Future Hospitality Summit Podcast

In this FHS Egypt podcast, Barney Haddad, Founder and Co-CEO of Aleph Hospitality, discusses Egypt's growing significance in Africa's hospitality investment landscape and the opportunities driving the company's expansion. With 50 operating hotels and 30 signed management agreements, Aleph aims to reach 100 operational properties by 2029, identifying Egypt as a key growth market. Haddad highlights...

  Podcast Summary: Beyond the Hype – Making Hotel Technology Work In this episode of the FHS Egypt Podcast, Hassan Barakat, Head of Product Management at Advanced Computer Technology (ACT), discusses the role of technology in Egypt's growing hospitality sector and how hotels can turn technology investments into tangible business results. He emphasises the importance of integrating technology into...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Eddy Tannous, Chief Operating Officer of Rotana Hotels, discusses Egypt's growing hospitality sector, investment opportunities, and Rotana's expansion strategy. He highlights the country's strong tourism potential, supported by government initiatives, infrastructure development, and increasing visitor demand. Tannous identifies significant opportunities in the m...

In this exclusive interview at FHS World Dubai, Matthew Weihs sits down with Aman Malhotra, CFO of Kerten Hospitality, to explore Egypt's evolving hospitality landscape and the growing demand for lifestyle-driven destinations. Aman shares insights into Kerten Hospitality's expansion strategy in Egypt, including its diverse portfolio of lifestyle hotels, branded residences, and innovative hospitali...

In this episode, Hala Matar Choufany, President, HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia , shares her perspective on Egypt's evolving hospitality investment landscape, examining the strength of the market's fundamentals, rising hotel valuations, and the growing development pipeline. The conversation explores the industry's focus on luxury hotels, the untapped opportunities in midscale and affordabl...

Michael Aldridge, Founder and CEO of KOFISI, joins the FHS Egypt Podcast to explain the "hotelified workspace," the model KOFISI has refined over ten years by applying hotel-grade hospitality to the world of work. After launching in East Africa, expanding through West and South Africa, and most recently opening in Casablanca, KOFISI now has Cairo in its sights, with three leased buildings of 80,00...

Marc Dardenne, CEO of Modon Hospitality, joins the FHS Podcast to discuss how guest expectations are reshaping the future of hospitality and why travellers are increasingly choosing experiences over destinations alone. He introduces Afiniti, Modon Hospitality's new experience-led hospitality brand, designed around five distinct worlds: family, adults-only, adventure, urban resort and wellness. Rat...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director of Tourism Development at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, joins us to discuss the UAE's continued strength as a global tourism and investment hub. The conversation explores what is driving the country's resilience, how the Ministry is supporting long-term tourism growth, and where the next opportunities are emerging across i...

Mohamed Zaghloul, Board Member & VP of Hospitality Development at Zaghloul Holding, joins the FHS Egypt Podcast to discuss eight decades of real estate and hospitality development in Egypt - from the family business roots of the 1940s through to today's pipeline of 3,000 rooms. Mohamed shares his perspective on Cairo's multi-segment advantage, the flight capacity bottleneck holding back Egypt's to...

In this episode, Dr. Moath Alyahya, Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Economic City, explores how Madinah is evolving into a broader investment, hospitality and mixed-use destination. The conversation looks at KEC's expansion strategy, major developments including Knowledge Gardens and the Islamic World District, changing demand beyond religious tourism, and how new partnerships and investment...

In this episode, Riyan Itani, Founder of Global Branded Residences Ltd., explores how branded residences are evolving at the intersection of luxury, real estate and investment. The conversation looks at what drives brand premiums, why standalone residences are gaining ground, how buyer expectations are changing, and why the Middle East has become one of the sector's most dynamic growth markets.

In this episode, Richard Stevens, Director at Sectorlight, explores why strong hospitality brands are built through story, not just design, and how a clear brand narrative can shape everything from market positioning to guest perception. The discussion looks at what makes a hotel brand distinctive in an increasingly crowded market, how developers can create concepts that feel bold without losing c...

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...

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...

In this episode of the FHS Egypt Podcast, Daria speaks with Amr El Nady, Head of Hotels & Hospitality MEA and Managing Director of the Global Hotel Desk at JLL, about the evolving hospitality investment landscape in Egypt. Amr explores the growing momentum behind the market, including increased participation from regional developers and Gulf capital, continued activity from domestic investors, and...

In this episode of the FHS Egypt Podcast, we are joined by Nina Vithlani, Managing Director MENA at Sectorlight, to explore how Egypt can build distinctive, world-class destinations that resonate with local, regional, and international audiences alike. Drawing on her experience working across major projects in Egypt and the wider Middle East, Nina unpacks what makes Egypt such a unique place brand...

In this episode of the FHS Saudi Arabia podcast, Daria is joined by Mohamad Haj Hassan, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, to explore the forces shaping hotel growth in one of the world's most closely watched hospitality markets. The conversation looks at what makes Saudi Arabia such a compelling opportunity for global hotel brands, how Wyndham's franchis...

In this episode, we speak with Dory Mouawad, Director of Operations KSA at Ewaa Hotel Group, about the changing face of Saudi Arabia's hospitality market and the rising importance of budget and mid-scale hotels. With more than 25 years of experience in Middle East hospitality, Dory shares his perspective on what it takes to build a scalable hotel brand in the Kingdom, the operational discipline be...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Anant Sharma, CEO of Matter Of Form, is joined by Muneeb Mushtaq, Chairman of Airzai, to explore the neuroscience of hospitality and the powerful role scent, sound and sensory design play in shaping how people feel, behave and remember a place. The conversation looks at how sensory design is moving from a finishing touch to a strategic part of brand building, he...

In this episode, we speak with Jalil Mekouar, Chief Executive Officer, Elaf Group, about what makes Saudi Arabia's hospitality opportunity unlike any other market in the world today. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience across hospitality, real estate, investment, operations, asset management, and technology, the conversation explores Elaf Group's transformation journey, the next phase of S...

In this episode, Muin Sehran, CEO of Amsa Hospitality, shares how the company is helping shape the next chapter of Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector, from building brands that reflect the Kingdom's identity to responding to the growing demand for authentic, locally rooted guest experiences. The conversation explores how Saudi hospitality is evolving beyond traditional hotel development, creating n...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Elie Milky, Vice President of Development Middle East, Cyprus, Greece & Pakistan at Radisson Hotel Group, shares why Saudi Arabia remains one of the most resilient and compelling hospitality markets in the region. Speaking amid a period of geopolitical turbulence, Elie discusses how Radisson Hotel Group views the current landscape through the lens of opportunity...

In this episode of the FHS podcast, Eddy Tannous, Chief Operating Officer, Rotana Hotels, shares Rotana's expansion strategy in the Kingdom. From expansion into secondary cities to bringing the world to Saudi Arabia with events like the Expo and the World Cup, Saudi Arabia is planning the next chapter of global hospitality, and Rotana is spearheading this transformation.

In this episode, Fouad Awan, Partner & Managing Director, FSK & Partners, discusses the growing importance of ELV systems, building automation, and AI in modern hospitality development, and why these conversations need to happen from the earliest stages of a project. The discussion explores how technology infrastructure directly impacts guest experience, operational efficiency, and long-term asset...

In this episode, we explore how global capital is being reshaped across hospitality and real estate, with a particular focus on the growing role of Chinese and Asian investors. From cross-border investment strategies to the development of REIT-style platforms in DIFC and ADGM, the conversation unpacks how firms like F.O.G Capital are working to bridge capital markets and unlock institutional inves...