The Second Edition Hospitality Innovation Summit Saudi Arabia and UAE, organized on 6-7 March 2024, concluded with an overwhelming response while setting whole new standards of excellence for itself.
The summit began with the much-needed information pack on the hospitality industry of the region presented by Turab Saleem, Partner at Knight Frank, also the knowledge partner to the summit, who stressed the importance of growing home brands to the scale of international brands.
This was followed by a run-through of Kengo Kuma and Associates by Richard David Nelson, a partner who is dedicated to sustainability and functionality. Alexander Reick, Co-Founder, LAVA, then presented his firm’s unique take on luxury living and the grand scale of their work in the region.
The Future Interior Design presented by Jeroen van den Hurk, CEO – VBH, blended design innovation and technology with their products, which can transform a space into something out of a sci-fi movie. Meanwhile, Cho Chiu, founder of NUEMA talked about her ground-breaking idea of an exclusive, luxury, post-natal hospitality project that turned many eyes at the summit.
Cho Chiu, Founder of NUEMA talked about her ground-breaking idea of an exclusive, luxury, post-natal hospitality project
An interview series hosted by Maya Ziadeh, Chief Development Officer, Premium Midscale & Economy – Middle East, Africa & Turkey – Accor, had the entire audience glued to their seats with dignitaries like Dr Abdulgader Amir, Deputy CEO – Aseer Development Authority (ASDA), Mohamed El Samman, Group CEO – Rajhi Invest, and Ziad Al Khoury, Vice President Hotel Operations – Abu Dhabi National Hotels, who shared their respective projects in hand and what their plans are for creating unbeatable hospitality experiences for guests and, of course, for the stakeholders as well.
The power-packed beginning of the summit only paved the way for some wonderful and fruitful business conversations through GBB’s signature face-to-face meetings attended by over 70 global suppliers and over 140 buyers representing some of the largest hospitality projects in the region.
Following this was yet another innovative session that saw four designers present their work while four developers asked them questions concerning their own project needs. They covered everything from planning massive structures such as Siranna through to unique ingredients of their design philosophy and BIM. The eminent developers on board, Saeed Al Nahdi, CEO – Sumou Holding, Hazem El Banna, Chief Operating Officer – Knowledge Economic City, Mahmoud Khalil, Design Director, and Rua Al Madhina, – Waleed Waly, Head of Design, Knowledge Economic City, were quick to jump on a myriad of questions covering costs, efficiencies, timeframes, and the materials used.
Wonderful and fruitful business conversations through GBB’s signature face-to-face meetings attended by over 70 global suppliers and over 140 buyers
And if anything could attempt to be equally interesting as this, it was undoubtedly the Brand Wars, moderated by Paul Bishop and hosting Hakan Ozkasikci, Executive Vice President, Global Design & Technical Services – Kerzner International, Gilbert Khalil, Director of Design and Technical Services – Sunset Hospitality Group, Jacqueline Shaddock , Head of Interior Design – Emaar on the home brand side; and Maliha Nishat, Director, Interior Design, Global Design – Marriott International, Stephen Laucirica, Senior Director, Design & Engineering India, Middle East & Africa – IHG Hotels & Resorts, Vibha Sawhney, Senior Director of Design & Construction Services – Kempinski Hotels on the international brand side. The debate was enhancing, informative, interesting, and every other adjective you could think of.
To top it all, Know Your Partner, a quick ice-breaking, conversation-starter, and fun networking game, got every bit of that energy out for a grand closing. The summit as a whole was a mix of elite attendees, a host of thought leaders, and diligently strategized networking that brought the best of the industry together to meet their business objectives. GBB will shortly also host its flagship brand, Real Estate Development Summit Saudi Arabia, and its new brand, Emerging Tech Summit.
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