First speakers announced for Future Hospitality Summit and 19th edition of Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Abu Dhabi
Bringing together senior hospitality leaders, owners and investors, FHS-AHIC 25-27 September 2023 will feature three days of dealmaking and impactful industry discussions under the theme ‘Focus on Investment’.
The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) has confirmed the first speakers for the region’s flagship hospitality investment platform taking place from 25-27 September at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.
Organised by The Bench, FHS brings together the Middle East and Africa's industry leaders for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the region's hospitality and tourism sectors.
Leaders from some of the world’s most dynamic hospitality brands who have confirmed to speak include Accor Chairman & CEO Sébastian Bazin, Camil Yazbeck, Global Chief Development Officer of Accor; Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO of Rotana; Kevin Jacobs, Chief Financial Officer and President, Global Development for Hilton, and Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality.
Among the names representing the real estate, asset management, consulting, banking and investment community are Mariam Al Musharekh, Executive Director of Human Resources at Miral Group; Raed Kuhail, Executive Director of Digital & Technology at Miral Group; Giuliano Gasparini, Head of Hospitality Asset Management at Wasl Group; Dale Qi Shen, Vice President, Director - Real Estate Structuring & Advisory of Mashreq Bank; Andrew Gilmore, Principal Economist at The Economist Group, and Nick van Marken, Managing Director van Marken Consulting. Stephen Sackur, Presenter of HARDTalk, will return to FHS as MC for the event.
Technology will once again be at the forefront of the FHS 2023 programme with leaders discussing the future of the hospitality and travel tech stack. Confirmed speakers include Cenk Sidar, CEO and Co-Founder of Enquire IA.
We are excited to announce our first speakers as part of what is set to be an exceptional line up of distinguished regional and global industry leaders, representing some of the world’s most respected hospitality brands and investment organisations. FHS, alongside the 19th edition of our flagship event AHIC - Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference, will be making its debut in Abu Dhabi thanks to our host sponsors, Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Miral, and Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench
Under the theme ‘Focus on Investment’, FHS 2023 will comprise several content tracks including Investment, Operating Models, Innovation, the Future of Tourism and ESG. In addition to main stage keynotes, interviews and panel discussions, the event will feature a series of networking opportunities, excursions, master classes and workshops, including a sneak peek of USALI 2024, a masterclass on best practice for financing hospitality assets and key considerations in the UAE, a student workshop with The Emirates Academy, and a Think Tank to discuss the hospitality talent pipeline to develop and attract the best industry professionals.
We are proud to host the Future Hospitality Summit on Yas Island, bringing one of the leading hospitality summits to Abu Dhabi for the first time. Our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau marks an exciting chapter in our journey to solidify Yas Island’s position as a leading global business destination, defined by world-class assets and unparalleled experiences. We look forward to hosting a new record-breaking event in the Capital and welcoming industry leaders to explore the exceptional experiences this remarkable Island has to offer.>Taghrid Alsaeed, Executive Director, Group Communications and Destination Marketing at Miral
Again this year, the Future Hospitality Summit will be hosting the finals of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, a Hotelschool The Hague initiative that sees over 50 schools participate in a global competition that inspires and connects students from around the world to create innovative, regenerative, and sustainable solutions. This year's challenge is proud to announce that for the first time, internationally reputable architecture, technology and design universities will be joining the top-tier hospitality institutions, forming multidisciplinary student teams.
For more information and registration for delegate passes please visit https://www.futurehospitalitysummit.com/. Discounted rates are available for students, investors and startups.
About The Bench
The Bench is a leading organiser behind some of the most influential investment event brands across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The company is renowned for guiding businesses towards investments, connections and insights that shape the future of their industries. Known for crafting events with significant economic impact since 1996, The Bench's event participants include government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel and tourism associations, leading hospitality brands, hotel owners and investors, top restaurant groups, airlines and aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups, and consultants. These stakeholders participate to achieve their specific goals, leveraging platforms such as AHIC, now known as FHS World, FHS Saudi Arabia, AHIF, IDEEA, and AviaDev. The Bench's events serve as pivotal venues for industry leaders to exhibit their brands, establish themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and forge connections with valuable opportunities and insights.
Learn more on thebench.com
About FHS Saudi Arabia
Dates: 29 April – 1 May 2024
Location: Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh, KSA
Sponsors:
Al Khozama Investment and Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh as Host Sponsors; Ministry of Tourism as Strategic Partner; Taiba Investments as Founding Partner; Tourism Development Fund as Enablement Partner; Baheej, Boutique Group, Hilton, Kerten Hospitality, KAFD, NEOM, Radisson Hotel Group, Red Sea Global, Rua Al Madinah Holding and Saudi Icon Company as Platinum Sponsors; Saudi Tourism Investment Company (ASFAR), Accor, Club Med, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Jabal Omar Development Company, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels and Resorts and Rotana as Emerald Sponsors; Aleph Hospitality; ARC, Al Futtaim Engineering & Technologies, Bits Arabia, CBRE, Colliers; Compass Project Consulting, Dan Company, DAR Engineering, Daniel Ost, Domus Managed Housing, ELAF, Hyatt, IHCL, Inhabitr, Insignia, JLL, JT & Partners, Kohler, Knight Frank, LEVA, Louvre Hotels Group, Minor Hotels, PwC, QUO, Rove Hotels, Shaza Hotels, Soho Hospitality, Tashyid Urban Development, The Ascott Limited, Valor Hospitality Partners, Whitewater and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as Gold Sponsors; Conran Design Group, H World International, HVS, HMH Hospitality Management Holding, Keane, STR, TV5 Monde, Time Hotels, Voltere by egis and Wisefields as Silver Sponsors; MJS, Restroworks and TGP International as GRIF - Platinum Sponsors; Foresite Creative as GRIF-Data Partner; Abuchu and Matbakhi as Start-up Exhibitors; Nimplebot, Sparklehaze, ViaVii and Exnios Academy as UN Tourism Innovation Sponsors; Cool Inc and Livit as GRIF's Culinary & Concept Tour Partners; Melitta Professional as Coffee Sponsor, and HAMA, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and UN Tourism as Supporters.
Anne Bleeker
In2 Consulting
+971 56 603 0886
The Bench
