Future Hospitality Summit Podcast

Join us on the latest FHS Podcast where Matthew Weihs, Commercial Director at The Bench, speaks with Nicolas Nasra, Head of Hotel Advisory, Hospitality & Tourism at Colliers, about the evolving landscape of branded residences in Saudi Arabia. Learn how collaborations with luxury and lifestyle brands are reshaping real estate, attracting younger demographics, and delivering strong returns on invest...

Join Jonathan Worsley and Duncan O'Rourke on this enlightening FHS podcast episode as they explore Duncan's dynamic role as CEO of Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific for Accor. They discuss strategic alignments with regional visions like Saudi Vision 2030, Accor's expansion plans including 45 new hotels in Saudi Arabia, and the crucial role of sustainability and AI in enhancing operational efficie...

Join Jonathan Worsley and Gautam Sashittal on the FHS Podcast as they explore the dynamic evolution of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). They discuss KAFD's transformation into a comprehensive mixed-use hub in Riyadh, emphasising its development of residential, retail, and hospitality sectors. Gautam highlights the integration of smart city technologies and sustainability initiatives th...

In this engaging podcast episode, Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, The Bench, talks with Serena Lim, Chief Growth Officer of The Ascott Limited, about their unique business strategies and expansion plans. Celebrating 40 years, The Ascott has transitioned from an owner-operator model to managing a vast portfolio of over 940 properties globally. Serena discusses Ascott's significant focus on the Middle E...

In this enlightening episode of the FHS podcast, host Jana Bader speaks with Stefano Lopez, Tourism Projects Director, at Baheej, about their innovative role in transforming Saudi Arabia's tourism landscape. Stefano discusses Baheej's unique approach as a joint venture focused on developing destinations that cater to both local communities and potential international visitors. Their methodology in...

In this engaging podcast episode from the Future Hospitality Summit, Ali Shahid, Marketing Director, The Bench, converses with Desdemona (Desi), a humanoid robot and lead vocalist of the Desdemona Dream Band. Desi discusses her excitement about expanding her fan base to the Middle East and shares her views on the role of robotics and AI in enhancing the hospitality industry. She emphasises the pot...

Host Jennifer Pettinger-Haines chats with Daniel Morgan, Partner, TGP International, about the innovative Al Mamlaka food hall in Riyadh. They delve into the transformation of an underutilised space into a bustling dining hub, the challenges of adapting retail areas for food service, and the strategies employed to create a diverse and dynamic food destination. Daniel shares insights on design, ven...

In this episode of the FHS podcast, host Jennifer Pettinger-Haines sits down with Ada Renedo of the Together Group and Christopher Sanderson and Martin Raymond from The Future Laboratory to delve into the evolving landscape of Saudi Arabia's luxury market. They discuss the significant findings of the "New Codes of Luxury" report, which redefines perceptions of the Saudi consumer and highlights the...

Tune in for a dynamic conversation with Hala Matar Choufany, President of HVS Middle East and Africa led by Rosanna Chopra, Executive Director, Red Sea Global as they discuss the transformative growth of tourism in Saudi Arabia. This discussion explores the influential role of women in driving Vision 2030 and the broader dynamics shaping the industry, such as the integration of cultural authentici...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, host Louis Abboud, CDO & Deputy Head of Middle East, Africa & Turkey, Ennismore sits down with Christoph Hoffmann, Founder, 25hours Hotels to discuss the origins, philosophy, and expansion of the 25hours brand, particularly its successful adaptation in Dubai and potential in Saudi Arabia. Christoph discusses the brand's commitment to creating unique, story-drive...

In this insightful episode of the FHS Podcast, Jonathan Worsley sits down with Susie Ellis, Chair & CEO of the Global Wellness Institute. Susie discusses the transformation in wellness tourism, highlighting its expansion beyond traditional spa offerings to include holistic community and environmental wellness. They explore the integration of wellness in business travel and the vital role of staff...

In this engaging episode of the FHS Podcast, Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, The Bench, sits down with Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim, CEO of Millennium Hotels & Resorts & Lakhraim Group, to explore the brand's significant growth in the Middle East and Africa. They delve into the introduction of innovative brands like M Social and Biltmore, Millennium's focus on integrating technology to improve guest experie...

In the latest episode of the FHS Podcast, we delve into building a diverse and stronger hospitality industry by empowering and facilitating more women to join the workforce. Featuring the insightful Shaikha Al Nowais and hosted by Edie Rodriguez, this conversation highlights the transformative strides being made in Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector, especially under Vision 2030, and the remarkable...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Ali Shahid, Marketing Director, The Bench, welcomes Henry Coutinho-Mason, Author and Speaker on "The Future Normal," to discuss the role of AI in shaping a people-first strategy for the hospitality industry. As a "reluctant futurist," Henry emphasises looking at current global trends and demographics to anticipate future opportunities, urging organisations to en...

In this captivating episode of the FHS Podcast, Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, The Bench converses with Carlos Khneisser, VP Development MEA, Hilton about Hilton's innovative development strategies and dedication to sustainability. They explore Hilton's thriving presence in Abu Dhabi, particularly on Yas Island, and the significant expansion in Saudi Arabia with a focus on environmentally friendly ho...

In this insightful episode of the FHS Podcast, Ali Shahid, Marketing Director, The Bench, talks with Tjalling van den Burger, VP Hospitality, Adyen about transforming the hospitality industry through innovative payment solutions. They discuss overcoming the challenges of adopting new technologies, the importance of maintaining the personal touch in guest experiences, and envision the future of hos...

In this enlightening session at the Future Hospitality Summit 2023, Stephen Sackur, Presenter, HARDTalk engages with HE Mohamed Ali Rashed Alabbar, Founder & Managing Director of Emaar Properties | Founder & Director of Noon.com | Chairman of Eagle Hills | Chairman of Americana Group. They delve into Alabbar's journey from humble beginnings in Dubai to shaping its skyline, including the iconic Bur...

Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman, The Bench discuss net positive hospitality in our latest podcast episode. The hospitality industry is a major contributor to society and the environment which places greater onus of responsibility on it to pivot and transform into a sustainable driver. Diving into the development of the Sustai...

In our latest podcast episode, William Heinecke, Founder & Chairman, Minor Hotels in conversation with Jennifer Pettinger-Haines from The Bench, discusses his passion for sustainability in the hospitality industry and how Minor has been involved in various ESG initiatives. Minor Hotels has been involved in various innovative projects, from rescuing street elephants in Thailand to replanting coral...

In the latest episode of the FHS Podcast, Dr. Fahad bin Mushayt, Chief Executive Officer, ASFAR, and Jana Bader, General Manager – Saudi Arabia, The Bench come together to discuss ASFAR's exciting journey as well as its mission and objective in the context of Saudi Arabia's tourism sector. ASFAR plans to drive the growth of tourism investment in partnership with the private sector to create captiv...

Elie Milky, VP Development, Radisson Hotel Group, and Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, Managing Director – Middle East, The Bench come together for our latest podcast to discuss the exciting and ambitious journey Radisson has been on. Radisson has been leveraging growth opportunities in not just Saudi Arabia and Dubai but expanding to Bahrain, Qatar, and Pakistan too. He touches upon hotel owners lookin...

Our latest podcast with Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International, and Jonathan Worsley, CEO and Founder, The Bench, illuminates Marriott's exciting latest initiatives ranging from sustainability to cultivating greater female leadership and discussing their groundbreaking pipeline of 110 hotels. Walia shares in the podcast how Marriott is striving to reduce their...

Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Lakhraim Group & Millennium Hotels MEA, and Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, Managing Director of The Bench Middle East, focus on F&B strategies and Millennium's exciting future in our most recent podcast. Fahad delves into his focus on weaving F&B into the very fabric of guest experiences, creating excitement with fresh concepts because today's guests...

In this episode of the IDEEA podcast, the discussion delves into the intricate balance between maintaining the core structure of academic programs, such as academic years, semesters, and credit-based courses, while continuously updating and refining the content. Ruth highlights how this iterative process is not only applied to existing programs but also to the development of new ones. As the dialo...

In this Episode of the IDEEA Podcast, Marina Franolic and Dirk Bakker touch upon a variety of topics. They start the discussion of the current state of the EMEA capital market for hospitality, acknowledging challenges such as high inflation, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and cautious investor behavior due to economic uncertainties. Dirk highlights that there is limited activity in the market, with p...