The leading hospitality investment platform of the region, the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS), has recently announced the initial speakers for its upcoming event. The summit is scheduled to be held from September 25 to 27, 2023, at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.
The Bench is the organizer of the FHS, which serves as a platform for industry leaders in the Middle East and Africa to convene and engage in discussions, make deals, and gain insights on the ongoing development of the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors.
Read more: Regional hospitality industry set to reach $270 bn in 2022: Report
The list of confirmed speakers for the FHS comprises distinguished personalities from some of the most vibrant and dynamic hospitality brands across the globe. Some of the notable names include Sébastian Bazin, the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Accor, Camil Yazbeck, the global chief development officer (CDO) of Accor, Guy Hutchinson, the president and CEO of Rotana, Kevin Jacobs, the chief financial officer (CFO) and president of Global Development for Hilton, and Gilda Perez-Alvarado, the global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality.
Representatives from various sectors including real estate, asset management, consulting, banking, and investment will be in attendance at the event. Some of the notable names include 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 and director of real estate structuring & advisory at Mashreq Bank, Andrew Gilmore, principal economist at the Economist Group, and Nick van Marken, managing director of van Marken Consulting.
The FHS 2023 program will once again prioritize technology, with industry leaders delving into the future of hospitality and travel tech. Cenk Sidar, the CEO and co-founder of Enquire IA, is among the confirmed speakers for the event.
According to Taghrid Alsaeed, the executive director of group communications and destination marketing at Miral, they are eagerly anticipating the hosting of a record-breaking event in Abu Dhabi and welcoming industry leaders to discover the exceptional experiences offered by the remarkable Island.
Focus on Investment
FHS 2023 will revolve around the theme ‘Focus on Investment’ and will include various content tracks such as Investment, Operating Models, Innovation, the Future of Tourism, and ESG. Along with main stage keynotes, interviews, and panel discussions, the event will also offer attendees a range of networking opportunities, excursions, master classes, and workshops. Some of the notable events include a masterclass on the best practices for financing hospitality assets and key considerations in the UAE, a student workshop with The Emirates Academy, a sneak peek of USALI 2024, and a Think Tank aimed at developing and attracting the best industry professionals to address the hospitality talent pipeline.
Sustainable Hospitality Challenge
Similar to previous years, the Future Hospitality Su will be organizing the finals of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, which is a global competition initiated by Hotelschool The Hague. The competition inspires and connects students from over 50 schools worldwide to develop innovative, regenerative, and sustainable solutions. This year’s challenge is unique in that, for the first time, internationally recognized architecture, technology, and design universities will be collaborating with top-tier hospitality institutions to form multidisciplinary student teams.
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