On the up: mapping out east Africa’s potential
It’s true that East Africa’s travel, tourism and hospitality sectors have experienced numerous ups and downs in recent years. However, there are positive signs of growth, as Thuku Kimani, manager of hotels MENA at Colliers International, points out.
How to make your coffee shop stand out
Forming an important part of the F&B industry, the coffee segment needs no introduction. And with new concepts and products arriving in the market thick and fast, customers are increasingly looking for quality and traceability. Nagi Morkos, founder and managing partner at Hodema consulting services, identifies the differentiating factors of a successful coffee shop.
Behind the scenes: Baghdad’s hospitality potential
After years of conflict, Iraq is beginning to finally find its feet. Ralph Nader, CEO of Amber Consulting, investigates how the country’s hospitality sector is shaping up and why the capital is proving appealing to F&B brands.
How to get guests to spend more
Promoting your hotel and its facilities to guests can be a challenge, especially with there’s competition to contend with. Dr. Maria Frangieh, managing director of Socialprise, shares her tips on how to increase guest spending.
Eco style: sustainable interior design trends
After years of lockdowns and pandemic-related anxiety, increased consumer awareness of all things sustainable, purposeful and healthy has set new standards for hospitality enterprises. Sara Khairallah, founder and principal interior architect at SK Touch, looks at design through green-tinted glasses and identifies the practices that are shaping the industry.
UAE country report: the great rebound
While most countries are back to pre-pandemic growth after two years of economic turmoil, the United Arab Emirates is reaping the rewards of its early vaccination efforts and measures to support hard-hit sectors. Nada Alameddine, managing partner at Hodema consulting services, paints a promising picture of the Emirates’ growth path and the exciting new development in its hospitality offering.
A brew with the coffee experts
To find out what’s new in coffee, we spoke to four industry professionals who brought us up to date on all things related to this most popular of brews, from machines and market trends to the true meaning of the “coffee sommelier” role.
6 knights of hospitality
If you thought the nightlife scene in the Middle East had died down in the post-pandemic era, think again. The industry is abuzz with innovative and ambitious concepts, so who better to guide us through the dark than the brilliant entrepreneurs behind them?
Dubai: the gateway to the FIFA World Cup 2022
With just a month to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar, Dubai’s hotels are reporting an extraordinary increase in bookings. Chadi Chidiac, managing partner of Protocol Hospitality Management and Consultancy, tells us more about how the UAE is benefiting from the event.
What’s behind ESG in tourism?
The number of governments and businesses introducing environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks and principles has grown significantly in recent years. But what are the implications of ESG specifically for the tourism industry? Richard Stolz, principal at Roland Berger Middle East’s transportation, tourism and logistics practice in Dubai, provides a pragmatic overview of the latest ESG practices in the sector.