The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) hosted the Talent of Tomorrow Forum – a landmark event that brought together key stakeholders in Dubai’s education sector to redefine learning for a rapidly evolving world. The forum featured the release of the new ‘Jobs of the Future’ report, a visionary blueprint to align education with emerging industries and further consolidate Dubai’s position as a global hub for business, leisure, and innovation under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and the Education 33 Strategy. The Talent of Tomorrow Forum took place on 17 April at the Museum of The Future, gathering more than 450 educators, policymakers, and industry leaders for a dynamic day of panels, workshops, and networking. The forum focused on how Dubai can stay ahead by equipping its people with the right education, skills, and mindset to navigate the fast-changing world of work. The ‘Jobs of the Future’ report, co-published by DET and KHDA, examines how global trends like automation, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and green energy are reshaping the job market. It identifies gaps in Dubai’s educational landscape and outlines opportunities to align learning pathways with future workforce needs. The report also draws insights from a proprietary Dubai Future of Jobs survey, which gathered inputs from nearly 7,800 students and educators to assess the skills most critical for tomorrow’s workforce. Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “A robust education sector is at the heart of Dubai’s long term economic growth, contributing to talent development and enhancing the city’s appeal as the world’s best …

Hilton announced the signing of two new properties in Cairo’s New Administrative Capital, Hilton Cairo New Capital Downtown and Hilton Garden Inn Cairo New Capital Downtown, in partnership with Panax Company, part of Selim Holding Group. Expected to open in 2028, this latest signing reinforces Hilton’s continued growth strategy in Egypt where the global hospitality company aims to triple its presence and exceed 40 trading properties across the country in the coming years. Strategically located in the heart of a transformative new capital designed to become a hub for business, culture, and innovation, both hotels will sit along the city’s Green River – a vast, landscaped park inspired by the Nile. The properties will be just minutes away from key landmarks including government ministries, the Central Bank, the Presidential Palace, and the Central Business District. Cairo International Airport is a 30-minute drive, ensuring convenient access for both domestic and international travellers. Carlos Khneisser, vice president, development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “The signing of these two new hotels in the Egyptian New Administrative Capital further reaffirms our commitment to continue diversifying and expanding our presence in the country. As one of the region’s most ambitious urban developments, we see strong potential in the New Administrative Capital’s evolution as a thriving economic hub, and we look forward to launching these outstanding properties to deliver an exceptional guest experience.” Hilton Cairo New Capital Downtown will feature 100 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, thoughtfully designed to foster energizing connections and offer comfort for all travellers. Guests will be able to enjoy the best of local and global culture through a variety of dining options including a lobby café, an all-day dining …

IDeaS announced the launch of IDeaS Spotlight, a first of its kind demand intelligence solution that empowers marketers to generate the right demand at the right time. Spotlight helps both single properties and portfolios to identify and act on high-value opportunities for deploying impactful, demand-generating marketing tactics informed by advanced analytics and AI. The solution brings IDeaS’ robust demand forecast and price sensitivity capabilities together to help hoteliers allocate marketing spend for the greatest impact on incremental revenue. In a time of uncertainty, rising marketing expenses, and increasing operational costs, hotel marketers are challenged to act quickly to translate every dollar spent into measurable revenue growth. Spotlight brings IDeaS’ unmatched forecasting capabilities into the mix, empowering marketers to optimize spend and unify commercial strategies, providing a vital competitive advantage. Additional key benefits of IDeaS Spotlight include: ● Translate forecast data into marketing action with a focused dashboard that automatically identifies periods of high revenue potential to help launch timely, impactful campaigns. ● Increase campaign conversion and influence guest behavior by leveraging price sensitivity signals. ● Respond faster with unparalleled foresight into future marketing opportunities. Powered by IDeaS G3 RMS’ advanced forecasting engine, Spotlight enables teams to proactively adjust strategies and take a surgical approach to demand generation. ● Spur collaborative action by streamlining communication between marketing and revenue management teams with intuitive workflows that ensure no revenue opportunity is left behind. Mike Chuma, vice president of global marketing, IDeaS, said: “For years, IDeaS solutions have served as the source of truth for future demand. With the introduction of Spotlight, hotel marketers can now drive their campaigns with that same state-of-the-art demand-driven forecasting. Spotlight is a purpose-built performance intelligence tool designed …

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a new vision and mission to redefine its role in shaping the region’s tourism landscape. The refreshed vision, “A meaningful Pacific Asia tourism economy”, emphasises purpose-driven growth. PATA’s mission focuses on sharing knowledge, enabling networking, and protecting tourism assets through innovation, collaboration, and adaptability. With this strategic shift, PATA aims to equip the travel trade with tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving global environment, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, resilience, and industry unity across Asia and the Pacific.

Emaar has invested over US$ 1 billion in shaping and enhancing the city’s global identity. This cumulative contribution underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to reinforcing Dubai’s international standing through cutting-edge experiences, vibrant cultural platforms, and landmark social infrastructure. From creating and operating Dubai Fountain—the world’s largest choreographed fountain—and producing the internationally acclaimed New Year’s Eve celebrations at Burj Khalifa, to enabling the launch and continued success of Dubai Opera as the region’s cultural epicentre, Emaar has consistently raised the bar in enriching Dubai’s urban and cultural fabric. These signature experiences are sustained and enhanced through ongoing annual investments exceeding US$ 50 million, covering not only the operation and maintenance of key attractions, but also the evolution of immersive technologies and entertainment formats. This includes the modernisation of Burj Khalifa’s façade with next-generation lighting and projection systems, enabling captivating narratives that reach millions of viewers globally. In addition to its physical contributions, Emaar continues to champion inclusive growth and community wellbeing. Through the Emaar Foundation, the company supports a wide range of local causes—from charitable housing and development programmes to national sports and cultural sponsorships—demonstrating its integral role in nurturing both city and society. “Emaar’s journey has always been rooted in a vision that transcends construction—it is about crafting experiences that inspire, unite, and leave a lasting impact,” said Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar. “Our investments are a testament to our belief in Dubai’s limitless potential, and we are proud to play a key role in defining its global narrative.” Emaar’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and community empowerment continues to drive progress, shaping Dubai’s future as a leading global hub. With bold ideas and sustained contributions, the company is poised …

Sabre Corporation will showcase how its technologies are redefining the travel and hospitality landscape—across the region and around the world at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025. With Sabre and its hospitality division, Sabre Hospitality, participating in five high-impact panel sessions, the company will showcase how its technologies are redefining the travel and hospitality landscape—across the region and around the world. Reaffirming its commitment to transforming the future of travel through intelligent retailing, hyper-personalization, AI-driven innovation, and sustainable practices. As a sponsor of the ATM Future Stage for several years—ATM’s hub for travel technology thought leadership—Sabre continues to lead the industry dialogue, hosting key debates and discussions on the transformation of travel retailing, operational efficiency, and the smarter adoption of emerging technologies across airlines, hotels, and travel sellers. “ATM is a key platform for Sabre to share our vision for a smarter, more connected travel ecosystem,” said Ramzi Al Qassab, Managing Director, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “From AI and automation to personalized offers and seamless servicing, our focus is on helping travel businesses in the region grow stronger, more agile, and be future-ready.” Among the featured sessions is “Turning Fragmentation into Opportunity for Smarter Retailing,” on Tuesday, April 29 from 15:15–16:00 at the Future Stage. Frank Trampert and Ramzi Al Qassab will be joined by senior leaders from Saudia, Jumeirah, and Almatar to discuss how the industry can overcome technology and content fragmentation. The panel will highlight how collaboration and innovation can turn complexity into opportunity—delivering seamless and connected travel experiences. “Today’s guests are no longer just booking rooms—they’re booking experiences,” said Frank Trampert, Global Managing Director, Community Sales, Sabre Hospitality. “At Sabre Hospitality, we’re empowering hoteliers to rethink …

Blacklane has revealed expansion plans throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of its growth strategy. This milestone marks the first phase of Blacklane’s expansion across the Kingdom, supported by TASARU Mobility Investments (“TASARU”), an investment entity wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (“PIF”). The expansion follows the momentum of Blacklane’s scale-up across Dubai and marks a considerable step in its continued growth across the Middle East. Blacklane now has operations in more than 50 countries. Addressing the increasing demand for luxury and sustainable mobility services in the region, Blacklane will offer premium vehicles, with plans to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) in a future phase to set a new benchmark for sustainable mobility across the Kingdom. Plus, Blacklane’s investment plans include the roll out of the Blacklane Chauffeur Academy providing professional training options to chauffeur partners in Saudi Arabia. First-class options available on the Blacklane platform will include Blacklane’s trademark black and white two-tone luxury vehicles. Dr. Jens Wohltorf, CEO and co-founder, Blacklane, said: “Bringing our luxury chauffeur service to the Kingdom marks an exciting milestone in Blacklane’s global expansion. Saudi is a key destination for sophisticated travellers and residents alike, and we’re proud to introduce a new standard of reliable, high quality and seamless mobility to the region. We are dedicated to fostering local talent and supporting the continued growth of Saudi’s thriving economic diversification”. Michael Mueller, CEO of TASARU Mobility Investments, said: “TASARU’s investment in Blacklane marks a key milestone in our ongoing efforts to transform the mobility sector in Saudi Arabia. By introducing premium, sustainable chauffeur services and advanced training through the Chauffeur Academy, we’re actively contributing to Vision 2030’s objectives, including economic diversification, and local …

With just under a month to go before the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia gets under way, investors, developers, government decision makers and regional hospitality leaders are gearing up for three days of networking, learning, debate and deal making in Riyadh with TravTalkME as media partner. Nearly 300 investors – almost one in four of all delegates – attended last year’s event, which created more than US$1.1 billion worth of business opportunities and saw 17 deals signed. With KSA’s hospitality and tourism transformation in full swing in line with Vision 2030, the stage is set for a wealth of new partnerships, signings and collaborations at FHS Saudi Arabia 2025. In the run up to FHS Saudi Arabia, I spoke to leaders from Taiba Investments, Al Khozama Investment Company, Baraka and AlNahla Group for their take on investing in KSA. Read on for insight on where these investors are heading, the importance of hospitality projects to Saudi’s overall real estate offering, how tourism targets can be met and what excites them most about KSA’s future tourism offering. With unprecedented expansion in real estate, tourism and hospitality in KSA, the opportunities for investment are seemingly endless. What are investors focusing on in terms of location and asset class? Taiba Investments is looking to solidify its position in the hospitality and real state sectors and aiming for sustainable growth by expanding in key hubs like Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to elevate KSA’s status as a premier global destination. The company is looking to strategically expand its portfolio with several hotel openings, such as Rixos Obhur Jeddah, Makarem Burj Al Madinah, Crowne Plaza Takhassusi, Sheraton Madinah, Novotel Madinah and Riyadh Marriott Hotel Mursalat. …

The German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO),  Spanish Tourist Office, Atout France Middle East and Austria Tourism are joining forces for a landmark edition of Discover Europe Travel Summit meets Marhaba 2025, taking place in Dubai on 25 and 26 April 2025. This powerful fusion brings the heart of Europe to the UAE, offering travel professionals from the GCC, Levant, and India a gateway to connect with 130 top-tier suppliers from Austria, France, Germany and Spain. A total of 5,720 pre-scheduled meetings are planned across the two-day event. In an exciting collaboration, two of Europe’s leading tourism networking platforms, the Discover Europe Travel Summit and Marhaba Europe, will unite for the first time. The summit serves as a strategic hub for destination marketing organisations, hospitality providers, DMCs, and transport specialists to exchange insights, showcase new products, and build long-lasting partnerships with 150 qualified buyers from the region. Austria’s breathtaking alpine landscapes, serene lakes, and charming cities have seen growing interest from GCC travellers. The country’s offerings range from winter sports to summer festivals, catering to diverse preferences and providing year-round appeal. Michael Tauschmann, Head of Markets Middle East and India at Austria Tourism, said: “Austria offers a remarkable variety of experiences that align perfectly with the preferences of GCC travellers. From the majestic alpine peaks and serene forest trails to the sparkling lakeside retreats, the country delivers authentic experiences for all. We are seeing growing interest from the region in discovering lesser-known parts of Austria, where hidden gems await. This summit gives us the ideal platform to connect with key travel experts and showcase Austria’s rich and refreshing diversity.” France continues to enchant GCC travellers with its iconic landmarks, luxury …

Sabre Hospitality announced a renewal agreement with Kerzner International, optimizing its distribution with retailing capabilities through Sabre’s SynXis platform. By leveraging the SynXis Booking Engine, Kerzner will be offering ancillaries alongside room reservations. Additionally, Kerzner has renewed its agreement to distribute hotel content through Sabre Hospitality’s Global Distribution System network. Kerzner is a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, ultra-luxury hotels and residences and innovative entertainment and hospitality experiences and has a total of 23 properties located globally across Dubai, Sanya, Cape Town, Malaysia, Rwanda, Greece, Mauritius, Mexico, Maldives, Morocco, USA and Montenegro. As a long-time Sabre Hospitality customer, Kerzner’s expertise in the Middle East alongside Sabre’s SynXis platform has helped provide suppliers and distributors increased access, personalization, and revenue opportunities. “Sabre is a trusted provider for all of our distribution needs, and we are excited to roll out retailing across the portfolio in the coming months ahead within SynXis Booking Engine to help us increase new revenue streams previously untapped,” said Sandrine Bittencourt, Director Global Distribution, Kerzner International. The SynXis Central Reservation System (SynXis CRS) helps hoteliers achieve consistent distribution across channels including online travel agencies (OTAs), global distribution systems (GDSs), booking engines, and call centers at a corporate or property level. The technology also provides a single interface to facilitate decisions across stakeholders and maintain advanced controls across preferred distribution channels. SynXis Retailing empowers hotels to sell experiences, goods, policies, and services with or without a room reservation. “We are supporting a foundation for growth through our distribution and retailing solutions that help hotels generate revenue today while also equipping them to excel in the future travel ecosystem,” said Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President & Global …