In the lead up to their participation at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) in Dubai next week, Hala Matar Choufany, President Middle East, Africa and South Asia for HVS, and Bani Haddad, Founder & Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality caught up to discuss how third party management has evolved over the years with a focus on the Middle East and Africa.

Hala and Bani, who have known each other for 23 years, touch on the evolution of the third-party and white-label hotel management model in the region, touching on the topic from their roles in the industry as consultant and operator respectively. They discuss the major shift the industry has seen when it comes to third-party hotel management model, the main drivers behind this rise in demand - including the Covid-19 pandemic- and the benefits of the independent management model for owners.

They will be discussing this topic in more detail at FHS in Dubai next week during the panel on Day 2 of the conference on 20 September titled: "Third-Party Management On The Rise: What Hotel Owners Should Consider," which will be moderated by Rabih Feghali, Board Member, Hospitality Asset Manager"s Association MEA. They will be joined by panelists Euan McGlashan, Global Founder & CEO of Valor Hospitality Partners and David Todd, Head of Operations Middle East and Africa for IHG Hotels & Resorts.

About The Bench

The Bench has built a legacy as a global curator of opportunity, designing transformative forums and summits that empower the hospitality and travel industries to connect, innovate, and thrive. With over two decades of expertise, The Bench creates platforms that go beyond transactions to inspire collaboration and drive meaningful change.

Each event brings together government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel associations, leading hospitality brands, hotel owners and investors, airlines, destination developers, and more. From flagship gatherings like FHS World (formerly AHIC) and FHS Saudi Arabia, to FHS Africa (formerly AHIF) and AviaDev, The Bench creates events where ideas spark, relationships deepen, and investments take flight.

The Bench thrives on fostering dynamic and forward-looking dialogues, uniting industry pioneers to address challenges, seize opportunities, and co-create the future. Each event is crafted to deliver more than just connections - it's about transforming ideas into action and building a better tomorrow.

Discover more at thebench.com.

About FHS Saudi Arabia

Dates: 20-22 April 2026

Location: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sponsors: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh and Al Khozama Investment as Host Sponsors; Taiba Investments as Founding Partner; Amsa Hospitality, Jabal Omar Development Company, Radisson Hotel Group and Red Sea Group as Strategic Partners; BWH Hotels, ClubMed, IHG, Italia Hospitality, Story Hospitality, The Ascott Limited as Headline Sponsors; Accor, Aleph Hospitality, IHCL, JT + Partners, Knight Frank, Legacy Hotels Holding, Minor Hotels, Quo, Serb Holding Co., Sommet Education, STR and The First Group Hospitality as Sponsors; DAR Engineering, Echelonet Concierge, Melia Hotels International, Rove Hotels, Shaza Hotels, Sophos and WhiteWater as Exhibitors.

Anne Bleeker
In2 Consulting
+971 56 603 0886
The Bench

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