What the Saudi Green Initiative Is and Why It Matters to Hospitality
The 2021 national initiative shapes hotel development in destinations like NEOM and Red Sea, embedding sustainability from design through operations.
News
Reimagining the Guest Experience Through Sustainability in the UAE
In the world of hospitality, sustainability is frequently discussed in terms of technology and operations such as LED lighting, water-saving systems, and local produce. These are meaningful steps, and many hotels across the Emirates have successfully adopted them. However, sustainability isn’t just a feature or a checklist; It is a mindset, and one that should be experienced by guests, not just practiced behind the scenes.
By Nicolas Chammaa, General Manager, Rotana
The Visionary Shift: Redefining Luxury in the Age of Conscious Travel
In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia 2025 taking place in Riyadh next week, we asked several industry partners about the opportunities they see for the hospitaliy industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2025 and beyond.
By Ron Pohl, President, WorldHotels and International Operations, BWH Hotels
Premier Inn and Emirates Leisure Retail Support 18th Emirates Physical Fitness Championship for People of Determination
Team members from Premier Inn Middle East, in collaboration with Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR), participated in the 18th Emirates Physical Fitness Championship for People of Determination organised by the Emirates Autism Center. As part of the initiative, they distributed 500 lunch boxes to children with autism at a special fitness event at Al Jazira Club in Abu Dhabi on 24 April.
IHG Academy Partners with Queen Rania Foundation and Edraak to Launch "Careers in Hospitality" MOOC for Jordan
IHG Academy, a world class hospitality education and training programme, is proud to announce its partnership with the Queen Rania Foundation (QRF) and Edraak, a pioneering massive open online course (MOOC) platform, to launch a new Arabic-language course titled "Careers in Hospitality." This initiative aims to provide aspiring hospitality professionals in Jordan with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse and dynamic world of hospitality careers.
SPARK & Google.org launch Maharat for Tourism e-learning hub in Egypt
SPARK, in partnership with EYouth and with support from Google.org, has launched the Maharat for Tourism E-Learning Hub in Egypt - a pioneering platform designed to equip 25,000 individuals across the MENA region with essential skills for the tourism industry (Maharat.SPARK.Ngo/).
Charting a New Course in Hospitality: The ESG Impact
The theme for the Future Hospitality Summit - FHS World 2024, taking place from 30 September - 02 October at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai is ‘Invest in Our Future’. The conference programme will comprise numerous content tracks under the main theme including Investment & Developmen;, Destination & Urban Development; People, Planet, Profit; Tech & Innovation; and Real Estate Hotelisation. In the lead up to the event we asked several industry partners about how they’re investing in the future in 2024 and beyond.
By Sultan Bader Al-Otaibi, Chief Executive Officer – Taiba Investment Company, The Bench
Hilton Green Breakfast Records 62% Reduction in Food Waste Across 13 UAE Hotels
Hilton, in collaboration with Winnow and ne’ma, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Food Loss and Waste initiative, announced the results of the ‘Green Breakfast’ pilot program which saw a 62% reduction in pre- and post-consumer food waste across breakfast operations in 13 UAE-based hotels across a four-month period. As a company founded on the belief that hospitality has the power to be a force for good, Hilton is committed to reducing waste across our global operations by implementing a food waste reduction program in every kitchen and taking active steps globally and within the UAE to reduce food waste across its portfolio of brands.
Hilton Gears Up for COP28 in Dubai
As Dubai prepares to welcome the world for the Conference of Parties, or COP28, in Dubai, Hilton teams across the country are gearing up to welcome delegations, host organizations supporting discussions and participate in formal conversations representing the broader hospitality industry. With a focus on driving responsible travel and tourism globally, team members at Hilton’s 35 properties in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working to bring Travel with Purpose, Hilton’s strategy to advance responsible travel and tourism globally, to life throughout COP28 and beyond.
Radisson Hotel Group welcomes guests during COP28 with Net Zero Nights
During the COP28 climate conference, Radisson Hotel Group ensures that every guest night between 30 November and 12 December 2023, in its entire UAE portfolio of 16 hotels, becomes Net Zero. This remarkable achievement is made possible through a two-fold approach: Renewable Energy certificates and Certified Carbon Credits.
Big international hotel brands must take seriously their role in stamping out human trafficking
In Dubai, the glittering heart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), women who have been trafficked from around the world are manipulated and forced into sex work. Many of these women must seek clients in the city’s lavish hotels where staff and management turn a blind eye. The anonymity provided by five-star hotels, often operated by some of the biggest names in global hospitality, coupled with a lack of accountability and apathy within the sector, has helped to ensure Dubai remains a global hub for human trafficking.
By Angus Thomas, Founder, Send Them Home
Millennium Hotels & Resorts (MEA) and Watermelon Sign Agreement for Food Sustainability Project
Millennium Hotels and Resorts is committed to minimising the impact of operations on the environment and demonstrating leadership by integrating environmental considerations into its business practices. As part of its ESG strategy, the brand seeks to establish and nurture long-term relationships with the local community by supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Hilton Partners With Fresh On Table to Double Its Commitment to Local Sourcing From UAE Farms
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced its renewed partnership with UAE-based agri-tech platform, Fresh On Table, at Gulfood 2023, with the aim of doubling the amount of local produce procured for the brand’s properties in the country.
Sustainable tourism and hospitality – A wide ranging opportunity for Saudi talent
In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia, we asked a number of industry partners how they see the future of hospitality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
By Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa IHG, The Bench
The Future of Hospitality: Identifying key trends and their competitive advantages
In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia, we asked a number of industry partners how they see the future of hospitality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
By Sultan Bader Al-Otaibi, Chief Executive Officer – Taiba Investment Company, The Bench
Middle East Members Focus on Tourism’s Sustainable Recovery
UNWTO has successfully celebrated the 48th session of its Regional Commission for the Middle East. Returning to Egypt for the third time since 2018, the Commission addressed the pressing challenges faced by tourism and looked to the future as the sector’s recovery gathers pace across the region.
Innovation, Education and Rural Development: UNWTO Strengthens Partnership with Saudi Arabia
Less than a year after the official opening of the Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, plans for a range of projects to be run out of the hub have been further advanced, signalling the ever closer cooperation between UNWTO and the Kingdom.
Expo! Expo! Read all about it! The wonder of Expo 2020 in Dubai
What will opportunity, mobility, and sustainability look like in the future? All three areas experienced tremendous paradigm shifts over the last two years and now this question is at the heart of Expo 2020 – happening now through March in Dubai. It's the region's first world expo (initially slated for last year) and the first to be hosted by an Arab nation.
New Global Coalition Will Accelerate Tourism Industry's Transition to Net Zero
HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition - The Saudi Arabian Government has launched the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), a multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition that will accelerate the tourism sector's transition to net zero emissions, as well as drive action to protect nature and support communities.
UNWTO and NEOM Launch ‘Tourism Experiences Of The Future’ Challenge
The ‘Tourism Experiences of the Future’ challenge will source innovative ideas and disruptive business models related to the tourism needs of the future, in line with growing demand for new experiences. All proposals must be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and should include the introduction or adaptation of digital and technological elements, as well as being focused at least one of the following areas: