Hospitality investment event FHS World has revealed its first speakers, new features and special initiatives dedicated to women in the sector for its 2024 event, taking place at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from September 30 to October 2.
The three-day agenda will include the industry’s most respected, influential hospitality leaders, decision makers and experts, as well as renowned leaders from the media fraternity.
Confirmed speakers
Among the first confirmed speakers for FHS World are Satya Anand, president, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), Marriott International; Philip Barnes, CEO, Rotana; Robin Rossmann, managing director, STR; Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim, CEO, Millennium Hotels & Resorts & Lakhraim Group; John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global; Stephen Sackur, presenter, HARDTalk; Pat Thaker, editorial director, Middle East & Africa, The Economist Group; Choon Wah, CFO, H World International and managing director, Steigenberger Hotels GmbH; Dr. John Blakey, CEO, executive coach and author; Tatiana Labaki, head of Hotels and Tourism Advisory, PSU, Tonomus, and Pascal Armoudon, partner, Kearney.
Participants will take centre stage, sharing their valuable insights with a carefully designed programme covering trends, sustainability, destination development, Middle East investment opportunities and more. Addressing everything from hotel investment to health and wellness, ESG matters to entrepreneurship and regional trends to risk management, the FHS World agenda will run across four dedicated stages – Summit, Future, Innovation and Exhibition – each dedicated to specific topics and themes.
19-year history
“After delivering a hugely successful FHS Saudi Arabia, we are now fully focussed on bringing the biggest, boldest and best Future Hospitality Summit to date to Dubai. As we embark on the next leg of our remarkable journey, we are delighted to be back at Madinat Jumeirah – our original home – for FHS World, which promises to be the most insightful, immersive and personalised experience in our 19-year history,” said Jonathan Worsley, chairman of FHS World organiser, The Bench.
“FHS is, and always will be – about so much more than just business. It’s a dynamic platform for nurturing relationships, igniting innovation, and collectively shaping the future of hospitality investment while creating lasting and meaningful experiences, together. FHS World is a golden opportunity for the industry to showcase its brands – and the leadership and expertise associated with those brands – while connecting with travel, hospitality and tourism thought leaders from across the world,” he added.
Michael Grieve, chief brand officer, Jumeirah, host sponsor of FHS World, said: “Jumeirah regards the Future Hospitality Summit World as an engaging platform for thought leaders and visionaries shaping the trajectory of the hospitality industry. Our support as the host sponsor is reflective of our ambition to position Jumeirah as a brand of influence — a global majlis for dialogue and connection — where collaboration and innovation are fostered across communities. Hosting this event as the national champion of Dubai, a city that epitomises transformation and breathes innovation, amplifies its significance. Together with our industry peers, we are contributing to a legacy of transformational impact.”
The four stages
Home to the most exciting keynote speeches, panel debates and one-to-one interviews, the Summit Stage will feature the FHS Intelligence Talks, the finals of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge and in depth debates on global investment trends. Meanwhile, at the Future Stage, presenters will dive deep into regional investment trends and the hospitality sector in specific locations, including Africa, Europe, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. There will also be a special focus on the future of tech in hospitality.
The Innovation Stage will be the platform for in depth sessions on health and wellness, branding, asset management and restaurant investment, while the Exhibition Stage is dedicated to all things entrepreneurship, creativity and wellbeing.
What’s new at FHS World?
Several new features will be unveiled at FHS World this September. The investor relations drive will provide even more opportunity to connect investors with opportunities and partners.
The FHS World team has also introduced country pavilions, where individual nations can showcase their upcoming hospitality projects and high ROI ventures. Morocco, Italy and the Maldives have already reserved their spots, with more in the pipeline, including large presence from Saudi Arabia on the exhibition floor.
Female forces: The future of hospitality
FHS World is reinforcing the increasingly important role of women in the Middle East’s hospitality as the chosen venue to host the semi finals of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Women In Tech Start Up Competition. The event will be held on the first two days of FHS World on the Exhibition Stage.
Launched to recognise and reward entrepreneurship among females and find the most innovative, female-run tech-driven startups in the realm of tourism, the Middle East contest covers four categories: Social Impact; Tourism and Travel Experience; Future Tech; and Events and Community.
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