Despire fluctuating oil prices and political turmoil in the region, the Saudi Arabian hospitality industry is earmarked for growth, with reports stating that 16,000 new hotel rooms in Riyadh and Jeddah will go live by 2018.
According to reports, a majority of a US $628 billion budget will be allocated to hospitality, to support the expected influx of tourists over the next few years. Inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia is predicted to increase by 13% annually, with Makkah and Madinah alone receiving 25 million visitors by 2020.
To capitalise on a growing hospitality industry, Naseba has partnered with Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) to produce the upcoming Hotel Technology Summit, taking place on March 20-21, 2016 in Riyadh.
The summit will introduce pre-qualified hotel technology buyers from Saudi Arabia to global technology providers.
More than 120 decision makers from the hospitality sector will gather at this private platform to discuss developments in hotel technology, tackle the challenges of catering to millennial guests, and share insights built over years of experience in a constantly changing industry.
“Hoteliers are known as innovation seekers,” said Al Khozoma Management director of purchasing Austine Jarome.
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Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski director of information technology Mohamed Gharib said: "Saudi Arabia is one of the top 35 countries around the world in terms of using IT technology. As it has become part of the daily life of Saudi people, our guests depend on many forms of technology to measure hotel services."
Both will be speaking at the summit, and this year's agenda will focus on new technology in hotels, and the feasibility of investing in technology during cautious periods.
An interactive panel discussion will explore the critical question of what today’s guests value and want. Presentations in the form of ‘tech pitches’ will showcase specific technologies to bring hotels further into the digital age.
Hospitality professionals including Louvre Hotels Group and Golden Tulip MENA president Amine Moukarzel, Dur Hospitality president of hotel operations Denis Sorin, Marriott senior director of operations MENA John Rees, and Accor VP of marketing, sales and distribution David Henry will discuss the nuances of marketing to business, religious and tech-savvy travellers. The summit will also offer both structured and casual networking sessions.
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