Future Hospitality Summit Podcast

Tune in to listen to Jonathan Worsley, CEO and Founder, The Bench and Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana dive into Rotana's inspiring journey from a Middle Eastern brand to a global name and its expansion with sustainability at the core of its philosophy. Rotana is one of the first brands in the region to completely eliminate single-use plastics and Hutchinson shares his insights into how sus...

In this episode of the IDEEA Podcast, the host welcomes JS Anand, the founder, and owner of Leva Hotels, known for its presence in the Middle East hospitality market. JS Anand reflects on the unique spirit of Leva Hotels during COVID-19, highlighting their strategic planning, personalized services, advanced technology integration, and distinctive design. He notes that their focus on the Middle Eas...

"Abu Dhabi has attracted almost 603,000 visitors to attend more than 1,200 MICE events, corporate convention exhibitions, and events." Mubarak H. Al Shamisi, Director - Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, and Jennifer Pettinger-Haines dive deeper into Abu Dhabi as a preferred destination for large-scale regional and global events. Along with the...

In this podcast episode, Frank Halmos, the CEO of Ensana Health Spa Hotels, joins as a guest to discuss the brand's background and operations. Frank provides insights into Ensana's establishment in 2019 and its journey since then, including successful quarters before the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Frank elaborates on the distinction between Ensana's health spa hotels and regular we...

Nichola Beskine-Taylor, Partner, TGP International and Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, Managing Director Middle East, The Bench, discussed sustainable hospitality for the latest episode of the FHS podcast, a key area of exploration for Future Hospitality Summit 2023. Hear their insights as they deconstruct what 'sustainability' means within the ecosystem of hospitality and dive deeper into the role of...

In this episode of the IDEEA Podcast, the conversation revolves around Greece's recent economic developments and its potential as an investment destination. The participants are enthusiastic about the country's improved investment ratings, with both Fitch and S&P affirming Greece's BB plus rating with a positive outlook. This indicates significant progress in the nation's economic conditions and i...

Taghrid AlSaeed, Executive Director of Group Communications & Destination Marketing, Miral and Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, Managing Director Middle East, The Bench got together for the FHS podcast to discuss the experiential nature of Yas Island ahead of FHS & AHIC, happening from 25-27 September 2023. Tune in to listen to their insights on how Yas Island is transforming the way you experience and...

In this podcast episode, we speak with Professor Jan A. deRoos, HVS Professor emeritus of Hotel Finance and Real Estate, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business as a special guest with extensive knowledge in hotel finance, real estate, and investment in the hospitality industry. We discussed the most interesting and challenging periods for hotel development, including global events and localized fa...

In this insightful podcast, Xenia sheds light on the pressing challenges faced by investors in the realm of sustainability. From navigating varying reporting requirements to combating the risks of stranded assets, she delves into the complexities that must be addressed for a greener future. To combat greenwashing and ensure transparency, Considerate Group embraces the power of data. Xenia highligh...

Are you interested in hotel investments and financing strategies? Heribert Gangl, Director Hotels & Tourism, Erste Group Bank AG, shares his expertise and insights on the challenges in the industry, especially in the post-COVID era. Heribert emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives and being pragmatic in certain situations to address challenges such as inflation, labor sho...

If you're a frequent traveler, you may have heard of the Fairmont brand. But have you heard of the Fairmont Golden Prague? Jakub Dyba, Head of New Investments at R2G, shares the story of how they acquired the Intercontinental Hotel in Prague four years ago and turned it into a luxurious Fairmont hotel that is set to open its doors in 2024. R2G's investment strategy is centered around conservative,...

Wellness in Hotels: The Potential for Growth in Central and Eastern Europe In this podcast, Marina Franolic Managing Director Central and Eastern Europe, the bench engages in a conversation with Magdalena Sekutowska, Senior Director - Development Central & Eastern Europe at Hilton on the growing demand for wellness-focused travel and how the hospitality industry is adapting to meet this demand. Th...

Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, joins Jana Bader, General Manager Saudi Arabia, The Bench on the FHS podcast to discuss the hospitality sector in the Middle East and Wyndham's positive experience during this period of massive change.  Dimitris also shares his personal journey from working in his father's business to becoming the President of EMEA and his secret to alway...

In this episode of the FHS podcast, get an inside scoop on HMH Hotel Group's strategic plans to expand its five brands in the booming Saudi Arabian hospitality market. COO Patrick Antaki shares his insights on the country's favourable business landscape and what sets HMH apart from the competition. Tune in to discover more about what's in store for the hospitality industry and FHS Saudi Arabia 202...

Gautam Sashittal, CEO, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and Jana Bader, General Manager - Saudi Arabia, The Bench explore Gautam's journey in hospitality and the impact he has created as CEO of KAFD. Gautam expands on the sustainability-related initiatives of KAFD and the assets they are managing. In addition, he provides a glimpse into the forthcoming deal signing between KAFD and IHG Hote...

In this episode of the FHS podcast, Mike Rigby, General Manager & Regional Vice President, Middle East & India talks to Ali Shahid, Marketing Director, The Bench about what WhiteWater is and what it has been up to recently. Mike talks about the increasing appetite for entertainment in the Saudi region and the role WhiteWater is playing to fulfil the demand. Mike also shares his excitement for FHS...

Winnie Chiu, JP who is the President and Executive Director of Dorsett Hospitality International, recently spoke to Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, Managing Director Middle East, The Bench and Co-Founder Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) on the FHS podcast. Winnie and Jennifer chat about the latest projects and development plans of Dorsett, and how technology is being used to enhance customer e...

In this episode, We had the pleasure of hosting Le Fichoux Frederic and Borivoj Vokrinek from Cushman & Wakefield, who shared some amazing insights on the recovery of the hotel market in Europe after COVID-19. Despite the challenges, they noted that most markets in Europe are reflecting pre-pandemic levels by 2022, with the exception of the Central and Eastern European region. However, they sugges...

In this episode of the FHS podcast, Jana Bader, General Manager - Saudi Arabia, The Bench talks to Martin Berlin, Partner, Global Deals Real Estate Leader, PwC Middle East on the current hospitality investment landscape of Saudi Arabia and how the market is expected to shape in the coming years. Martin shares his insights on what the biggest opportunities and challenges are going to be for Saudi A...

Richard Johnson, General Manager of Al Faisaliah Hotel joins the FHS podcast to talk to Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO, The Bench to share his experience of working as the General Manager of the iconic Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh. Richard talks about what exactly makes Al Faisaliah the icon that it is and how is it the right venue for an international event like Future Hospitality Summit.

In this episode of the FHS podcast, Jana Bader sits down with two special guests from Aleph Hospitality - Jad Shamseddin, COO, and Tariq Dowidar, Vice President for Saudi Arabia. Jad and Tariq share their insights and experience on the recent opening of Aleph Hospitality's new headquarters in Saudi Arabia, and the exciting new projects they're working on in the region. They discuss the company's v...

Amine E. Moukarzel recently joined the FHS Podcast with Jonathan Worsley to discuss the recent developments by Louvre Hotels Group in hospitality technology and operations. Amine also talks about what's happening in the hospitality investment landscape of Saudi Arabia, and what excites him about the region.

In our first podcast of IDEEA 2023 and 13th episode of IDEEA podcast series, we speak with Gorjan Lazarov, CEO, Orea Hotels & Resorts, one of the most renowned hotel brand in Prague. With a focus on creating a consistent brand experience for guests, the company has invested heavily in repositioning its brand and improving the customer experience. This strategy has paid off, resulting in a record y...

In this episode of the FHIS podcast, Jennifer Pettinger, Managing Director of The Bench Middle East and Co-Founder of Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF), sits down with Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President for Radisson Hotel Group in the Middle East and Africa. They discuss Tim's agenda for FHIS and how Radisson is prioritizing sustainability and innovation by implementing in-house techno...

For the twelfth episode of the IDEEA Podcast, Marina invited Aleksandar Ljubic, Executive Director at the Foreign Investors Council (FIC). The FIC was established in 2002 to develop and enable an investment conducive business environment with solid business ethics in Serbia. The council members represent expertise from various sectors and industries, have invested over €35 billion, and employ more...