Arabian Hotel Investment Conference
14-16 April 2020 | Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, U.A.E
14-16 April 2020 | Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, U.A.E
Saudi Arabia - It is the biggest story in the region. A country of 33 million people with thousands of miles of pristine coastline, incredible natural assets and major cultural landmarks. A vast opportunity for all segments of the hospitality industry.
Exclusive for AHIC VIP Pass holders, the Saudi Arabia Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC) provides a crucial and an unmissable opportunity for you to gain vital insights from key dignitaries and industry leaders involved in the Kingdom's hospitality market.
SHIC will be held on 21-22 January 2020 at the Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel hosted by Dur Hospitality; organised by Semark and co-organised by Bench Events and MEED.
The AHIC Advisory Board is made up of carefully selected industry leaders representing the region’s hotel investment, operations, consultants and asset management communities. With their support, we understand the direction that the hospitality industry is taking, and with those insights, we continue to shape AHIC every year to be a relevant platform which enhances the industry’s growth and prosperity.
Louis Abi Abboud has diverse experience within the hospitality industry, having served on the property owner side as well as the hotel operator side.
He began his career in hotel operations with Starwood Hotel and Resorts at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in California where he held management positions for a couple of years, before moving to the owner side by joining Saudi Bin Ladin Group in Jeddah, as part of their Asset Management team overseeing a 4000+ keys portfolio of hotels in Makkah. Louis later joined international consultancy firm HVS part of their Consulting and Valuations practice in Dubai. He then moved to Asset Management & Business Planning at Majid Al Futtaim Properties, to work as a part of the team overseeing eleven internationally branded properties in addition to several new hotel developments across the region.
Since November 2014, Louis joined the development team of AccorHotels Middle East, where he contributed to three record signing years, allowing AccorHotels to be the number one hotel operator in the region in terms of signings in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Louis graduated from Sagesse University’s Faculty of Hospitality Management with an academic certification and École hôtelière de Lausanne with a Bachelors of Science in Hospitality Management. He also holds a certification in Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from Cornell University.
Christophe Landais (64), MBA, offers more than 30 years of experience at Senior Executive Management levels in the hospitality sector combining personal leadership with business acumen and entrepreneurship to develop performance culture.
Passion for winning with 3 keys for success: vision, leadership and teamwork. Dynamic leader with proven expertise to lead the company development ensuring sustainable revenue growth.
Possesses in depth regional hospitality market knowledge, country specific cultural and economic challenges awareness to effectively manage a territory spanning across the GCC countries (KSA, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar), Egypt and Iran.
Leverages on a robust hospitality operational background and cross-functional expertise (Development, Finance, Legal, HR, Marketing & distribution, Media) to successfully achieve goals.
Recognised relationship builder and ambassador together with sound listening and communication skills to foster continuous stakeholders’ engagement.
Jad Shamseddin joined Al Hokair Group as Managing Director for
the Hotels Division since March 2018. Holding a Master Degree in Hospitality
Management from Faculty of Tourism, Lebanese University, and has previously
held several General Manager roles with renowned hotel operators like Starwood
and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
Jad joined Al Hokair Group from Millennium Hotels Middle East & Africa, where he was the Regional Director, new Hotels openings. To date in his career, Jad has led directly the opening and conversion of over 20 properties, ranging from upper luxury to midscale, over the Middle East, Turkey and Georgia.
In his current role, Jad oversees Al Hokair’s 40+ managed and franchised properties under different brands like IHG, Hilton, Marriott, Golden Tulip, Radisson and the home grown “MENA Hotels” brand that is spreading fast in the Kingdom , as well as the Hotels Division Corporate team and a total team of over 2800 employees.
Furthermore, Jad will overlook Al Hokair expansion plans, having recently confirmed a pipeline of over 14 hotels, including 10 Holiday Inn Express across Saudi Arabia, under an exclusive franchise agreement with IHG.
Tara Marlow heads the Real Estate and Hotels & Leisure practices at Al Tamimi & Company, the largest law firm in the Middle East. With over 20 years’ experience (including 15 years in the Middle East region), she is recognised for her specialism in all aspects of hospitality, real estate and development related matters. Tara is regularly published in hotel industry and legal journals and is a speaker at hotel industry and real estate development seminars and conferences throughout the Middle East region.
Bringing her combined hotel industry and real estate development skills and experience, she provides solution orientated advice to owners, operators, property developers, financial institutions and investors on all areas of commercial real estate and development. She has worked on some of the region’s highest profile transactions, mixed-used and resort developments and joint ventures, as well as advising and representing her clients on numerous hotel and serviced apartment management agreements, including rental pool structuring. Tara is well respected by her peers and clients for her ability to negotiate her way through complex management contracts whilst maintaining a grasp of the bigger picture and commercial parameters.
Tara qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2000, working with a well-known international law firm before moving to the Middle East in 2004 to join Al Tamimi & Company. In the Middle East, she also had the opportunity to gain valuable hotel industry experience in her role as Vice President, Legal within the hotel development and asset management arm of a large Dubai based development company, advising on the acquisition, development, operation and asset management of a hotel portfolio spread across the MENA region comprising approximately 3,500 operational rooms, together with a number of hotel projects at various stages of development.
Beaufort Global Partners LLC is a private boutique Investment, Asset Management & Development Firm specializing in hospitality real estate and public market ownership with a focus on hotels, commercial buildings, residential projects, and industrial complexes. The firm is based in Dubai, UAE
René Beil, Managing Director of Beaufort Global Partners LLC, brings a seasoned history in hospitality management, operations, finance, investments, asset management and business development to the group. He has led business development and growth initiatives on multiple continents as prime driver of investments, asset management, and new business development for Sovereign Wealth Funds, Government, Public & Private Companies, Royal Families, High Net-Worth Individuals as well as Family Offices.
He has a proven track record in organization building, discrete off market Private Negotiations & Transactions, Business Development to Asset Management from Boston to Buenos Aires, London to Paris through Dubai to Singapore as well as Hong Kong, accompanied by a comprehensive network of personal relationships at senior principal levels in, Government, Commerce and Finance.
Beil is of German nationality, was born in Singapore and raised in South East Asia, Bali, Manila and Hong Kong, He spent his adolescence in Europe, The Hague, Geneva, Brussels and Paris where he pursued a successful hotel career with InterContinental Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. Subsequently, he ventured to the United States of America, Boston, in the pursuit of academic achievements
From Boston University, Beil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management, complemented by a Minor in Marketing and a Master’s degree in Finance and Economics. He is today a member of the Advisory Board to Boston University School of Hospitality
In his past appointment as Vice President Asset Management of Dubai Investment Group, Beil’s responsibilities included the asset management of the international hotel and real estate asset portfolio of Dubai Holding, which incorporated but not limited to the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts and other international real estate assets. Furthermore, he was mandated to seek investments, develop & grow markets in South America and cultivate business relationships between Middle East and LATAM.
Beil is currently leading the formation as one of the founding members of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association MEA (HAMA MEA) which is being launched during AHIC 2014. He is fluent in English, French, German, Dutch and proficient in Spanish.
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, is one of the founders and organisers of multiple leading international conferences for the hotel investment industry, including the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, now in its 14th year, The Summit in London, the Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference and the Africa Hotel Investment Forum.
More recently, Jonathan and his team have entered the Latin America market partnering with SAHIC in Cuba and Buenos Aires and the inaugural Iran Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference in 2017.
Bench Events has also branched out into the related fields of aviation and F&B, with the respective launches of AviaDev Africa, inaugurated in 2016, and The Global Restaurant Investment Forum now in its fourth year.
In 1997, Jonathan was one of the founding members of the annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, a conference he subsequently organised for 19 years, which today attracts over 2,000 delegates. Earlier in his career, Jonathan worked for real estate consultants CBRE & Hotel Partners, hotel advisors PKF and hotel operator Forte & Holiday Inns.
Jonathan sits as a shareholder and board director of STR, a global benchmarking company with over 50,000 participating hotels following the merger of The Bench, STR and Deloitte’s Hotel Benchmark. He sits on the board of Hotel Swaps, which allows participating members to swap empty hotel rooms with other members around the globe and is an investor in TripTease, the tech start-up that enables hotels to increase direct sales and aims to defeat rate disparity.
Jonathan and his colleagues are actively involved raising money for the communities in which Bench Events works. They raised more than £200,000 for TUSK, Cancer Research and the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation by participating in the Kili Madness challenge and breaking the World Record for the highest game of cricket ever played on top of Kilimanjaro. In 2016, Jonathan cycled from Amsterdam to Berlin with nine others for the opening of IHIF and raised funds for the Anne Frank Trust and Future Talent, a feat he will tackle again in 2017.
Jonathan is a Trustee of Future Talent, a charity that provides financial support to gifted young musicians in need of financial assistance to pursue their dreams and talent.
Since joining Colliers International, James has worked on a number of highest and best use site appraisals, operator search and selections, hotel valuations (individual assets and portfolios) and hotel investment / brokerage projects.
Prior to joining Colliers in 2013, James worked in hotel brokerage, valuation and consultancy in Ireland where he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS).
He was involved in a number of multi-million euro hotel and leisure transactions to include city centre properties, resorts and golf courses. He has extensive experience in the provision of strategic advice and valuations on behalf of many of the UK & Ireland’s largest financial and banking institutions.
He also has experience of hotel pre-sale due diligence and asset management.
Selim specializes in hotel development & asset management for standalone, mixed use and portfolio level hotel projects, and is a specialist in hotel management agreements, hotel operator search & selection, and market financial studies.
Selim’s extensive knowledge of hotel operations allows him to enhance hotel profitability and drive asset value by carrying out strategic operational and financial reviews. . Currently he is responsible for overseeing the hospitality function at Deyaar PJSC for their pipeline of upcoming hotels.
Selim has worked in the tourism and hotel industry for the past 23 years at an international level. The early part of his career has included experience in tour and hotel operations, finance, F&B and Human Resources.
Having worked for leading organizations in hotel asset development, management, hotel operators, and developers, Selim is an all rounded hotel real estate professional.
Filippo Sona is one of the most recognized names in the global hospitality consultancy community having carried out work in more than 28 countries for the past 25 years. From UK to Europe, Middle East, Africa and USA he has carried out more than 735 hospitality projects ranging from market & financial feasibilities, valuations, operator selection, project management and strategic asset management. Currently is Managing Director-Global Hospitality at Drees and Sommer, a global firm specializing in consultancy, asset management and construction management. Filippo understanding of management agreements has been an invaluable skill to global law firms as an expert witness and advisor in commercial negotiations. Filippo is a regular speaker at international hotel investment conferences and writers for many international hospitality publications. Filippo is an associate member of RICS and holds an MBA from Oxford Brooks University and an Honours Degree in Hospitality Management from the University of West London.
With his wealth of Hospitality and Tourism experience, strategic vision, in depth local and market knowledge, strong relationships and the right credentials, Hassan today leads, drives and supports the operations and growth of Dur Hospitality, a KSA based leading Hotels and Real Estate Group, established 40 years ago. Dur Hospitality is a Hotels Owner, Operator with Makarem Brand and Franchisor of Hotels with highly reputed International Operators including IHG and Marriott International.
Based in Hilton’s MEA Regional Office, Dubai – Khneisser is charged with spearheading the growth of the Hilton portfolio across MENA & Turkey.
Under Khneisser’s leadership, Hilton’s Middle Eastern development has enjoyed year-on-year, organic growth and markets he oversees contribute over 50% of Hilton’s total pipeline in EMEA. Carlos Khneisser started his career in the hospitality industry in 1998, gaining broad experience across the sector, before focusing on finance and asset management positions over a nine-year period.
Khneisser joined Hilton in 2009, overseeing the company’s growth within the Middle East & North Africa region that now features more than 140 hotels trading or under development under eight brands. In 2016 he began overseeing Hilton’s development operations in Turkey.
He graduated in 1996 with a BA Business Administration and Finance from Notre Dame University, Lebanon and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
A native of Lebanon, Khneisser is fluent in Arabic, English and French.
Donald is the Managing Director of Stirling Hospitality Advisors with 20 years of experience in asset management, development and hospitality advisory services in London, New York, the Caribbean and the GCC. With multiple roles across the industry including Hotel Manager, Asset Manager, Director of Development and Director of Rooms for Jumeirah Group and Operations Analyst, Revenue Manager, Director of Rooms and Director of Food and Beverage for InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Donald has been the Industry Chair for the Hotel Asset Management Association and has a BSc from Aberdeen University in Scotland.
Hala Matar Choufany is the President for HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia and Managing Partner of HVS Dubai.
Hala is an experienced Managing Partner and Hospitality Advisor with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Skilled in Contract Negotiation, Feasibility Studies, Development Recommendation, Valuation, Asset Management, and Strategic Advisory; she has advised on more than 2,500 hospitality and mixed-use projects in the last 15 years across Europe, MEA and Asia. Hala has in-depth expertise in regional hotel markets and a broad exposure to international markets and maintains excellent contacts with developers, owners, operators, investment institutions and government entities. Hala speaks frequently at investment coneferences on a range of topics including asset valuation, management issues and women leadership.
Hala completed Executive Education at Harvard Business School. She also holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from IMHI (Essec- Cornell) University, Paris, France and a BA in Hospitality Management from Notre Dame University, Lebanon. Hala is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
Hala is a board member of Harvard Business School club of the GCC and is a mum of three. Born in Beirut, Hala lived and worked in a number of cities across Europe, Asia and Middle East.
Gaurav founded Insignia in 2003, and stands as the visionary mastermind behind the world’s first brand enrichment company, specializing in travel and destination creation. As a creative protagonist, Gaurav has accumulated a formidable portfolio of achievements that has solidified his status as an internationally recognized leader in his field.
Based in Dubai for the past 22 years and previous to launching Insignia, Gaurav spent a decade in advertising at Lowe. He then took on the illustrious role of Head of Marketing for Hilton Worldwide in the Arabian Gulf between 1998 and 2002.
In 2014 Gaurav was noted as Indian Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneur Middle East Magazine and has enjoyed a variety of accolades such as being listed at #47 in Arabian Business Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Indians in the GCC. As much a philanthropist as an entrepreneur, Gaurav believes strongly in giving back and in 2009 set up Harmony House, a day shelter for the underprivileged in India with his wife Lucy Bruce.
The Chief Executive Officer of Kerten Hospitality, Marloes Knippenberg, has an innovative mindset that has established the organization as a disruptive, dynamic international hospitality group dedicated to the management of mixed-use developments in key global destinations.
Her journey in the hospitality field started with Hilton where Marloes held senior operational and commercial management positions for over a decade. At the helm of Kerten Hospitality, which she developed and launched with the backing of Kerten, Ireland-based investment vehicle, Marloes has grown the organization’s operational and pipeline portfolio from one brand in one country to 10 aspirational lifestyle-driven concepts in 35 development projects across 3 continents.
Marloes continuously pioneers the role of innovation across the larger ecosystem with the aim to establish an industry platform where technology, hospitality and sustainability coexist and evolve for the benefit of consumers, investors and businesses.
She is on Advisory Board of flagship events like IHIDC – Vienna, AHIC - UAE, HITEC - Dubai, IHIF - Berlin and is frequently invited to contribute Though Leadership to industry forums: ITHIC - Italy, SHIC - Saudi Arabia, HOST – London and The Retail Summit, Dubai.
Marloes has been listed in the Hotelier Middle East Power List 2019 ranking the region’s most influential industry professionals.
Accor is a world-leading
augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in almost
4,800 hotels, resorts, and residences across 100 countries. With an unrivalled
portfolio of brands from luxury to economy, Accor has been providing
hospitality savoir-faire for more than 50 years.
Beyond accommodations, Accor
enables new ways to live, work, and play with Food & Beverage, nightlife,
wellbeing, and co-working brands. To drive business performance, Accor’s portfolio
of business accelerators amplifies hospitality distribution, operations, and
experiences. Guests have access to one of the world’s most attractive hotel
loyalty programs.
Accor is deeply committed to
sustainable value creation, and plays an active role in giving back to planet
and community. Planet 21 – Acting Here endeavours to act for “positive
hospitality”, while Accor Solidarity, the endowment fund, empowers
disadvantaged people through professional training and access to employment.
Al Hokair Group JSC is a subsidiary of Abdulmohsen Al Hokair Holding, focusing on hospitality, entertainment and commercial development in Saudi Arabia.
The portfolio of interests includes over 40 hotels, making it the largest hotels owner and operator in the Kingdom, featuring different business models associated with world-renowned international hotel brands, i.e IHG, Hilton, Marriott, Accor, Radisson and Louvre. It also owns and operates over 100 family entertainment centres and theme parks, restaurant franchises, 4 commercial centres and a hospitality Institute.
Counting over 3500 employees, the Group plays a leading role in the hospitality, tourism, entertainment and catering industries in the region.
As of June 2014, Al Hokair Group was listed and traded at the Saudi Stock Exchange- TADAWUL.
Dur Hospitality is Saudi a publicly-listed company that specialises in developing, operating and managing hospitality and residential projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1976, with a vision to develop the country’s hospitality sector to world-class standards, the company is considered an industry pioneer and leader, and today, manages a 2.5 billion SAR portfolio of 20 completed projects, with 20 more under development worth another 2.4 billion Saudi Riyals. Upcoming projects span hospitality and residential projects in major and emerging cities Kingdom wide.
Dur Hospitality encompasses 3 specialised local brands which include Makarem, Dur Communities and Darraq, all of which deliver specialised hospitality services catering to diverse needs. The company has also maintained a long-standing and successful partnership with international pioneers in the industry such as Marriott International and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
Marjan is the master-developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah, responsible for path-breaking developments aimed at positioning Ras Al Khaimah as one of the region’s preferred lifestyle and investment hubs.
Mandated with developing waterfront, urban and mountain destinations that will add to the competitiveness of the emirate, Marjan’s strategic master-planning approach is to leverage Ras Al Khaimah’s natural assets and lay the foundations of the emirate’s future expansions.
Al Marjan Island, the flagship development of Marjan, has over 1,600 operational five-star hotel keys, including Rixos Hotels, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Accor Hotels brands, and more than 2,000 residential units including Bab Al Bahar residential and Pacific by Select Group. It also has more than 3,500 hotel keys under construction.
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Radisson Hotel Group™ is one of the world's largest hotel groups with eight distinctive hotel brands, more than 1,400 hotels in operation and under development around the world. Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection™, Radisson Blu®, Radisson®, Radisson RED®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn® by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson and prizeotel.
Radisson Rewards™ is a global rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offer exceptional loyalty benefits for our guests, meeting planners, travel agents and business partners.
Radisson Meetings place people at the heart of the process and treat every meeting or event as more than just a date on the calendar. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, whilst delivering on the brilliant basics and our signature Yes I Can! service spirit.
For more information, visit: www.radissonhotelgroup.com
Emaar Hospitality Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world’s most valuable real estate development companies with proven competencies in property, shopping malls and retail as well as hospitality and leisure.
The group owns and manages a portfolio of hospitality assets and brands including Address Hotels + Resorts, a premium luxury hotel and residences brand; Vida Hotels and Resorts, an upscale lifestyle hotel and residences brand; and Rove Hotels, a contemporary midscale hotel brand.
Emaar Hospitality Group is expanding its portfolio to international markets with projects already announced in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, The Maldives and Togo. The group plans to introduce its brands in key gateway cities and tourist destinations in Europe, Middle East, India and China.
Emaar Hospitality Group was created in 2007 and owns and manages a diversified portfolio of hospitality assets in addition to its hotel brands including serviced residences, golf retreats, a yacht club and a polo and equestrian club, and a comprehensive portfolio of restaurants.
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN® Hotels, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, voco™, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express®, Holiday Inn Club Vacations®, Holiday Inn Resort®, avid™ hotels, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.
IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,600 hotels and approximately 837,000 guest rooms in more than 100 countries, with almost 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG® Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members.
In February 2019, IHG acquired Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, adding 16 hotels (1,347 rooms) to its system and 18 hotels to its development pipeline.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 400,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.
Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihgplc.com/media and follow us on social media at: https://twitter.com/ihgcorporate, www.facebook.com/ihgcorporate and www.linkedin.com/company/intercontinental-hotels-group
Marriott International encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,900 properties spanning 130 countries and territories. The company’s 30 leading brands include: Bulgari®, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, St. Regis®, W®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, The Luxury Collection®, Marriott Hotels®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Renaissance® Hotels, Sheraton®, Delta Hotels by MarriottSM, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Tribute PortfolioTM, Design HotelsTM, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, Four Points® by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®, Element®, Moxy® Hotels, and Protea Hotels by Marriott®. The company now offers one travel program, Marriott BonvoyTM , replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®.
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Millennium Hotels & Resorts plc is a dynamic, global hotel company, which owns, asset manages and/or operates over 130 hotels worldwide. With almost 40,000 rooms worldwide, the company is present on all continents with a portfolio of brands which serve different market segments, representing quality and value in every class.
From a single property in Abu Dhabi, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Middle East & Africa has expanded into various neighbouring destinations and is now recognised as one of the fastest growing regional hotel management companies in the Middle East & Africa. Along the way, the company has cultivated partnerships with reputable and respected owners. Millennium Hotels & Resorts currently operates 40 hotels, has 14 hotels due to open within the year and 35 hotels in the pipeline across the region.
For more information, please visit www.millenniumhotels.com
AlKamal International is one of the most prominent design-build contractors in Saudi Arabia. Some of our most notable projects include the Sheraton Makkah Jabal AlKaaba, Hilton Makkah Hotel & Towers, Al Marwa Rayhaan Makkah by Rotana, the Jabal Omar Hilton Suites, and Marriott hotels.
The company was founded in 2006 with a special focus on hospitality construction. Our activities include interior design and fit-out, FF&E, MEP, information technology, civil and structural works.
AlKamal International is well-known as an innovator in the field, as we continuously provide outstandingly customized solutions to fulfill our clients’ needs. Our vision is to continue executing perfect turnkey design-build work in record time and on budget, to successfully meet our client’s objectives and ROI from the executed projects.
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Founded in 1989, we are a consultancy firm, delivering FF&E and OS&E procurement management services to hotels all around the world. Our mission is to bring a hoteliers dream to life and be part of the global growth of the hospitality sector. We have a simple 4 step process: Planning, Procurement, Logistics, Handover. We are with you every step of the way, from take off to handover.
We learn your needs, build the strategy and drive the process. Every project we work on has a dedicated Director, Manager and Coordinator to oversee the entire process. With access to a worldwide database of suppliers and manufacturers, what you are looking for is in the palm of our hands.
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Distance Studio Consultants “DSC” is a multidisciplinary consultancy firm that offers Project Management, Design, Construction Management and Supervision for all disciplines; Master planning, Architecture, Structure, MEP, Interior Design, Landscape and Infrastructure. With more than 370 professional we have delivered more than 750 projects in more than 12 countries. DSC has 5 main branches in the Middle East; Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab of Emirates, Sultanate of Oman and Qatar. DSC has been ranked this year as 188 from the top 225 International Design Firms and from the Top 15 International Design Firms in the Mixed-use Sector according to the Engineering News Record. As well, we have been chosen last year by MEED as the Architecture Firm of the year in the Gulf Region. Moreover, this year we have been selected by Luxury Lifestyle as one of the Top Architecture and Interior Design Firms in Egypt. As well, this year we have been chosen by MEED from the Top 6 Multi-disciplinary Consultant Firm of the year in the Gulf Region.
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Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 16 world-class brands comprising more than 5,600 properties with nearly 913,000 rooms, in 113 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 world’s best workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its nearly 100 year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, more than 85 million members who book directly with Hilton have access to instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
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The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries, bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the hallmark of iconic hospitality, Vivanta with its collection of sophisticated upscale hotels, and Ginger which is revolutionizing the lean luxury segment.
Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL operates 170 hotels including 25 under development globally across 4 continents, 12 countries and in over 80 locations.
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is amongst South Asia’s largest Indian hospitality company by market capitalization. It is primarily listed on the BSE and NSE.
Please visit www.tajhotels.com; www.gingerhotels.com
A legacy UAE brand, JA Resorts & Hotels was born in 1981 and has a widely recognised reputation for excellence, in the management and operation of award-winning resorts and hotels. Taking its name from the original Jebel Ali (JA) Beach hotel, JA Resorts & Hotels portfolio now features 8 distinct properties across the UAE and Indian Ocean, each dedicated to curating unique experiences and creating unforgettable memories.
Tropical escapes include JA Manafaru, the idyllic luxury island resort in pristine, lagoon-ringed Haa Alifu Atoll, at the northern tip of the Maldives and JA Enchanted Island Resort, an ultra-luxurious hideaway of 10 exquisite villas on a private island, in the middle of the protected Saint Anne Marine Park.
Within the UAE, guests can choose from the five-star JA Ocean View Hotel, as well as the deluxe hotel apartments of JA Oasis Beach Tower, both located along ‘The Walk’ in Jumeirah Beach Residence. Other attractive options include the acclaimed JA The Resort - Dubai’s largest experience resort, with 1 million square metres of thrilling activities and 3 unique hotels offering 795 suites and rooms between them– JA Beach Hotel, the all-suite JA Palm Tree Court and JA Lakeview Hotel, a stunning new Golf Course adjacent property due to open on September 1st, 2019. The JA Hatta Fort Hotel completes the portfolio as Dubai’s only mountain resort, a secluded getaway amidst the stunning Hajar Mountains landscape.
Knight Frank is synonymous with prime commercial and residential property, market knowledge, personal client service and professionalism.
Our reputation for uncompromising professionalism in everything we do is earned day in and day out serving our clients and earning their trust. Knight Frank has grown to become the world’s largest privately owned global property agency and consultancy.
Today it is widely regarded throughout the world as the firm of choice for high quality commercial and residential property.
Operating as a Limited Liability Partnership, the firm’s Proprietary Partners are free to run the business in such a way that has led to sustained success and a corporate culture that helps it recruit and retain the best people who are the essence of the firm.
The services we offer:
Advisory Services: Valuation & Advisory, Development & Consultancy, Education Consultancy, Healthcare Consultancy, Hospitality & Leisure Consultancy, Research.
Transactional Services: UK Residential Sales, Residential Sales – MENA, Residential Sales – International, Office Agency Leasing (OSCA), Logistics & Industrial, Middle East Capital Markets, Global Capital Markets.
Louvre Hotels Group is a major player in the global hospitality industry, with a portfolio that now includes 2,500 hotels in 54 countries.
It has a full hotel offering, spanning 1 star to 5 stars, with the Louvre Hotels Group’s historic brands (Première Classe, Kyriad, Campanile, Tulip Inn, Golden Tulip, Royal Tulip), the 5 brands of the Sarovar network in India, the French Group Hôtels and Préférence and Chinese brand Metropolo. Louvre Hotels Group is a subsidiary of Jin Jiang International Holdings Co., Ltd., the 5th hospitality group in the world.
Meliá Hotels International was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca, and is one of the world’s largest resort hotel chains, as well as Spain’s leading hotel chain. It currently provides more than 370 hotels in 43 countries on 4 continents under its brands: Gran Meliá, Paradisus, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Innside by Meliá and Sol by Meliá
Throughout its history, the Company has been involved in a number of merger and acquisition operations with other hotel companies, allowing the company to grow at a startling rate. This evolution and the strategic focus on international growth has allowed Meliá Hotels International to be the first Spanish hotel company with presence in key markets
In 1996, it was the first Spanish hotel company to be floated on the stock exchange, with the resulting requirement of transparency, regulatory control, and corporate social responsibility.
RAK Hospitality Holding (RAKHH) is an integrated hospitality asset owner and manager. The company was established in 2014, with a purpose of becoming a leading integrated, hospitality sector-focused asset owner and manager.
RAKHH seeks to position itself as:
An inward investor: Continue to invest in hotels and resorts across multiple market segments in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, leveraging the ‘Ras Al Khaimah opportunity’.
An outward investor: Invest in hospitality, leisure, logistics and advisory services ventures, inside and outside the borders of Ras Al Khaimah.
RAKHH’s unique advantage lies in its premium portfolio and disciplined approach to hospitality investments. Focused on maximizing returns and unlocking value to investors, RAKHH forged strategic and long-term relationships with global hotel operators and global restaurant chains. Comprising of highly experienced professionals with deep, sector-focused, local and global knowledge, strong relationships and access to global industry players, RAKHH employs a team that is highly agile and uses resources wisely to adapt to an ever-changing environment.
RAKHH has built strong asset management capabilities to assist with strategic decisions aimed at maximizing value for each individual asset. RAKHH is deeply rooted in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and is the undisputed leader within its hospitality sector. Executives and the management team work closely with all of the Emirate’s stakeholders to write the story of Ras Al Khaimah’s next 10 years of growth.
Inspired by the cultures of the Silk Route, Shaza Hotels offers travellers a safe haven on their life expeditions – an oasis of calm amidst the clutter of daily life. Each hotel is a quintessential retreat steeped in the old world, and a promise to be a journey in itself. Captured in the depths of astounding architecture and distilled in the spices of rich cuisine, each of our destinations is a tapestry woven with facets of ancient cultures. The essence of the Silk Route transcends time, to bring travellers the most coveted treasure of all – tales yet to be told. Shaza Hotels affords travellers curated experiences set in contemporary-luxury spaces, designed for those who seek to explore and delight in the lavish elements of the bygone Eastern roads of trade.
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SSH is one of the leading master planning, infrastructure, building design and construction supervision firms in the Middle East, with a reputation for design integrity and a portfolio that includes landmark projects throughout the region. The firm maintains offices in Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Bahrain, Dubai, Iraq, Kuwait, London, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Founded in 1961, we employ approximately 1,400 high-calibre local, regional and international experts in their individual fields, most of whom are from globally renowned international consultancy firms. We have been ranked number one architecture consultancy in the Middle East, among the top 100 architects in the world, in Building Design magazine’s World Architecture 100 Survey in 2018 and 2019.
We were also ranked in 91st place among ENR’s Top 225 International Design Firms for 2018.
SSH's multifaceted practices include architecture, urban design and planning, landscape architecture, structural and civil engineering, MEP/building services, interior design, highway and bridge engineering, stormwater drainage, utility design, sanitary engineering, marine engineering and district cooling, in addition to high-profile project management and construction supervision services.
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STR is the source for premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. We provide data that is reliable, confidential, accurate and actionable, and our comprehensive solutions empower our clients to strategize and compete within their markets. Our range of products includes data-driven solutions, thorough analytics and unrivalled marketplace insights, all built to fuel business growth and help our clients make better operational and financial decisions. STR is continuously working to enhance our product offerings while shaping the future of industries. We maintain a presence in 15 countries, and collect data for over 62,000 hotels across 180 countries.
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The Red Sea Development Company (www.theredsea.sa) is a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea Development Company was established to drive the development of The Red Sea Project, an ultra-luxury tourism destination that will set new standards in sustainable development and position Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.
The project will be developed over 28,000 km2 of pristine land on Saudi Arabia’s west coast and includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 pristine islands and lagoons. The destination also features mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes, desert vistas and ancient cultural and heritage sites. The first phase of the development is planned to open in 2022 and will include hotels, unique attractions, residential properties, a marina, leisure, commercial and entertainment amenities and all supporting infrastructure.
Al Tamimi & Company is the largest law firm in the Middle East with over 350 lawyers across 17 offices in 9 countries and unrivalled experience having operated in the region for nearly 30 years. As a full-service firm, we specialise in advising and supporting major international corporations, banks and financial institutions, government organisations and local, regional and international companies. Our lawyers combine international experience with expert regional knowledge and understanding.
Our regional Hotels & Leisure practice is core to our firm and our clients. Established in 2009, it comprises over 20 lawyers throughout our network of offices, who have extensive expertise and knowledge of the industry. We advise hotel owners, developers, operators, investors and other stakeholders on all matters relevant to their interests within the industry. We provide a turnkey service from acquisition, construction & development, structuring, financing, operator appointment, disposal, disputes, together with Hotel funds and REITS.
HVS is the only global consulting firm focused exclusively on the hospitality industry. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 5,000 assignments each year for hotel and real estate owners, operators and developers worldwide. HVS principals are regarded as the leading experts in their respective regions of the globe. Through a network of more than 40 offices and more than 350 professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry.
HVS provides you with comprehensive solution through its single-minded focus: helping you succeed in the complex hospitality arena through our global reach and in-depth understanding of the local market. Whether you’re a first-time investor looking to buy one hotel, an experienced developer putting together a complex deal, an owner looking to improve your hotel’s cash flow or value, a financial firm evaluating an asset, a developer looking to hire an operator, we can help you every step of the way to succeed in the complex hospitality arena.
PwC is a network of firms with more than 276,000 people operating in 157 countries across the globe, making us the largest professional services provider in the world.
We are committed to delivering quality services in Assurance, Tax and Advisory (which includes our Consulting, Deals and Strategy& practices). In doing so we help to build trust in society, enable our clients to make the most of opportunities and solve important business problems.
We work with an extremely diverse range of clients, from private individuals and family owned businesses, to government organizations, right through to the world’s most iconic brands. We provide services to 429 of the Fortune Global 500 companies and 443 of the FT Global 500 companies.
Established in the Middle East for 40 years, PwC is the largest professional services firm in the region with 22 offices across 12 countries and around 5,600 people.
Find out more at www.pwc.com/me.
Follow us on social media: Twitter @PwC_Middle_East | LinkedIn PwC Middle East
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HAMA is a networking organization of approximately 200 professionals representing an estimated 3,200 hotels with over 760,000 rooms. Members are involved in asset management, acquisition, financing and disposition of hotels and resorts, and are directly responsible for making decisions concerning capital investments, renovations, asset repositioning, operational policies and franchise selections.
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The Middle East’s PR and Communications specialist.
Successful communication is essential to doing business. It creates connections, enables trust, manages success and influences the perception of your business.
As regional communications experts in the unique multilingual, multicultural environment of the Middle East, we specialise in getting your message across - clearly and successfully, through our proven combination of local knowledge and international experience.
However you are looking to reach your customers, we have the tools, knowledge and experience to create, sharpen, evolve and implement your vision - helping you achieve your goals.
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Hospitality Net, powered by Hsyndicate, is the #1 ranked website for the global hospitality community. Recognized as the most influential industry trade publication, Hospitality Net attracts the largest number of unique visitors, page views and targeted subscribers through its unparalleled network of sites and partners. Since its inception in 1999, Hospitality Net has been regarded as the most trusted source for industry leaders and experts to connect, share, and learn. Content is distributed to a network of partner sites and associations including HFTP, HSMAI, and HITEC, and supports all facets of the business including opinion articles, press releases, appointments, events, job openings, webinars, reports, sponsored content, and digital advertising. Hospitality Net has the most innovative publishing and distribution technology, as well as robust reporting capabilities to ensure clients can maximize their marketing ROI and measure their success. To learn more visit hospitalitynet.org
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