In a powerful demonstration of industry unity during turbulent times, The Bench recently hosted a special Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) luncheon at XU restaurant, hosted by RIKAS Hospitality Group.
The
closed-door exclusive gathering, attended by 50+ C-level hospitality industry executives
from across the UAE, served as a platform for leaders to connect, share
perspectives, and reinforce the community’s shared vision for the future of
tourism in the Middle East.
Abdulla Al
Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, joined the event as a special guest
and expressed his profound pride in the resilience shown by the local
hospitality community. Addressing the leaders directly, he stated: “I feel proud to be in a room with all of you who have stood your
ground and are standing with the UAE’s economy and this industry through these
challenging times. The least that we can do is support you and make sure this
industry continues to grow and prosper.”
He emphasised
that the government is meeting daily and updating regulations weekly to remain
agile. Looking toward the upcoming peak season.
His participation
underscored the importance of collaboration and transparency, while reinforcing
confidence in the UAE’s long-term vision for the tourism sector.
The event
also featured a candid data-driven briefing from Azad Zangana, Head of GCC
Macroeconomic Analysis at Oxford Economics, who addressed the current regional
volatility.
While
Zangana noted a temporary downward revision in arrival forecasts due to the
ongoing conflict, the longer-term outlook remains
defined by resilience and the underlying strength of global travel intent.
Highlighting
the resilience of the consumer, Zangana said: "People are still demanding
holidays. They still want to travel. When you look at the share of disposable
income that's being spent on travel and tourism, it's still very elevated."
He further
explained that while some travel patterns may shift toward domestic or regional
destinations in the near term with domestic and regional demand already
accounting for two-thirds of the GCC market, the fundamental desire for travel
remains a primary driver for the industry's eventual rebound, with recovery cycles becoming shorter with each external shock.
Zangana also
reinforced the underlying strength of the regional hospitality
market despite short-term volatility, underpinned by the UAE’s global
connectivity, diversified demand base and continued government support for
tourism.
Jonathan
Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, mentioned that the event was designed to bring
the community together to "reimagine hospitality" during a period of
uncertainty and praised the Minister's close interaction with the private
sector.
The session
concluded with a shared commitment to transparency and strategic marketing,
ensuring that the UAE remains at the forefront of global tourism as the sector
moves toward its peak season in September.
As the
hospitality sector recalibrates, the FHS gathering made one thing clear: the
industry is not just waiting for recovery, it is actively building it through
unity, transparency, and coordinated action. -TradeArabia News Service