Content Library
Podcasts
In our latest FHS podcast, we sit down with Ayman Ezzeddine, Director of Development, Middle East at Radisson Hotel Group, as he walks us through the behind-the-scenes of hotel development. Our conversations ranged from resilience to what makes an opportunity worth pursuing. With hospitality across the Middle East evolving at remarkable speed, we explore the forces shaping the region’s next phase of growth, the markets catching developers’ attention, and what it takes to build partnerships that create long-term value for owners, operators, and destinations alike.
Mohamed Zaghloul of Zaghloul Holding brings an owner-side perspective on eight decades of Egyptian real estate and hospitality development - from the family's first buildings in the 1940s to a pipeline of 3,000 rooms today. His verdict on the current moment: Egypt is not at its cap, flight capacity is the real bottleneck, and the Gulf capital flowing in is only raising the bar.
In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Building Swiss Hospitality in the Heart of Abu Dhabi, Georgette Davey, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches, discusses how the Academy is bringing Swiss hospitality excellence to one of the region’s fastest-growing tourism and hospitality markets. She shares how hospitality education is evolving to meet the needs of a changing industry, the importance of developing future-ready talent, and why Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to become a leading hub for hospitality learning, leadership and innovation.
Press room
In the run up to FHS Living, co-located with FHS World, industry experts share their thoughts on the key factors driving this ever-growing asset class, how brands can differentiate themselves in the market, where the best investment opportunities are, and more.
Branded Residences Forum (BRF) is being rebranded to ‘FHS Living’, effective with the edition running alongside FHS World in Dubai this October.
Across the industry, hotel leaders are balancing rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and data analytics against evolving traveller behaviour, rising operational complexity and increasing pressure to deliver sustainable growth. AI adoption in hospitality is expected to accelerate significantly through 2026, particularly across revenue management, guest personalisation and operational efficiency.
Industry news
Institutional capital keeps circling Africa but seldom lands. The hesitation is not about opportunity. It is about trust. Global investors still price African tourism and hospitality as if they are betting on volatility rather than performance.
Hotel revenues in the UAE surged past AED 26 billion in the first half of 2025, marking a 6.3% increase year-on-year, with occupancy rates hitting 80.5%. Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri attributed the growth to strong public-private collaboration, aligned with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which targets a AED 450 billion contribution to GDP by the next decade. Preparations are also underway for the UAE–Africa Tourism Investment Summit, part of FHS World 2025, which will bring together ministers and senior officials from 53 African nations.
Advisory Board members offered a treasure trove of insights, recommendations, and strategic ideas aimed at shaping the upcoming event into an industry-defining gathering.
Reports
AI in hospitality is moving beyond the guest interface and into the way projects are designed, delivered, and operated.
The 2026 U.S.-Iran conflict has emerged as one of the most significant geopolitical disruptions to affect GCC hospitality since the COVID-19 period, creating immediate pressure on aviation, traveller confidence, hotel performance, and investment activity across the region. While the operational shock has begun to stabilise following the ceasefire announcement and easing airspace restrictions, investor sentiment remains cautious and increasingly selective.
Industry Pulse Report | April 2026 Compiled for Hospitality Leaders, C-Level Executives & Industry Stakeholders For the Industry, by the Industry