.9B to $18B+.
The summit returns to Riyadh with 1,100+ expected attendees and focus on $1.6 billion in business opportunities generated in 2025.
Two 200-key Holiday Inn properties will open in 2029 and 2030, adding to IHG's 10 existing Egypt hotels and 23-property pipeline.
WTTC data shows Middle East tourism GDP reached $385.8 billion in 2025, with Saudi Arabia leading at $178 billion and business travel spending surging 23% regionwide.
Q1 revenues reached $921 million with 35 million loyalty members, as international stays drove 69% of room revenues across the independent hotel alliance.
The partnership will explore a mixed-use mountain development at Jabal Bausher, featuring a hotel, private residences, and lifestyle components integrated across distinct elevation tiers.
The $1 billion deal will create 5,000-7,000 rooms by 2029, targeting Saudi Arabia's underserved mid-market business travel segment through a vertically integrated platform.
The 90-second film features Emirati poet Shamma Al Bastaki and director Emmanuel Adjei, using light as a metaphor across Jumeirah's global portfolio.
The Spanish hotel group will explore development opportunities in Jeddah and Yanbu as part of its 13-property expansion plan through 2028.
Middle East leads globally with $183 ARR while the industry shifts toward institutional investors and AI integration reaching 89% adoption by next year.
ADR reached AED846.34 (+10.4%) and RevPAR hit AED720.98 (+9.9%), driven by conferences like WCO Technology and concerts by Lewis Capaldi and Linkin Park.
The expansion includes management of two iconic properties in Luxor and Aswan plus the brand's first luxury Nile river cruise, all opening in 2027.