From Real Estate to Lifestyle: The Evolution of Branded Living
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.
Press Releases
The Bench Rebrands ‘Branded Residences Forum’ as ‘FHS Living’
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.
Middle East Hotel Construction Pipeline Reaches New All-Time High of 724 Projects/178,003 Rooms; LE Releases 2028 New Hotel Openings Forecast
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.
Middle East Travel & Tourism Faces Temporary Headwinds But Remains the World's Strongest Long-Term Growth Story
WTTC forecasts a 14.5% contraction in Middle East tourism GDP in 2026 due to conflict, but projects 6.3% annual growth through 2036, making it the world's fastest-growing tourism region.
Marriott International Announces Landmark Agreement with Misr Italia Properties and People & Places for over 1,500 keys across Egypt
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, Artal Hotels, and Hyatt Announce Memorandum of Understanding for Three Hotels in Riyadh
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 Appointed by Shurooq to Manage Sharjah Collection, UAE
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.
IHG to introduce all its Luxury & Lifestyle brands to Saudi Arabia by 2028
IHG has 48 open hotels and 62 in the pipeline in Saudi Arabia, with Six Senses, Regent, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo and Vignette Collection all entering the market by 2028.
Blacksand and Marriott International Announce Landmark Deal to Open 10 Hotels in Saudi Arabia
Blacksand and Marriott will develop 10 hotels with 1,300+ rooms across Saudi Arabia by 2030, spanning luxury to extended-stay brands, with 6,000+ jobs created and 60% allocated to Saudi nationals.
Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia officially opens in Riyadh
FHS Saudi Arabia 2026 opens at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah with 150+ speakers, covering hospitality investment across real estate, technology, wellness, and branded residences over three days.
Robert De Niro Unveils First Nobu Residences in Egypt as part of Nobu Hospitality’s Landmark Expansion in the Country in Partnership with SODIC
Nobu and Egyptian developer SODIC are bringing three hotel, residences, and restaurant destinations to Egypt spanning the North Coast, New Cairo, and West Cairo, with openings phased through 2027.
FHS Saudi Arabia to take the stage in Riyadh tomorrow
FHS Saudi Arabia 2026 opens in Riyadh on 22–24 June at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, with investors representing $4.99 trillion AUM attending the Kingdom's leading hospitality deal-making forum.
GAME ON: HOW GLOBAL SPORTS EVENTS RESHAPE CITIES, INVESTMENT & TOURISM
Four hospitality executives outline how Saudi Arabia can convert mega-events like Riyadh Expo 2030 and FIFA 2034 into decades of tourism growth by prioritising legacy, infrastructure alignment, and mixed-use development over short-term RevPAR gains.
FHS WORLD ANNOUNCES FIRST SPEAKERS FOR 2026 EDITION
FHS World 2026, themed "Reinvest in our Future," runs 29 Sep to 1 Oct at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, with 30 speakers confirmed including executives from Kerzner, Marriott, Radisson, and Rotana.
WTTC Announces the Global Priorities Approved by its Executive Council to Unlock Growth and Drive Transformation in Travel & Tourism Forward
WTTC's Executive Council approved eight strategic priorities covering digital journeys, sustainability, AI, connectivity, and workforce, shaped by 200+ CEO interviews.
WTTC Calls for Calm and Coordinated Response as Ebola Outbreak Remains a Localised Health Challenge
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 celebrates entrepreneurship as Startup Den returns for 2026 edition
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 pre-event feature: hospitality investment outlook
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.
Middle East Hotel Construction Pipeline Shows Positive Growth in Q1 2026; Reaches a Record High 717 Projects
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.
Historic WTTC Recovery and Leadership Cruise Concludes in Egypt, Marking a New Chapter for Travel & Tourism
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.