After a massive success, the 2nd Edition of the Hospitality Innovation Summit Saudi Arabia & UAE is all set to woo its audience on the 6th and 7th of March 2024 at the Hilton Al Habtoor City, Dubai. This edition, themed Innovation, Integration and Implementation, brings a unique agenda covering various aspects of the Hospitality Industry with some of the best thought leaders of the region. Hosting over 200 select decision-making delegates with projects, 70 global innovative suppliers and 30 eminent speakers, the 2nd Edition HIS is a hub of leading owners, developers, operators, architects, designers, consultants, contractors and global suppliers.
Knight Frank, the Knowledge Partner to the summit, kick starts the summit with key insights into the Saudi and UAE hotel market with Turab Saleem, Partner – Head of Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Advisory – MENA, hosting the Inaugural Session. A series of innovative presentations by the likes of Justin Wells, CEO – Wells International, Richard Nelson – Kengo Kuma & Associates and more is followed by an interview series moderated by Maya Ziadeh, Chief Development Officer Premium, Midscale and Economy Brands Middle East, Africa & Turkey – Accor with eminent personalities like Ziad El Khoury, VP – Hotel Operations at Abu Dhabi National Hotels.
One of the summit’s highlights – the customized, pre-scheduled B2B meetings between pre-qualified buyers and global suppliers soon sets a serious business networking mode with the attendees and continues through the 2 days of the summit. HIS also brings a host of international architects & designers: LAVA, CHAP, Woodsbagot, WATG and Kristina Zanic Consultants to present brief overviews of their respective work directly to prominent developers like Saeed Al Nahdi, CEO – Sumou Holding and Saeed Albialy, ED – Design & Development – Rua Al Madinah who get a chance to have a Q&A round directly with the presenters. Adding to this excitement, a debate between the homegrown and international brands represented by Hakan Ozkasikci, Executive Vice President, Global Design & Technical Services – Kerzner International, Gilbert Khalil, Director of Design and Technical Services – Sunset Hospitality Group and Maliha Nishat, Director, Interior Design, Global Design – Marriott International, Stephen Laucirica, Senior Director, Design & Engineering India, Middle East & Africa – IHG Hotels & Resorts respectively.
This is not all; a line-up of stellar delegates creates an ambience of not just exclusivity but high-quality attendance designed to serve GBB clientele at their absolute best. Senior Director Architecture, Design & Construction, ME – Hilton, CEO – Ishraq Hospitality, COO – Knowledge Economic City, Executive Director – Technical Services – PIF Projects, Executive Director – Hotels – Qiddiya, Senior Director – Red Sea Global, Design Director – Taiba Investments are just a few of the many such distinguished professionals in attendance.
GBB Venture, organizer of the Hospitality Innovation Summit and Real Estate Development Summit, has stood out as a market leader in the B2B event space. Established in 2018, the GBB continues to create value for each attendee with utmost personalization based on an expert understanding of the market and individual business needs.