WILD RETURN NEOM LEADS A NATURE COMEBACK
LEVELLING UP TRAVEL THAT BOOSTS YOUR SKILL SET READY FOR TAKEOFF A PEEK AT SAUDI’S NEW FLAG CARRIER
RIXOS OBHUR JEDDAH MAKES A GRAND ENTRANCE INTO SAUDI ARABIA
Kingdom Calling
07 Hot Ticket: Kleindienst Group’s Hygge Hotel
08 Regional News: The latest airline, hotel, and travel news
10 Sustainable Traveller: The greener side of tourism and hospitality
12 Global News: An update on international travel
18 Need a VIP invite?
Dorsia’s Marc Lotenberg is the ultimate connect
20 Tim Cordon, COO of MEA and SEAP for Radisson, chats with us about leading across continents
22 We chat with Dimitris Manikis, President of EMEA for Wyndham Hotels
24 Op-Ed: Saudi Arabia is a rising expat haven
25 Op-Ed: AI is shaping the future of hotel profits
29
29 24 hours in Geneva
KINGDOM CALLING
Rixos Obhur Jeddah is Saudi Arabia’s first true all-inclusive family-friendly lifestyle concept
61
61 Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
63 The Other House, South Kensington
64 Najd Al Meqsar, by Sharjah Collection
65 Brasserie Boulud
61
46
32 Resort-wear is risingand the SAND show is here to elevate the movement
34 Our guide to… petfriendly hotels in the UAE
36 Splash out on luxury experiences and products
38 Soothe yourself with the wellness-oriented side of travel and tourism
40 Our pick of cultural events around the world and inflight entertainment
The Extra Mile A growing appetite for selfimprovement is redefining the way people plan their travels and time off 52
54
Running Wild NEOM Nature Reserve is more than a sanctuary for wildlife: it’s a haven for Arabia’s lost species, and a chance to discover one of the most unique destinations on Earth
59
Saudi Bucket List
Five experiences to add to your “must-try” list across the kingdom
26 Frequent flyer with designer Mrunal Khimji
15 We chat with Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority 66
27 Elevator Pitch with Badr Abdelaziz, GM of Radisson Hotel Madinah
First impressions Take a peek at Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new digitallynative airline, ahead of its launch later this year
Soneva Fushi’s upcoming SOUL Festival will be a truly immersive wellness retreat
Editor’s Letter
THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO SAUDI ARABIA, I was in two minds.
On the one hand, I was dazzled by the news of the incredible places I’d been learning about and seeing images of since the launch of the country’s first-ever global tourism visas for non-religious tourists. On the other hand, as someone who spent a bulk of her formative years growing up in the Middle East, there was a part of me that thought, “What could be so special about it? Surely if you’ve seen one beautiful desert then you’ve seen them all?” And then I went to the Alnesai desert in the Red Sea.
Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was happy to eat my words, because what I got instead was one of the most jaw-dropping views I’d ever seen – the kind that makes every cell in your body feel full of gratitude for the sheer beauty that can exist in this world. To see the expanse of rolling dunes sweeping across the horizon like, well, a sea of sand – each grain full of centuries of history – in sunset shades of terracotta, pink, red, gold, and umber is a memory I will treasure forever.
Ever since that tourist visa launched – six years ago by 27 September – millions of tourists from within the country, the region, and across the world have had the chance to create their own memorable experiences via Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing tourism industry. And when I say millions, I mean that literally: After surpassing its original goal of 100 million tourists by 2030 seven years early (in 2023), the country welcomed 116 million in 2024. A new target has been set, to reach 150 million by 2030 instead, and with the amount of thrilling new projects, stunning hotels, flight routes, and infrastructure cropping up this year alone, it appears to be well on its way.
One such project is Rixos Hotels’ first-ever property in Saudi Arabia, Rixos Obhur Jeddah Resort (p.42). The first true all-inclusive family and lifestyle concept and beach resort in the heart of Jeddah’s beloved Obhur Bay, it’s ready to up the game of the country’s appeal for travellers. During the Arabian Travel Market back in May, the CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority, Fahd Hamidaddin, told me an upcoming Saudi-based Rixos all-inclusive property was among the projects he was especially excited about. To learn what else is on his radar, you can read my exclusive interview on p.15.
As a longtime animal lover, one project I’m personally in awe of is NEOM’s Nature Reserve. Part of a broader effort to restore 1.5 million hectares of habitat and revive key species populations, it aims to plant 100 million native trees, shrubs, and grasses by 2030, and ensure around 95% of NEOM’s land and sea remains protected for nature. So far, 800+ animals have been reintroduced as part of its rewilding efforts, and five million native treets have already been planted. You can read more about it on p.54.
As the summer draws to a close, many of us tend to treat September like a second new year. The start of this month offers us a chance to put our 2025 goals into overdrive, with four full months left to be able to accomplish whatever we put our hearts and minds to. That’s 17 weeks, or 121 days until 2026 – plenty of time to take a leaf out of Saudi’s book by dreaming big and working hard to make magic happen. Go forth and conquer - and enjoy the issue!
Yi-Hwa Hanna Editor
BUSINESS TRAVELLER MIDDLE EAST IS JOINTLY PUBLISHED BY MOTIVATE MEDIA GROUP AND BUSINESS TRAVELLER MEDIA LTD
MOTIVATE MEDIA GROUP
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OBAID HUMAID AL TAYER
MANAGING PARTNER AND GROUP EDITOR IAN FAIRSERVICE
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER ANTHONY MILNE
EDITOR YI-HWA HANNA
ART DIRECTOR CLARKWIN CRUZ
EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR LONDRESA FLORES
CONTRIBUTORS
HANNAH BRANDLER, ALICE HENDERSON, NIVEA SERRAO
GENERAL MANAGER – PRODUCTION S SUNIL KUMAR
PRODUCTION MANAGER BINU PURANDARAN
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER VENITA PINTO
GROUP SALES MANAGER CHAITALI KHIMJI SENIOR PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER MURALI NARAYANAN
BUSINESS TRAVELLER MEDIA LTD. MANAGING DIRECTOR JULIAN GREGORY
GROUP PUBLISHER RANIA APTHORPE
HEAD OFFICE: MEDIA ONE TOWER, DUBAI MEDIA CITY, PO BOX 2331, DUBAI, UAE; TEL: +971 4 427 3000; FAX: +971 4 428 2266; E-MAIL: BTME@MOTIVATE.AE
DUBAI MEDIA CITY: SD 2-94, 2ND FLOOR, BUILDING 2, DUBAI, UAE; TEL: +971 4 390 3550; FAX +971 4 390 4845
ABU DHABI: PO BOX 43072, ABU DHABI, UAE; TEL: +971 2 677 2005; FAX: +971 2 657 3401; EMAIL: MOTIVATE-ADH@MOTIVATE.AE
SAUDI ARABIA: REGUS OFFICES NO. 455 - 456, 4TH FLOOR, HAMAD TOWER, KING FAHAD ROAD, AL OLAYA, RIYADH, KSA;TEL: +966 11 834 3595 / +966 11 834 3596; EMAIL: MOTIVATE@MOTIVATE.AE
LONDON: MOTIVATE PUBLISHING LTD, ACRE HOUSE, 11/15 WILLIAM ROAD, LONDON, NW1 3ER, UK; E-MAIL: MOTIVATEUK@MOTIVATE.AE
BUSINESS TRAVELLER MEDIA LTD.
INK, BLACKBURN HOUSE, BLACKBURN ROAD, LONDON, NW6 1RZ
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
EMAIL: SUBSCRIPTIONS@MOTIVATE.AE; TEL: +971 4 427 3542
BTMIDDLEEAST BUSINESSTRAVELLERME
RADISSON BLU HOTEL& CONVENTION CENTER, RIYADH
MINHAL
STEP INTO A SPACE THAT TRANSCENDS COMFORT. YOUR TRUSTED BUSINESS HOTEL IS NOW, PROUDLY, A RADISSON BLU.
From the newly unveiled executive rooms & suites to exquisite dining experiences and a state-of-the-art convention center, Radisson Blu Hotel Riyadh Minhal is your ultimate destination for business in Riyadh.
New hotels, flight routes, and more
The art of cosiness
Dubai’s World Islands will host the country’s first Hygge hotel by 2027
WORDS YI-HWA HANNA
THE NEW PROJECT by real estate and property developer Kleindienst Group is named and themed after the Scandinavian philosophy of hygge – a concept that’s Danish in origin, with the word conveying a sense of contentment, simplicity, and the quiet joy of everyday life. The project will be located in The Heart of Europe on Dubai’s World Islands, with 96 keys, four restaurants, and a vibe that promises a sense of calm and connection, through spaces and guest experiences that encourage reflection and relaxation, with a sense of warmth, comfort, and quietude.
HOT TICKET
A SUITE DEAL
The hotel has 27 suites, in the heart of one of Türkiye’s most iconic, most visited regions
Cave of wonders
Wyndham opens the first global branded hotel in Cappadocia
Emirates - which recently announced that it will be banning the use of power banks onboard from October 2025 for safety - will launch a fourth daily flight between Dubai and London Gatwick from 8 February 2026.
US-BASED Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has recently opened the first-ever cave hotel by a global hospitality brand in Türkiye’s Cappadocia region.
The Signature Cave Cappadocia, Trademark Collection by Wyndham joins a growing list of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ one-of-a-kind, experience-led stays in the world’s most captivating destinations, and offers guests the chance to enjoy centuries-old architecture with modern comforts. All of the cave
Gulf Air has announced a return to New York’s JFK airport, with its direct service - the airline’s first US route in over 30 years - set to relaunch from 1 October 2025. It plans to operate three weekly flights with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
hotel’s suites feature stone interiors, antique carpets, and handcrafted furnishings, with modern amenities including complimentary wifi, flatscreen HDTVs, and, in select suites, private pools, hot tubs, or fireplaces. Guests of the hotel can also enjoy an exposed cave dinner experience through its 68-seat cave restaurant (one of the hotel’s key in-house dining options) in addition to a breakfast room and a terrace bar with panoramic views of the town of Mustafapaşa. Menus will carry on the theme of authenticity through the offering of local specialties such as Sineson Tava and St. Theodoros Köfte, which are made with recipes exclusive to the Ürgüp region.
Cappadocia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its fairy chimneys, awe-inspiring landscape with its iconic colourful hot air balloon rides, rock-cut churches, and underground dwellings. The region welcomed over 4 million visitors last year, including over 1 million staying guests.
Qatar Airways will be flying to London Heathrow ten times daily from this winter, while also increasing its services to Berlin, Madrid, Cape Town, Casablanca, Johannesburg, the Maldives, Phuket, Tokyo, São Paulo, Toronto, and more.
Etihad recently welcomed its first-ever Airbus A321LR - an aircraft set to redefine singleaisle travel. It entered service on 1 August, from Abu Dhabi to Phuket. This month, the airline will launch a new route to Taipei, Taiwan, from 7 September.
ROUTE ROUND-UP
BIG MILESTONE
A palatial promise
AL HABTOOR PALACE –founded by the UAE’s Al Habtoor Group and part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts – has launched a dualproperty offer titled “The Palace Journey”, across its properties in two iconic cities: Dubai and Budapest. As part of the promotional package, guests who book a minimum two-night stay in a suite at either Al Habtoor Palace Dubai or Al Habtoor Palace Budapest will receive a complimentary night at the sister property. The offer is bookable through the official offers pages of both Al Habtoor Palace Dubai or Al Habtoor Palace Budapest, and is valid for
bookings made until September 30 2025. The booking of the complimentary night is based on a double occupancy, bed and breakfast basis, and applies after the initial qualifying stay.
Wild wadi living
AMAN WILL BE making its debut in Saudi Arabia’s capital, with the kingdom’s first ultra-luxury Amanbranded residences being built in Wadi Safar, near the Diriyah heritage site.
Blending Aman’s ethos of peace with “samar”, the Arabic tradition of storytelling at dusk, Amansamar reflects the surrounding desert’s
cultural and natural heritage.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the 80-key hotel and collection of ultraluxury residences will offer panoramic views, minimalist architecture, and a sense of immersive tranquility. Residences will include five- to six-bedroom villas set on plots starting from 9,000 sqm, offering privacy, expansive living, and access
to world-class amenities such as a Greg Norman-designed golf course, polo grounds, an Aman Spa with a hammam and banya, a Racquet Club, pools, and curated dining. Residents will have exclusive access to the Residence Club, plus membership in the global Aman Club, with locations in Tokyo, New York, and upcoming destinations like Beverly Hills. and Miami.
The Michelin Guide will launch its first-ever global Michelin Key Selection this year, to be revealed during a landmark event in Paris on 8 October. Following successful Key rollouts across 15 top destinations throughout 2024 and early 2025, this marks a new era for the guide, which has expanded its mission to celebrate exceptional hotels worldwide with categories mimicking those of its stars. More than 1,500 hotels have already been recognised in regional selections.
MICHELIN-WORTHY
Upcycled excellence
FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH of its “Aircrafted by Emirates” brand in 2023, the UAE carrier recently released a second limitededition collection of eco-friendly handmade luggage and bags. Made of upcycled materials sourced from retrofitted aircraft, the 167-piece 2025 collection (made available for purchase from the Emirates official store) is made from 30,000kg of materials repurposed from 63 retrofitted Emirates’ A380 as well as Boeing 777. The bags upcycle everything from the aircrafts’ aluminium headrests to the
leather of the first and business class seats, as well as sofas from the onboard lounge, and even the seatbelts (which are, in some products, used as straps). Included in the 2025 collection are three new trolley bag styles, two styles of backpacks, and two handbags –one of which is made from the fur of the Emirates’ Captain seat. Prices range from US$80 to US$350. The first collection sold out within days – and in doing so, raised US$17,000, from which a portion of the profits were donated to children in need via the Emirates Airline Foundation.
DID YOU KNOW?
As part of the upcycling process, every piece of reclaimed material in the Aircrafted by Emirates collection is thoroughly laundered and disinfected, then put through a further hand-washing process, then reconditioned. The featured linings use new materials.
A LUSH INDULGENCE
COULD THIS BE the ultimate travel hack for beating liquid limits? Although UK airports have begun relaxing the 100ml liquids limit at security (with travellers departing Edinburgh and Birmingham
airports now able to carry liquids in containers up to 2l in size through security), if you frequent destinations that still apply the rule (including various places across the EU), Lush’s naked range
will keep you covered. The brand is known for its handmade and cruelty-free products that are ethically-sourced, and its solid shampoos and conditioners are not only plastic-free, they’re designed to
MANDARIN ORIENTAL is expanding its UAE footprint with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai by next month. The property will incorporate a hotel with 259 luxury rooms, as well as 224 serviced residences, which will be Dubai’s first Mandarin Oriental-branded residences. It’s housed within the new Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, which will feature the region’s tallest ceramic façade, and an innovative twisted form with energy-efficient cooling, including fins designed to optimise airflow and support sustainable cooling. Highlights include a rooftop helipad, a two-floor spa that blends ancient healing with modern wellness science, and ten culinary concepts.
make it easy for you to pack light and travel smarter - and more sustainably. With one solid shampoo bar replacing up to three 200ml plastic bottles, it’s well worth considering. Available in-store and online.
Choose Your Perfect Escape at The St. Regis Riyadh
Discover three exclusive packages, each designed to bring you comfort, and unforgettable moments.
Weekend Sereni Package
• Breakfast at Jackie
• 20% off dining at all venues
• Round-trip airport transfers
• Privileged laundry rates
• Late check-out until 4 PM (subject to availabili )
• Available Thursdays to Saturdays until Sept 27, 2025
CODE: E6774
Escape! Dining Package
• In-room breakfast
• Curated dining experience at Jackie
• Exclusive laundry privileges
• Late check-out until 4 PM (subject to availability)
• Available daily with a minimum 1-night stay until Sept 15, 2025
CODE D60
Experience Spa Package
• Breakfast at Jackie
• 60-min full body massage at The St. Regis Spa
• Stay in our Deluxe Rooms
• Minimum 2-night stay, valid daily until September 30, 2025
• Reserve 48 hrs in advance
CODE: SPA
GET THE SCOOP
The latest updates in the travel industry from across the world
1 Lufthansa to relaunch Munich-Riyadh service
(Above) Lufthansa has announced it will be flying to Saudi Arabia’s capital from 26 October. The route was first launched in 2010, before being retired in 2017. The reinstated service will run thrice weekly, leaving Munich at 21:45 and arriving into Riyadh at 04:50. Return flights are scheduled to depart at 06:25 and arrive into Munich at 10:25. The route is set to be operated by Lufthansa’s Airbus A350900 aircraft, which offer 293 seats across three classes. The carrier says that together with Lufthansa Group airlines Eurowings and ITA Airways, the group will soon offer 22 weekly departures to Saudi Arabia, with services to the cities of Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah.
2 Rocco Forte Hotels launches “Musical Room Service” (Right) The British hotel group is introducing an in-suite musical dining experience across Europe, partnering with theatres, opera houses, and musicians in a number of locations to organise private performances for guests of its signature suites. Genres range from jazz and opera to classical and electric string quartets, and bagpipes alongside meals within their suite. Prices start from €2,000 and are subject to availability, with advance booking required. Properties offering the ‘Musical Room Service’ include The Balmoral in Edinburgh, Brown’s Hotel in London, Hotel Amigo in Brussels, Hotel de Rome in Berlin, The Charles Hotel in Munich, Hotel Savoy in Florence, Villa Igiea in Palermo, and Hotel de Russie and Hotel de la Ville in Rome. The Balmoral has partnered with Scottish company Reel Time to offer guests of its Glamis Suite a post-dinner piping masterclass; while London’s Brown’s Hotel pairs cuisine from Charlie’s with a classical and electric string quartet, solo harpist or guitarist, or jazz.
3 London ranks as Europe’s most expensive city for expats (Below) It has overtaken Geneva as Europe’s most expensive city for expats, according to ECA International’s new Cost of Living report. New York and Hong Kong have retained the top two spots, with the English capital now ranking as third place globally, followed by Geneva and Zurich. Further shifts have seen Riyadh jump four spots to 15th place, and Dubai rise from 11th place to eighth. The report compares living costs across 208 cities in 120 countries and territories, examining prices for 170+ day-to-day items typically purchased by expats including groceries, clothing, meals out, utilities and transport – as well as the cost of housing.
4 Rixos to debut in South East Asia with resort in Vietnam (Right) The long-anticipated debut brings Rixos’s signature “All-Inclusive, All-Exclusive” concept to the country through a resort developed in partnership with Sun Group and Ennismore. Phu Quoc – known as “Pearl Island” thanks to its white sand beaches – is Vietnam’s largest island. The property is located within Hon Thom (Pineapple Island), a coastal extension of southern Phu Quoc. Expected to open later this year, it will have more than 1,700 rooms, 22 dining venues, and a full spectrum of curated entertainment, wellness, and family programming. Sitting within Sun Paradise Land - a vast entertainment ecosystemguests can enjoy access to cultural attractions, water sports, botanical gardens, and the Guinness World Records-certified world’s longest three-way non-stop cable car.
5 ME by Meliá debuts in Portugal with Lisbon hotel (Above) ME Lisbon opened its doors on 1 August. The purpose-built hotel designed by João Paciência studio is located on Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar, and features interiors by Broadway Malyan – complete with contemporary Portuguese artwork ranging from sculptural ceramics to immersive video installations. The hotel’s 213 rooms and suites offer views ranging from Eduardo VII Park to the São Jorge Castle and the Tagus River, and feature amenities such as CO Bigelow toiletries and curated vinyl collections. Dining venues include Fismuler restaurant, which offers seasonal cuisine in Nordicinspired surrounds, as well as the 12th floor fine dining Attiko, which serves pan-Asian cuisine by chef Moon. Above this is the rooftop bar, offering cocktails and panoramic city views.
6 Grand Hyatt Singapore completes redevelopment (Below) The extensive multiyear redevelopment is hoped to redefine the 54-year-old hotel “as a contemporary haven of wellness, and meaningful luxury”. With the reopening of the Grand Wing, relocated Grand Club Lounge and refurbished 10|Scotts, the property aims to set a new benchmark for integrated lifestyle hospitality in the Orchard Road area. To celebrate the hotel’s transformation is a series of events featuring reimagined gourmet experiences, wellness retreats and enhanced World of Hyatt rewards until 14 September 2025. The phased reopening of the Terrace Wing in 2024 introduced a nature-inspired retreat.
7 British Airways announces more Avios-Only flights (Above) British Airways has added Cape Town as its latest Avios-Only flight destination, with more than 500 seats available across two flights during the winter festive season. Members of The British Airways Club can redeem 70,000 Avios plus £150 for tickets on the following flights: 20 December, 2025: London Heathrow to Cape Town (BA43); and 2 January, 2026: Cape Town to London Heathrow (BA42). Members can also use companion and upgrade vouchers where applicable. BA first launched the initiative in 2023, with initial routes from Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh and Heathrow to Geneva. Since then, the airline has operated 34 Avios-Only flights to 15 destinations including Las Palmas, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Nice, Florence, Mallorca, Faro, Corfu and Ibiza, and Dubai.
WORDS YI-HWA HANNA, HANNAH BRANDLER
EXPERIENCE MORE AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RIYADH
Enhance your business trip with a spacious suite and 940 credit to elevate your stay. Enjoy world-class dining at Cafe Boulud, Pierre Hermé pastries, spa treatments with Epicutis skincare, and laundry service.
Benefit from complimentary valet parking and 25% off spa treatments, ensuring a smooth, tailored, and relaxing experience.
Expert opinions on the future of travel
THE ARCHITECTS OF TOMORROW
Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector isn’t just experiencing major success - it’s rewriting the playbook for what it means to think about travel-related growth in the current day. Yi-Hwa Hanna chats with Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority, to learn more
What are some of the most exciting new projects that we can look forward to in 2026 and 2027 from Saudi Arabia? Is there anything you’re personally excited about? There’s so much going on in Saudi, it’s almost hard to pinpoint the ones that we’re the most focused on. I would say before 2026 and 2027, let’s first talk about 2025. Qiddiya is opening this year. It’s going to be massive; one of the most highly-anticipated projects [that is set to open soon]. It’s [a] sports, entertainment, and culture city 30 minutes away from Riyadh. The first phase will have a Six Flags and Aquarabia, a water theme park. Both are going to be very iconic and, in many ways, record-breaking. For example, there will be [five] record-breaking rides. The second, probably less flashy but maybe more charming [project] that I’m equally excited about is the all-inclusive resorts, one of
which is [Rixos Murjana]. With a soft opening sometime around August this year, it’s probably the largest Rixos property anywhere internationally. And it will not just be an all-inclusive resort — it [also] has a water park. It’s a beautiful family destination, and it’s not ultraluxury, but it is for sure a family luxury, with its experiences and design. It gives you fantastic experiences in the Red Sea [with its] corals, blue waters, marine life — while on the beach,
you still have beautiful programming there.
I’m also excited about Aseer, one of the highlights of Arabia, in the south. Because when it’s hot in the region, in Europe, and around the world, [temperatures] are in the low 20s in the south of Saudi Arabia. [It has] beautiful, unique living heritage and villages that are well-preserved. Now, I see infrastructure, hotels opening up, and new experiences from adventure to hiking to mountain trails and F&B offerings on these
‘As you develop tourism, you always need to remember: residents come before tourists’
green mountains, with beautiful views above the clouds. Red Sea Global is also opening 11 new resorts, one of which is Shura Island. It’s a whole island with multiple resorts. Red Sea Global started with niche, iconic, ultraluxury and sustainable resorts, but now they’re opening more of the bigger scale resorts. There’s a lot happening.
I find that a lot of the time in this day and age, people [in hospitality and tourism] like to throw certain buzzwords around, like luxury and sustainability. But how do they actually play out? For instance, if everything is luxury, then nothing is luxury. What can these terms actually mean, as per your view?
One thing I’ve noticed about Saudi in general is how the sustainability aspect of its developments often extend to ensuring the human aspect of sustainability is upheld, like hiring local talent. First, I second your initial reaction to what I call the S-word. I hear it every time. Enough with the S-word! No more sustainability talks — I want to see some sustainability acts!
[But] you hear a lot about it because it’s good. You don’t see much done about it because it’s difficult, not because of lack of will or lack of good intention. It’s just very difficult. It comes at a very high ticket price. There is [very] little to how much a hotel can do when addressing, for example, energy, when the city grid is not within their control. So they will control what they can: food waste, water consumption, material usage. And you’re absolutely right: When we did the earlier framework of sustainability, and we launched it during our G20 summit that we hosted in 2020, the model said there are three levels of sustainability. The first one is people, and people, you want to preserve. As you develop tourism, you always need to remember that residents come before tourists. And what that means is to remember that you’re creating livelihood for the people: that you are creating businesses for the people, jobs for the people, training for the locals. [For example], it’s easier to bring people from Riyadh and take them to AlUla or Diriyah, but having the people from Diriyah and AlUla, and investing in them, will give you the highest reward in the longer run. And what do I mean by that? First, the appreciation and adoption of families would be tremendously welcomed. Instead of fighting and resisting tourists, they would see that they brought an opportunity. They disseminated wealth. They created economic growth. So they would welcome them, take care of them, and pass this on to [future] generations. And people’s attrition would not be a concern. People won’t leave,
and you [won’t] feel like it’s all a commercial machine. This is the truest hospitality: let’s welcome people to our home, to our city, and to our
villages. And that’s why level one was about people. The second is culture. Again, one of the learnings we got from all around the
‘Tourism is not only about creating opportunities and preserving the past, it’s also making the place even better than it was’
world is to stay authentic. People don’t want another copy destination of other places. Even in commercial spaces, even in our retail strategy. How do we support local brands, local designers, local fabrics, into creating a share of contribution to what is fashionable or trending? On culture, there are tangible and intangible assets. We have massive programmes led by the Ministry of Culture to preserve that. We now have a registry of local food in every city. There is dance, folklore, theatre.
Culture is [also] not just about protecting what you have and preserving it — it really grows [through] exchange. You want to keep your culture alive, interactive, and exchanging with other cultures. The Arabian civilisation has contributed to humanity for so long. We just need to make sure that we take pride in what our ancestors did, and contribute today, to the Western culture, to the Asian or Oriental culture, [and so on]. We need that diversity.
The third aspect is environment and wildlife. Rewilding is a very, very big programme for Saudi. We’ve committed to rewilding [at least] 21 species. We’ve rewilded [many] of those already. The Arabian leopard was one, and was the first.
Tourism is not only about creating opportunities and preserving the past, it’s also making the place even better than it was. And that’s what regenerative tourism is all about. That’s why in new destinations, we want to make sure that we do them right from the get-go.
Saudi Arabia has some impressive targets as part of the Vision 2030 framework. How will your strategy change going forward? I’m curious about what you think will be the biggest changes post-2030.
There’s a lot to think of and keep me occupied until 2030, but now the [FIFA] World Cup has come into the picture, and all of a sudden we’re thinking of 2034. I know sometime before 2030 we will launch our new strategy [leading up to] 2040, as His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [has indicated].
It’s always evolving. If you had asked me a couple of years back, I wouldn’t have known about the World Expo 2030. I wouldn’t have known about the The Ocean Race 2027 that will end on the Red Sea. I wouldn’t have known about the World Cup. I wouldn’t have known about so many projects. So probably every year you’d ask me, I’d have a different answer. I don’t want to speculate, but what I know is that we will purify the pressure, as they say. We will learn where the highest and best impact to our people has been from. And for the global tourism sector, we want to contribute to the world and make tourism better. [This year, we’ll host], a travel summit that will gather people from around the world. (Ed’s note: The inaugural TOURISE Summit will take place in Riyadh from 11-13 November 2025).
We want to make sure we do good for the [entire] sector. Because if we do good, we will do well.
One of the obstacles currently holding more people back from visiting Saudi Arabia is the limit to more available, or costeffective options, including with transport. Can you tell us more about the growing accessibility, whether reached by land, air, or sea? On aviation, the government, GACA — the General Authority of Civil Aviation — has announced its aviation strategy and targets for 2030, and we’re working
A LEADING TOURISM DESTINATION
SAUDI’S RECORDBREAKING BOOM
Saudi Arabia’s original goal for Vision 2030 was to achieve 100 MILLION visitors by 2030. It surpassed this number seven years early, and following 2023, announced that its new goal is to reach 150 MILLION
In 2025, the kingdom’s international tourism revenue rose by 148% - the highest growth rate from G20 nations.
Another key target for the country has been to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP by 10%, and to create more than 1.6 MILLION jobs within the sector.
Saudi Arabia’s rewilding efforts - led by the Saudi Green Initiative and NEOM Nature Reserve - aim to plant 1 BILLION tree, rehabilitate 40 MILLION hectares of land, protect 30% of the nation’s land and marine areas, and reintroduce 21-23 historically-occurring native species. Learn more in our feature on p.54
with them through the air connectivity programme to bring [more] airlines [to the region]. In the last year, we’ve seen Virgin Atlantic connecting [travellers] from Europe, establishing their first route to [Saudi Arabia]. We’ve seen Air France and British Airways coming back with two routes, and [started routes with] LOT Polish Airlines, ITA Airways, and Transavia. So we’re looking at building capacity [with] a full mix of high-end and lowcost carriers to give people these options. We’re doing the same with China and the region now, and soon, we’ll be announcing new licences for more airlines in Saudi Arabia to create competition and maybe drive more competitive prices and affordable prices. More low-cost carriers will be announced. Flyadeal and Flynas are doing a good job. The investment in this is so bullish, coupled with four or five airports. King Salman International Airport is the flagship that is to come. So connectivity is definitely on our mind. We started with who is there, and we realised that the biggest gap was in affordable aviation. We have also started improving our land borders. We started revising the total experience when the FIFA World Cup happened in Qatar, and we learned a lot from it.
On cruise lines, there is AROYA Cruises, the first Arabian cruise ship from Saudi, and Cruise Saudi. And we’re inviting cruise liners to come in. And not just cruises — boat and yacht owners are [also] going to be coming in. We expect a big shift as our destinations open, [including] our marinas on the Red Sea. But equally, we’re seeing the Arabian Gulf cruises that will [incorporate] Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, and Khobar. Connectivity is the name of the game for travel and tourism.
Inside man
Since its launch, members-only platform Dorsia has become the go-to insider for helping members access coveted reservations at the most in-demand restaurants and events in cities across the globe. Yi-Hwa Hanna chats with founder and CEO Marc Lotenberg about exclusivity, modern luxury, and community – before the company’s imminent arrival in the Middle East
ONG BEFORE Marc Lotenberg became the CEO and founder of Dorsia, he had already been in the events space for a long time, even before he got to college. “[I have a long history of] promoting events and holding parties, and bringing people together. Hospitality has always been at my core,” he says. “I love experiences that help people come together and have a good time.” After launching an events business and a nightlife and entertainment magazine, he evolved into design, luxury, and fashion. “But through the years, I always felt a calling for me to build some type of invite-only community or membership-based platform,” he says. Despite his gusto, Lotenberg says at first, he didn’t have the hook. He considered everything from a dating app to an invite-only version of LinkedIn. Then during the 2020 pandemic, he moved to Miami at the first possible opportunity. “I started talking to some of the restaurant owners I was close with, and noticed how busy they still were. At the time, Dubai and Miami seemed to be the only two places in the world that you could still go out,” he says. The restaurants were just as busy as before, with no capacity to take on more guests – thereby capping their earning potential if the people already there weren’t ready to spend more. And a lightbulb went off. “There has to be minimum spend components, or you’re not optimising the high demand,” he explains, likening it to the bottle service at nightclubs, but for restaurants. It wasn’t about vetoing certain types of customers, either – just optimising it:
L“The person who was there at 8pm on a Saturday night was really more of a Sunday 5pm customer – and the customer getting a table on Sunday at 5pm really should have been there on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night at 8pm instead.” In essence, the customers who wanted to spend less were there during prime time, while the ones eager to spend more weren’t able to get in during the times they were most keen to let loose. This mission, to Lotenberg, was part of helping to keep popular businesses open, while matchmaking clients to the scenario that actually suited their needs best. “We wanted to fix the restaurant economy,” he says. It’s the right timing for an app like Dorsia, too. As the younger generation takes on new social behaviours, from the rising zero-proof movement to their desire for a more wellness-fuelled lifestyle, there are new opportunities for restaurants leading through quality experiential offerings. “Restaurants are definitely the new nightlife,” Lotenberg says. “At these community VIP events and supper clubs for instance, you still
ABOVE: Marc Lotenberg
BOTTOM: A double rib-eye steak at Beefbar, one of the venues Dorsia works with
have the components of what you had from nightlife back in the day. You may not have any idea who’s going to be there, but you know that anyone at this dinner is going to be someone worth having a conversation with; someone you can have a quality connection with.”
A sense of community is something Dorsia takes pride in, from the way it communicates with its members to the way it handles its social media. Their Instagram page, for instance, is a destination in its own right, almost like a digital publication that helps to educate, entertain, and keep people coming back for more. Lotenberg’s background in media is part of it – but it’s also a means to build a real relationship with Dorsia's audience. “I really believe in content. It’s a way you can not just create discovery, but an understanding of your relationship. The community needs to understand what you’re about. If you have to say you’re authentic, then you’re not authentic. It’s thoughtful; there is a whole experience around it, from the social media they see, to how they feel when they walk into a restaurant, to what they see on the table.”
“Restaurants are definitely the new nightlife”
Dorsia has also tapped into a key aspect of modern luxury: the ability to give people back more of their time, with choice in how they spend it, and who they spend it with. From the solo business traveller seeking a night out or a pass to an exclusive event, or people who want to be truly present as they connect with others, Dorsia is here to help. And with the bold, playful, unapologetic nature – and unique blend of experience – required to pull it off, Lotenberg is the ideal man for the job. As he puts it: “I think it was my calling to build this company and solve this problem.”
Elevate your escape in one of Dubai’s most iconic beach resort’s in JBR, where exclusive Club Rooms and Suites redefine luxury with breathtaking views and unparalleled comfort.
Enjoy Unique Club Privileges, including gourmet dining experiences throughout the day, premium drinks, and sunset canapés at the world’s highest outdoor infinity pool.
Leading across Continents
With Radisson Hotel Group’s COO Tim Cordon now overseeing operations for both the Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Southeast Asia Pacific (SEAP) regions, this respected hospitality leader has a unique, firsthand perspective on running a crosscontinental hospitality portfolio. We spoke to him to get the 411.
tech integration and business-friendly amenities.
How is Radisson adapting training or leadership development for local teams in both regions?
Are there emerging trends that are universally shaping hotel operations, such as contactless service, wellness, or workfrom-anywhere?
The pace of adoption has accelerated since 2020. Contactless services, such as mobile check-in/out and digital concierge tools, are now baseline expectations.
Wellness has evolved from a niche offering to a core part of our guest experience, whether through partnerships with spas and fitness centres, curated healthy food and beverage menus, or in-room wellness technology.
The rise of “work-fromanywhere” is reshaping the design and programming of our hotels. We’re incorporating co-working lounges, extended-stay options, and flexible meeting spaces to cater to hybrid travellers who combine business and leisure. This trend is universal, but each region interprets it differently; for example, our resorts might focus on blending wellness and remote work, while city hotels emphasise seamless
We’re scaling leadership and skills development through Radisson Academy, which offers 2,500+ modules in 16 languages, blending classroom, digital, and onthe-job learning. To date, teams have completed more than 517,000 courses.
Programmes are adapted to local realities. In SEAP, where many resorts operate in remote or seasonal markets, training emphasises resilience, community engagement, and multi-skilled roles. In MEA, where urban and mixed-use hotels dominate, the focus is on operational efficiency, guest experience innovation, and commercial acumen. Leadership fast-track programmes like Accelerate prepare high-potential talent for GM roles in as little as eight to 11 months, while the Women’s Employee Resource Group and Women Who Inspire initiative foster crossregional mentorship, and advance our target of 50% women in leadership by 2030.
ABOVE: Mansard Riyadh - A Radisson Collection Hotel - is located in the new heart of Saudi’s capital city.
BELOW: Tim Cordon
own pace. At the same time, VR and simulation tools are increasingly used for onboarding and technical skill-building, especially in operational and safety-critical roles. This blended approach ensures that training is not just consistent, but that it’s also relevant to the unique conditions in each market.
In your experience, are there shared pain points or solutions that travel well? Yes, despite differences in market maturity, guest profiles, and operating environments, MEA and SEAP share several common challenges where solutions can be replicated with success. Talent acquisition and retention are a top priority in both regions, especially in competitive markets and remote resort locations. Our response is a blend of global employer branding, our accelerated leadership programmes, and flexible, modular training via Radisson Academy so teams can develop skills quickly and consistently wherever they are.
in both regions real-time visibility on performance, guest sentiment, and sustainability metrics, allowing managers to benchmark against global standards and respond faster to opportunities or issues. Finally, commercial process innovations, like our Book It Easy platform for meetings and events, integrated with AI-driven tools, deliver measurable benefits in both MEA and SEAP, improving conversion rates and shortening RFP response times without adding headcount. These scalable solutions prove that while guest preferences may vary, the operational levers for quality, efficiency, and sustainability often translate seamlessly across borders.
What are the challenges and opportunities in building service culture in diverse labour markets?
Digital learning platforms allow teams to train at their
Operational consistency is another shared focus. Platforms such as Pulse by RHG and the Radisson Operations App give hotels
The biggest challenge is aligning teams that often include 20–30 different nationalities under one brand culture. Each market brings unique strengths and expectations, but the opportunity lies in leveraging that diversity to create a richer, more empathetic service culture. For me, service culture is built on values like generosity, trust, and selflessness, qualities that transcend nationality.
By encouraging leaders to model these behaviours, we create a ripple effect in which employees feel genuinely cared for, and that care is reflected in the guest experiences. The opportunity is in celebrating cultural nuances rather than flattening them into a single template, while still maintaining global service standards.
What innovations are being prioritised across regions?
Our innovation strategy centres on platforms, tools, and processes that create measurable value for both guests and owners. Pulse by RHG, our proprietary operational platform, is now active in over 900 hotels, giving real-time insight into KPIs from guest sentiment to energy consumption, enabling agile decision-making at both property and regional levels. Commercially, our AI-driven revenue management and pricing tools are part of a fully-connected commercial engine, alongside The Club, our global revenue community that now serves 340+ hotels across 65+ countries. For meetings and events, the Book It Easy platform that I mentioned, integrated with hivr.ai and AI-assisted inbox management, has cut RFP response times and increased converted revenues.
In SEAP, resorts are testing automation in logistics including robotic delivery for in-room amenities — while in MEA, we’re accelerating adoption of self-service kiosks, digital keys, and e-concierge apps to simplify arrival and departure. These innovations are designed to improve productivity, reduce resource use, and keep teams focused on delivering memorable experiences.
How is this balanced with guest expectations and cost efficiency? For us, innovation succeeds
when it enhances human connection rather than replaces it. Guests still value being welcomed by name and having a genuine conversation at check-in, even when digital tools support the process. By automating low-value or repetitive tasks, like digital check-in/out, AI-powered chat for routine questions, or automated scheduling, we free up our teams to focus on highimpact service moments.
This approach also drives measurable cost efficiencies. Digital workflows cut labour hours on back-office tasks, AI-assisted M&E responses increase conversion without adding headcount, and innovative energymanagement systems lower utility spend. Savings from these efficiencies are reinvested in areas that elevate the guest experience, from enhancing local culinary offerings and wellness programmes to upgrading design features that matter most to travellers.
From resorts to city hotels, what does sustainability look like to you?
[It] shows up in daily routines, not only in big projects. We’re on a validated pathway to Net Zero by 2050, anchored in three levers that guide hotel teams’ day-to-day: green buildings, green energy, and green operations. On property,
Hotel Riyadh Airport is a multi-award winning property
that means LED lighting and smart building management as part of our technical standards, plus electrification and heat recuperation where feasible. It’s how we drive intensity down, we’ve cut energy per square metre by 33% since 2019, and water per occupied room by 27% since 2023.
In MEA and Africa, hotels like Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek use a thermodynamic solar system for hot water, and Park Inn Cape Town Foreshore runs a hybrid photovoltaic and thermal installation, which covers around 30% of its hot-water energy needs. In SEAP, Radisson Blu Resort Fiji, the solar system provides 20% of daily electricity needs and has one of the largest solar installations in a hotel in the Pacific. It helps avoid the importation of 175,000 liters of diesel every year.
Guests who skip daily service join our Green Housekeeping programme, with benefits or a Just a Drop donation option. We make it easy for guests to travel responsibly: all meetings are 100% carbon compensated, with more than 115,000 tonnes of CO₂ offset since 2019, and we’re expanding EV charging, now at 1,400+ chargers globally.
We’re also standardising the global “starting line” via Hotel Sustainability Basics. Today, more than
half of our portfolio already offers a verified sustainable stay either through HSB verification or an eco-label, and our goal is to reach 100%.
What does the future hold?
Three pillars define it: performance, people, and platforms. On performance, our commercial engine and revenue community, The Club, already supports 340+ hotels across 65+ countries, helping us deliver to push system contribution. On people, we’ll double down on skills, speed, and inclusion. [Beyond] Radisson Academy, our Accelerate track fast-paths talent to GM roles in 8–11 months. On platforms, we’re scaling a common digital backbone to lift productivity and guest satisfaction. EMMA now connects 300+ hotels, while Pulse by RHG offers real-time operational and commercial insight. Online check-in and out is live in 70 hotels, 40 hotels run kiosks, digital key pilots are underway, and e-concierge rollout is expanding. Operationally, AI and automation will keep removing low-value tasks. Smart Hotel Operations, VR training, digital collaboration, and always-on retail through Wundermart free teams to focus on service moments that matter, while EMMA Material Management and food-waste analytics sharpen margins and cut resource use. We’ll also layer in responsible business. The Net Zero 2050 pathway, validated science-based targets, HSB verification, 100% carboncompensated meetings, and EV charging at scale give us a practical, measurable mandate for both regions as they grow. The end state isn’t flashy tech for its own sake. It’s hotels that are faster, cleaner, more personal, and more profitable, because the systems behind them are simple, connected, and built for everyday excellence.
A modern global evolution
The Wyndham brand is the world’s largest hotel chain worldwide, as per number of properties. Yi-Hwa Hanna chats with Dimitris Manikis, President of EMEA for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, about its current regional growth
agreement to launch Super 8 by Wyndham in Saudi Arabia, our first economy brand in the kingdom — with plans to open 100 hotels over the next 10 years. Meanwhile, in the UAE, we are expanding our Trademark Collection and exploring opportunities in both city and leisure destinations, aligning our growth with evolving traveller needs.
CAVE OF WONDERS
One of Wyndham’s most notable new property openings is the Signature Cave Cappadocia, Trademark Collection by Wyndham Wyndham has been quite active within the EMEA and South Asia regions lately. Can you tell us about some of the latest developments?
We are continuing to grow across [these regions], focusing on high-potential markets through strategic partnerships and targeted brand expansion. In just the first half of 2025 alone, Wyndham added over 4,700 rooms across more than 60 new hotels, surpassing the milestone of 700 hotels across the EMEA region. In South Asia, we partnered with Cygnett to introduce La Quinta and the Registry Collection, reinforcing our commitment to bringing upscale and boutique experiences to the region. In the Middle East, we announced a landmark
Why is this region so important in the global hospitality scene?
The Middle East and South Asia are at the centre of global tourism growth. Governments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are heavily investing in tourism as part of their national visions, attracting a new generation of travellers and creating strong demand for diverse accommodation. It offers enormous potential for international and domestic travel, and Wyndham is well placed to support that momentum with flexible, scalable brands that suit a wide range of travellers.
What are the key factors informing your decisionmaking? How do you ensure Wyndham’s regional offerings are both market-specific while also aligning with global brand goals and guidelines? Our approach balances global consistency with local relevance. Decisions are shaped by guest data, market insights, and strong collaborations with our regional partners. For example, the introduction of Super 8 in Saudi Arabia responds to growing demand for affordable, quality lodging. At the same time, every property reflects Wyndham’s global brand standards and commitment to guest satisfaction. We
‘The region offers enormous potential for international and domestic travel’
work closely with owners to ensure each hotel delivers a compelling local experience that meets global expectations.
Your recent partnership with Cygnett will launch the La Quinta and Registry Collection brands in South Asia in 2026. What informed this decision, and what do you hope to achieve with it?
India and South Asia are among the top feeder markets to the Middle East, making them strategically important for our regional growth. Our partnership with Cygnett allows us to scale rapidly in these high-demand markets, building brand familiarity among travellers who are increasingly visiting destinations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As these travellers recognise La Quinta and Registry Collection, they are more likely to seek out our properties abroad. This brand continuity is reinforced by Wyndham Rewards, which lets guests earn and redeem points across our global portfolio.
One of your most exciting new openings in the region is the opening of the Signature Cave Cappadocia, Trademark Collection by Wyndham –the first-ever cave hotel by a global hospitality brand this iconic part of Turkiye. Can you tell us about it? This property is truly one-of-a-kind. We saw an opportunity to bring international standards to an extraordinary destination, without compromising authenticity. The Signature Cave Cappadocia combines the area’s unique cave architecture with the comfort and service of a global brand. It’s a perfect example of how the Trademark Collection allows owners to maintain their property’s individuality while
benefiting from Wyndham’s reach and recognition.
You recently signed a US$70 million deal to develop new hotels (one in Dubai and three in India) under the Trademark Collection as well. What can future guests look forward to?
In Dubai, the new property will offer stylish accommodation tailored to both business and leisure travellers. In India, we are developing in destinations such as Goa and Jim Corbett [National Park], where guests can expect immersive local experiences alongside modern comfort. All four hotels will reflect the Trademark Collection’s philosophy of celebrating the character of each location, with dependable quality and guest service. These openings reflect our ongoing investment in highgrowth tourism corridors.
You recently partnered with Pegasus Airlines on a cross-loyalty programme. What do you look for in the right business partners – and what do you try to offer your clients in terms of loyalty? What sets your programmes apart from other loyalty schemes?
We seek partners who share our commitment to customer value, simplicity, and innovation. The Pegasus partnership helps us provide even more rewarding travel experiences for guests. Wyndham Rewards is one of the world’s most recognised programmes, known for its ease of use and wide redemption options. We aim to offer meaningful benefits across stays, flights, and experiences, ensuring loyalty is truly rewarding whether you travel frequently or just once or twice a year.
What makes Wyndham stand out from other major players in the global hospitality industry?
We offer the scale of a global company with the agility of a regional operator. Wyndham supports owners through a flexible franchising model that empowers local entrepreneurship while ensuring brand consistency. Our diverse portfolio of over 25 brands enables us to cater to any market segment. What sets us apart is our flexibility and agility to react to a changing market, and owner and guests’ needs, wants, and travel patterns. But most importantly, it’s our deep belief in hospitality as a people business, which is one of our main drivers. We prioritise relationships, support, and value for our partners, guests, and the communities we serve.
REGIONAL LEADERSHIP
Dimitris Manikis is the President of EMEA for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
What’s Wyndham’s approach to sustainability and accessibility? What role do you think it plays in supporting the future of hospitality in this region? Sustainability is embedded in our operations through the Wyndham Green programme, which helps hotels reduce environmental impact across energy, water, waste, and operational efficiency. The programme is designed to be practical and scalable, supporting owners in achieving meaningful progress. In the Middle East, this aligns with ambitious national sustainability goals, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Accessibility is equally important to us, with inclusive design standards and training that ensure every guest feels welcome and valued, regardless of their ability.
How is the Wyndham brand responding to the rising number of travellers – and the ever-evolving diversity of these visitors - not just in Dubai but across the Middle East?
We are bringing 100 Super 8 by Wyndham hotels to Saudi Arabia, marking one of the most significant economy hotel rollouts in the region. This bold move directly supports the kingdom’s tourism goals by providing high-quality, affordable accommodation at scale. In the UAE, we are continuing to grow our midscale and lifestyle portfolio to meet the needs of a diverse traveller base, from families to digital nomads. Our focus is on making Wyndham’s trusted brands accessible wherever and however people travel across the Middle East. We believe in the type of hospitality that is inclusive and not just exclusive.
The way we travel, live, and work is constantly evolving. How have you evolved to attract the new generation of traveller?
Our latest research shows that nearly 60% of Gen Z travellers seek authentic, culturally-immersive experiences when choosing where to stay. Wyndham has responded by expanding our lifestyle brands such as TRYP by Wyndham and the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, which offers distinctive stays rooted in local culture. We are enhancing digital guest journeys, supporting hybrid work with flexible spaces and investing in sustainability and community-driven initiatives. These efforts align with younger travellers who prioritise connection and purpose-led travel.
What do you envision in the next five to ten years for this region’s travel industry? Is there anything you are hoping to come to fruition, or that you are particularly excited about? We see tremendous opportunity to be a part of shaping the future of hospitality across the Middle East and Africa. In the Middle East, our focus is on expanding in Tier-I cities and introducing branded economy offerings to meet growing demand for quality, affordable stays. Our recent agreement with Le Park Concord to launch 100 Super 8 hotels across Saudi Arabia directly supports Vision 2030 and fills a clear market gap. In Africa, we aim to grow in SubSaharan markets through properties that reflect local culture and heritage. Across the region, we are committed to supporting our partners and delivering globally recognised brands that connect with nextgeneration travellers.
It could be easy to dismiss Saudi Arabia’s tourism push and repatriation efforts as Vision 2030 PR, but what does that actually look like on the ground, day to day, for someone living in the kingdom?
For years, Saudi has been seen through a limited lens – that it was mostly just a land of oil and deeprooted tradition – but today, that image is shifting. It’s a place that’s still true to tradition, but one that is also embracing a wave of change, with a dynamic that’s constantly evolving, merging the two.
The kingdom is in the middle of a social and economic transformation, and one of the clearest signs of that change is the surge in tourism and travel, with a new wave of expats looking to make a permanent move. From seven years ago when my life moved to Riyadh, to today, the continued surge of white collar expats relocating to the country from all corners of the world has been evident. People who would have once arrived here just for financial gain are now looking for experience, opportunity, purpose, and a lifestyle to suit. [A growing number of expatriates] are no longer arriving focusing on a one- to two-year stint, but instead, they’re looking to stay for a longer chapter that will coincide with the evolution of a country - and Saudi Arabia welcomes that.
Of course, a move to the kingdom still comes with its considerations. The culture remains deeply rooted in tradition, and adjusting to local customs can take time, but the people of Saudi Arabia are the most welcoming people I have met in my lifetime. Cities like Riyadh and Jeddah are hubs of energy and excitement;
SAUDI ARABIA IS A RISING EXPAT HAVEN
Saudi Arabia is no longer just a curiosity, it’s a serious contender for expatriates seeking a better life
they are filled with global restaurants, major music festivals, public art, and high-end shopping, mixed with plenty of heritage sites, rolling desert, and traditional gems to explore. The pace of development is fast, and the sense of momentum is unmistakeable, both socially and professionally, as evidenced by the number of multinational logos appearing on Riyadh’s skyscrapers seemingly on a weekly basis.
There’s also the undeniable appeal of living in a country with so much still to explore – from the rock-carved tombs of AlUla to diving in the Red Sea, hiking in the Aseer mountains, or attending a Formula E race in Diriyah. Life in Saudi is changing fast, and it’s about embracing the change and being a part of the experience.
Tourism in Saudi isn’t just about attracting visitors. It’s a core pillar of Vision 2030, the country’s sweeping plan to diversify its economy. That means billions of dollars are being
TALK IT OUT
Saudi Life: Unpacked is a Riyadh-based Podcast offering an unfiltered, honest look at life in modern Saudi Arabia, created by two expat journalists, Francesca aka Frankie Hilton and Lily Moffatt
‘With the surge in tourism and travel is a new wave of expats looking to make a permanent move’
channeled into mega-projects like NEOM, the Red Sea Project, Diriyah Gate, and Qiddiya; developments that blend history, innovation, and sustainability. One of the biggest game-changers has been accessibility. The launch of tourist e-visas in 2019, the expansion of international flight routes, and new national carriers like Riyadh Air have made getting into – and around –the country easier than ever. Today, you can fly into Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam from major global cities, or even visit natural hidden gems like Abha or AlUla. For travellers and business professionals alike, that shift in infrastructure sends a clear signal: Saudi Arabia wants to be seen, experienced, and invested in. With the transformation being driven from the country’s leadership, the rising expat opportunity aligns perfectly, because with change comes demand for talent, ideas, and expertise. Those demands are now now supplemented by a lifestyle and living experience that can rival any major economic hub.
I have lived between the UAE and Saudi Arabia for 11 years, and in many ways, it’s what the Middle East does so well: opening opportunity to a land of people striving for adventure, challenges, fresh ideas, and the chance to help shape something from the ground up. For expats with an appetite for challenge and a mind for opportunity, the kingdom is no longer a curiosity… it’s a leading contender. It is not suited for everyone, and it’s not without its complexities – as is typical with an international move – but for those who go in with open eyes and an open mind, there’s a real chance to be part of something big; something to be proud of. What’s currently happening in Saudi is a once-in-alifetime moment, and that’s something I will never take for granted.
OPINION
AI IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOTEL PROFITS
From revenue management to total revenue optimisation, AI-powered Revenue Management Systems are gaining traction across hospitality
Dynamic pricing is now the norm, and consumers are accustomed to rates that fluctuate with demand.
In 2023, airlines embraced the New Distribution Capability, enabling continuous pricing, real-time bundling of ancillaries, and hyper-personalised offers. The result? Greater profitability and control over distribution. Hospitality is now at a similar inflection point. The global AI in hospitality market is projected to reach $920 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 57.5%. This reflects a rising demand for automation, smarter pricing, and data-driven decision-making. Traditionally, revenue management aimed to sell the right room to the right guest at the right price and time. But rising costs, fragmented booking channels, and shifting guest expectations mean a change in approach is needed. Leading hotels are transitioning from roomfocused strategies to Total Revenue Optimization, where revenue from F&B, spa, parking, and events is equally critical. At the core of this shift is AI.
AI-powered Revenue Management Systems (RMS) crunch enormous volumes of data in real time, including booking pace, market demand, competitor rates, guest segmentation, and even macroeconomic indicators such as weather patterns and local events. Based on this analysis, they dynamically adjust room rates multiple times a day to capture demand at the optimal price point. Properties already deploying AI revenue systems have reported an average 17% increase in revenue and a 10% boost in occupancy, proving that smart pricing and automation are more than theoretical advantages; they drive real business results. Key benefits include centralised data management that streamlines
operations and breaks down silos across commercial teams; automated insights that free up teams for strategy and collaboration; and dynamic pricing stays ahead of market shifts. By removing manual guesswork and optimising pricing in real time, AI RMS platforms are helping hotels capture revenue that would otherwise be lost in traditional static pricing models. However, AI solutions are not without challenges. Most require an initial calibration period to “learn” market patterns and optimise forecasts, and their performance is highly dependent on data quality and completeness. AI’s potential extends far beyond today’s RMS. Future forecasting will go beyond historical data, drawing from sales data, social sentiment, local events and economic indicators, and
FUTURE POTENTIAL
AI-powered RMS is integrating with Property Management Systems (PMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, as well as distribution channels and competitive intelligence feeds - and it has huge potential in the industry, says Tatiana Veller.
‘A change in approach is needed, and at the core of this shift is AI’
even the weather. The result will be more accurate, granular predictions that support agile pricing, staffing, and inventory decisions. Personalisation has traditionally been viewed through the lens of guest experience, but it must be viewed as a commercial tool. However, its true power lies in its dual ability to enhance guest satisfaction while driving incremental revenue. AI will tailor offers pre-arrival and during the stay for guests, driving room upgrades, spa bookings, and dining spend while leaving staff to focus on high-value transactions. For example, AI chatbots like Edward at Radisson Blu and Connie at Hilton are already managing up to 70% of routine guest inquiries, streamlining service, and improving response times. These chatbots are increasingly used to deliver
personalised recommendations and drive upsells, such as late checkouts, room upgrades, or dining reservations, based on guest profiles and past behaviour. These virtual assistants operate around the clock and in multiple languages, converting interactions into revenue-generating opportunities while freeing up staff for higher-value tasks. Notably, Sofie, the virtual assistant at Sofitel, has been credited with generating leads and driving Dhs3.3 million in additional revenue for the property.
One of the biggest obstacles to maximising hotel revenue remains organisational silos. AI platforms will unify them with shared data and insights, enabling coordinated campaigns and a shift from reactive management to proactive and strategic revenue generation. The next step is a fully-integrated single unified platform that connects all major operational and commercial systems, from PMS, RMS, and CRM to finance, F&B, and workforce management. This ecosystem will allow AI to make real-time decisions across departments, improving efficiency and performance at scale. For example, if the system detects a surge in weekend bookings driven by a nearby event, it can automatically raise room rates, increase staff coverage in housekeeping and F&B, adjust spa availability, and push targeted upgrade offers to repeat guests — all without manual intervention.
AI is already reshaping how hotels price, promote, and personalise, but we all know that success requires more than installing software. It demands a cultural shift in our industry to embrace automation, align teams, and integrate AI into our commercial DNA. Hotel leadership insights will remain essential, but those who combine them with intelligent automation will lead in profitability and resilience.
AN EYE FOR DESIGN
Yi-Hwa Hanna chats with Mrunal Khimji, an Omanbased fashion designer who leads her own eponymous label, and is the founder of Muscat-based multi-designer store Mrunal’s Boutique
Q&
AYour work blends Indian and Arab traditions through a modern lens. Why do you focus on these two cultures?
I am originally Indian, and I’ve lived in Oman for the last 21 years. Both cultures are equally important to me. Through my work, I pay homage to and celebrate the rich cultures of both countries.
Your debut collection, “Lehren” – “waves” in Urdu – launched in autumn 2024. What did you hope to achieve with it?
Oman is surrounded by stunning water bodies and marine life, and that was the inspiration behind the collection. I wanted to showcase the rich ocean that surrounds us, as well as the flora and fauna that can be found in the waters. I wanted to create a sense of awareness that there’s beauty in the oceans that needs to be celebrated and protected.
Your first ready-to-wear collection, released this summer, was called “Zuhur” – the Arabic word for “flowers”. What inspired this theme?
I have especially been inspired and moved by wildflowers, which have been my guiding force in creating this collection. Protecting wildflowers is important for the environment for many reasons, and through the embroideries on the different pieces in the collection, I wanted to share the beauty and intricacy of these flowers.
You’re very committed to maintaining
sustainable and ethical practices, with a respect for artisanship. Why is this so important to you?
I have always believed in slow fashion, and this has been the practice that I have followed at Mrunal’s Boutique and in the Mrunal Khimji label. I do understand that a machine does the work faster, but handcraftsmanship is an art that is taught from generation to generation. And if we don’t do anything to preserve this art form, it will disappear one day.
How do you maintain that commitment? Handcraftsmanship is at the core of my work – be it at the boutique where we create bespoke pieces for clients, or the collections under the Mrunal Khimji label. It also means everything is done mindfully, which includes running the business too.
What do you typically like to buy when you’re travelling?
I love to bring back local produce from the countries I visit, whether it’s their authentic food or dried goods that are allowed to be carried back. I also love to pick up small art made by local artisans.
What are some of the most prized possessions from your travels?
My prized possessions are always the beautiful memories that I can create during my travels. It’s not always just a physical product. I have beautiful photographs that have captured wonderful experiences, and meeting people that you may not meet otherwise, except during your travels.
Any practical tips for people who enjoy shopping for unique, beautifully-made pieces during their travels?
When you are in a new city, don’t just head
to the big brand or label that can be found everywhere. Go to the shops or stores run by local craftsmen or artisans. Buying from them is not just an act of getting a souvenir but a way to peek into their culture and even learn their story. Talk to the locals; they know the best places to shop.
What are the top three dream destinations on your bucket list?
Three is a very limited number. I have yet to discover a huge part of the world. I would like to go to the base camp of the Himalayas and be with nature. I would [also] love to go to Mexico and Japan – their cultures have always captivated me.
What do you think are the three most beautiful places in the world?
Through my design lens, the three most beautiful places are: the Taj Mahal, an architectural wonder that feels almost unreal in its craftsmanship; the Himalayas, ever-changing with the seasons, each moment more breathtaking than the last; and the coastal waters of Oman, rich with coral and marine life, both physically and emotionally close to me.
What is the first thing you do when you arrive at a new destination?
I always do my research on places to see, eat, and shop. The first thing I do is connect with the hotel concierge. I ask if there’s anything I may have missed in my research, especially hidden gems or local favourites. I always take their suggestions on local attractions, dining experiences, and cultural tips to get an authentic feel of the place.
What do you always pack?
I have four things that I do not leave home without when travelling: my clothes; travel toiletries; medicine case; and mobile charger.
What are your top packing tips?
Make a list before you start. Pack your essentials in your carry-on. Pack for the destination you are visiting, and pack light.
What is your earliest holiday memory?
Going to Rajasthan in India at the age of three is my earliest memory. Being [there] with my grandparents, my parents and sister is something I will always hold on to as a beautiful memory.
What is your go-to in-flight entertainment?
I watch either documentaries or new movies that I have missed at the cinema.
What do you spend your air miles on? On upgrades!
The Elevator Pitch
Business Traveller Middle East gives Badr Abdelaziz, general manager of Radisson Hotel Madinah, five minutes to pitch his property to prospective guests
t Radisson Hotel Madinah, Scandinavian simplicity and contemporary comfort combine with the spiritual soul of Saudi Arabia, steps away from the sacred sites of Madinah. As the first Radisson-branded property in the city, I am proud to introduce a modern property managed by Saudiborn Amsa Hospitality and designed for restorative stays.
AOur hotel features 165 rooms and suites, decorated with stylish interiors inspired by Nordic design. Each room provides a serene retreat after a day of exploration, with soft tones, a well-planned layout, and captivating city views. Our 53 business suites are
an ideal choice for travellers seeking space and functionality.
Dining at Radisson Hotel Madinah caters to every mood and moment, with three outlets across the property. The Hub, our lobby-level café, offers exquisite coffee and light
ABOVE FROM LEFT: Badr Abdelaziz; Radisson Hotel Madinah lobby
LEFT: Suite living room
BELOW: Standard room
‘The first Radissonbranded property in the city, it’s designed for restorative stays’
bites in a relaxed setting. The View Restaurant serves local and global cuisine with panoramic city scenes, while The Point Restaurant & Terrace invites you to unwind with refreshing beverages in a casual atmosphere by the pool.
Our 360-degree wellness offering includes a spa with a sauna and steam room as well as a contemporary fitness centre with cardio and strength machines. Radisson Hotel Madinah also features an outdoor swimming pool that’s open from 7am to 6pm.
To make our guests’ stay even more comfortable, we provide a variety of convenient services, such as 24/7 in-room dining, grab-and-go breakfast, valet parking, and many more. Business guests benefit from three modern meeting spaces equipped with the latest audiovisual technology, ideal for private gatherings or corporate events.
Guests consistently praise our proximity to Madinah’s most revered landmarks. We are especially proud of our location - just 750m from Quba Mosque and 3km from the Prophet’s Mosque - allowing you to easily get around town.
At Radisson Hotel Madinah, we are committed to delivering exceptional hospitality in the Holy City. We blend thoughtfulness and purpose in every detail of your stay. Whether visiting for pilgrimage, business, or leisure, my team and I welcome you to experience a wonderful stay.
24 HOURS
Eat, drink, shop, relax
WORDS YI-HWA HANNA
Switzerland’s most famously international city is more than a hub for global diplomacy
HOME TO THE European headquarters of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, this beautiful city in Swizerland’s canton of Geneva (yes, it’s both a canton and a capital that share the same name) hosts the highest number of international organisations in the world. But it’s also so much more: it has gorgeous scenery, a stellar culinary scene, strong ties to the greats of watchmaking history, and some seriously excellent chocolate.
MORNING
Start your day with a spot of breakfast at Pages & Sips – an English-language bookstore and café in the Old Town. It serves the meal all day, along with delicious sweet and savoury scones, quiches, and viennoiseries, but if you’re there on a Saturday, you’ll want to finish early enough to make your way to the Patek Philippe Museum by 10am – the only day of the week it’s open that early. (Typically, it’s only open from 2-6pm, and closed on Mondays). It’s recommended to book your tickets in advance, but it’s well worth a visit even if you’re not particularly into watches, due to its thorough look at the history of watchmaking, and five centuries of horological evolution. It will give new meaning to the term “Swissmade” watch. When you’re done (or if you’re only able to visit in the afternoon), you can wile away some enjoyable hours with a stroll through the Old Town, a look inside the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, or a visit to Maison Tavel – the oldest house in Geneva, which is now a small museum filled with citybased history.
If you’re feeling energetic and craving some good views, you can walk up to St. Pierre Cathedral and climb the tower – or just make your way toward the water to check out the Jet D’Eau. One of the city’s most well-known landmarks, this fountain goes up to 140m high.
AFTERNOON
After you’ve snapped the obligatory Instagram pics, cross La Rade (the bay) via ferry, car, or walking along the Pont du Mont-Blanc,
‘You can also take a guided tour of CERN, about 20-25 minutes drive from the city’
eyes and wallet. Chocolatelovers would do themselves a disservice if they didn’t stop by Chocolats Rohr or AUER Chocolatier for a box (or a few) of sweet treats.
EVENING
ABOVE FROM LEFT: Jet d’eau fountain, Lake Leman, bay and harbour from the bell tower of St. Pierre Cathedral; Headquarters the offices of Rolex and Patek Philippe
BELOW: Chocolats Art Tea-Room and Cafe
BOTTOM: Chillon castle situated on shore of the Geneva lake
passing through the Jardin Anglais along the way. Once you reach the other side, you can stop for a coffee or a bite at Cottage Café – a green dining spot set in a former gardener’s cottage, located in the heart of Brunswick’s parc. If you’re craving something more hearty for lunch, consider stopping in at Chez Ma Cousine: the restaurant is beloved for its spit-roasted chicken or poulet rôti, and is a hit among locals for good reason. There are four outlets in the city, but the Lissignol location is an ideal mid-way stop if you’re making your way to the Palais des Nations (UN headquarters) next. You can burn off your chicken with a 40-minute walk, or hop in a cab, and once there, opt in to a guided tour. Nearby, the Broken Chair sculpture and Red Cross Museum are more sights to check out, the latter of which is a top stop if you’re into humanitarian history. More of a science geek? You can also make an appointment to take a guided tour of CERN, about 20-25 minutes drive from the city.
If you’d prefer to do some shopping over sightseeting, make your way to the Rue Basses area instead, where the Rue du Rhône and Rue de la Confédération’s luxury boutiques can charm your
Come sundown, you’ll want to head back to La Rade to settle in at Bains des Pâquis, which is a great vantage point to catch the setting sun with a panoramic view of the lake with the backdrop of the Alps on the horizon.
Once night has fallen, the waterfront takes on an entirely new vibe, illuminated by twinkling lights and a now-backlit Jet D’Eau (with 21 LED spotlights, programmed in different colours throughout the year).
If you’d prefer to hunker down over a verre or two, there are plenty of terraces to grab a drink – or you can visit one of the many chic cocktail bars in the city.
No visit to Switzerland would feel complete without a taste of one of its most famous dishes: the fondue. For a classic cheese fondue, Café du Soleil is popular, while Restaurant Les Armures is a chaletstyle spot that serves all sorts of traditional Swiss dishes – including beef fondue (a winning option for meat-lovers), and Raclette. The restaurant is part of a hotel, housed in a building that has been around since the 17th century. If global award-winning renown is more your style, there’s no shortage of MICHELINworthy picks in the city too. Some top-hitters include The Woodward, Bayview by Michel Roth, F.P. Journe Le Restaurant, Le Chat-Botté, and L’Atelier Robuchon.
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Geneva 14 times a week. Saudia flies there directly from Jeddah two to four times a week.
Travelling in Style
Resortwear is making a comeback, and the inaugural SAND Trade Show is ready to take it to another level
destinations like the South of France, Bodrum, and the Amalfi Coast - has reignited demand. - Iyad
As travellers seek clothing that balances style with comfort, resortwear has become a seasonal essential. Its effortless, relaxed aesthetic not only suits vacation dressing but has also transitioned into everyday warm-weather wardrobes, making it both practical and aspirational. - Karim
What sets resortwear apart from other fashion categories?
Today’s resortwear goes far beyond traditional beachwear. It blends elements of daywear, eveningwear, and casual elegance, offering a versatile wardrobe that can transition from poolside to dinner. The category includes everything from vibrant, floaty dresses to sophisticated separates and accessories such as bold jewellery. Ultimately, resortwear has evolved into a lifestyle categorysynonymous with comfort, versatility, and understated luxury. - Karim
How have shows like The White Lotus and the rise of “set-jetting” influenced the connection between fashion and travel?
When regional retail experts Iyad Grahne and Karim Hatab noticed a growing desire for travel to classic resort locations, a new idea was born: SAND Trade Show, the Middle East’s first resortwear, swimwear,
activewear, and loungewear B2B retail event. A three-day showcase of a curated selection of premium, handpicked brands from around the world, the inaugural event is scheduled to take place at The Agenda in Dubai Media City from 11-13 October.
How has the resurgence of global travel since 2020 contributed to the growth of the resortwear niche?
Resortwear has long held a place in fashion, but the post-pandemic revival of luxury travel - especially to iconic
ABOVE: Oceanus
[They] have vividly illustrated how fashion can enhance the storytelling of a destination, inspiring viewers to both travel and dress the part. The phenomenon has driven travellers to replicate the look and feel of onscreen getaways, fuelling demand for elevated resortwear. Several brands, including My Beachy Side (which will exhibit at SAND in October), have collaborated with The White Lotus , with collections featured prominently in Seasons 2 and 3. These partnerships have sparked interest among fashion-conscious travellers seeking to emulate the luxurious, escapist aesthetic. - Karim
From your perspective, what are resort travellers looking for in a property’s retail offering?
Discerning travellers are increasingly
‘Shows like TheWhite Lotus have vividly illustrated how fashion can enhance the storytelling of a destination
drawn to retail experiences that reflect the essence of their destination. They’re looking for curated, distinctive pieces - whether it’s a handcrafted accessory, a limited-edition garment, or a boutique brand they haven’t encountered before. More than just shopping, it’s about discovering items that capture the mood of their trip. Resort retail, at its best, offers travellers a tangible memorysomething meaningful to take home beyond a photograph. - Iyad
Tell us about your careers and what led you to launch SAND.
My career has always centered on luxury fashion in the Middle East, specifically understanding how consumers here interact with seasonal and lifestyle categories. After completing my master’s in Strategic Marketing at Imperial College London, I’ve spent over a decade working with global brands, and currently oversee merchandising for La Perla Beirut. In 2020, I launched Hernada – a premium e-commerce platform focused on resortwear and swimwear for the region.
Through my travels to fashion weeks and trade shows, I noticed there was no dedicated platform that brought together the categories we live in every day here – swimwear, resortwear, and increasingly, activewear. The Middle Eastern customer is always moving – between travel, wellness, and social occasions – and their wardrobe reflects that. SAND is our answer to that lifestyle: a focused, regional platform where international brands and regional buyers can connect meaningfully in the categories that matter most here.
I started in digital marketing, then moved into luxury real estate, where I built a boutique property consultancy for high-net-worth individuals. Across both industries, one thing stayed consistent: the desire for curated, lifestyle-driven experiences. That’s where I found my niche – connecting global trends with regional opportunities. - Karim
When Karim and I started discussing the idea for SAND, it felt obvious. We saw a clear gap – the region didn’t have a fashion trade event that focused exclusively on swimwear and resortwear, despite the cultural and climatic demand. SAND
ABOVE: Co-Founders Karim Hatab and Iyad Grahne
LEFT: Nadia Dafri Bags
BELOW: Miss June
isn’t just a trade show; it’s a response to how people here live, travel, and express themselves through fashion. We wanted to create a space that feels both commercially relevant and creatively elevated. - Iyad
Why is now the right time for it, and why is this market so compelling?
Dubai is fast becoming a global fashion capital - fusing luxury, innovation, and cultural diversity. As both a leading travel destination and a city with a high-spending, fashion-forward population, it provides the perfect stage for SAND. The city’s year-round sunshine and resort lifestyle make swimwear and resortwear more than seasonalthey’re integral. - Karim
Launching SAND now is a strategic response to several converging trends: a post-pandemic boom in travel, increasing demand for experiential fashion, and a shift towards seasonal, destination-driven collections. Dubai’s connectivity and its proximity to world-renowned resort locations like the Maldives, Seychelles, and the Red Sea make it a natural hub for regional and international buyers. The timing is right, and the market is primed for a trade show dedicated to this niche yet rapidly growing segment. - Iyad
What kind of opportunities can a show like SAND unlock for retailers, hospitality groups, and brands?
SAND creates a powerful platform where fashion meets travel. For retailers and buyers, it offers direct access to a curated mix of international brands, helping them refresh their offerings and respond to changing consumer preferences. For hospitality companies - particularly luxury hotels and resorts - it presents an opportunity to elevate their retail footprint with exclusive collections that resonate with guests’ tastes and expectations. - Iyad
For brands, SAND offers a chance for regional exposure, opportunities for collaboration with hospitality partners, and access to buyers from both traditional and experiential retail channels. It can lead to resort popups, distribution deals, and long-term partnerships that extend far beyond the show itself. In short, SAND fosters a win-win ecosystem where style, commerce, and travel converge.
Our guide to… pet-friendly hotels in the UAE
A growing number of the UAE’s hotels are rolling out the red carpet for their human guests’ four-legged companions. At these animal-loving properties, furry friends with paws, whiskers, and wagging tails are welcome for a luxury staycation experience
The city’s only motorsport-themed hotel, this property in the heart of Dubai’s Motor City also offers pet-friendly rooms on a dedicated floor. Only domesticated cats and
dogs up to 25kg are permitted, but approved canine and feline guests are provided with beds and bowls, as well as treats at check-in.
An in-room pet dining menu – curated with K9 Kitchen – is also provided, for necessary refuelling after potentially enjoying the
convenient access to the multiple parks and walking routes in Motor City. Staff are trained for their non-human guests through specific pet hospitality training, to ensure that each “VIP” – Very Important Pet – guest is well-cared for.
1 PARK INN BY RADISSON
DUBAI MOTOR CITY
2
HOTEL INDIGO DUBAI DOWNTOWN, AN IHG HOTEL
This art-filled boutique hotel in the heart of Business Bay brings a dose of creative charm — not just for guests, but for their pets too. Furry friends of up to 20kg are welcomed in select rooms and are provided with their own comfy bed and water bowl. Roam the waterfront promenade together or enjoy coffee al fresco at Open Sesame’s dog-friendly terrace. The hotel charges Dhs200 per pet for every five-night stay and allows pets in certain public spaces, creating a welcoming haven for both you and your four-legged explorer.
3 ZABEEL HOUSE THE GREENS, DUBAI
Community spirit comes alive at this stylish urban retreat, where dogs are more than just allowed — they’re part of the scene. All sizes of canine companions are welcome (cats are not). Special dog-friendly rooms make settling in easy, while water bowls and treats await arrival. Human and hound alike can relax together at neighbourhood hangouts like Social Company and Lah Lah, Dubai restaurants that open their doors (and terraces) to furry guests. Situated near green spaces and parks, it’s the social staycation spot for extroverted pups.
4 INTERCONTINENTAL RESIDENCES
DUBAI BUSINESS BAY
Perfect for extended city stays, this elegant property on Marasi Drive welcomes pets for a one-off fee, making it ideal for expat families or long-term guests with furry friends in tow. Spacious, apartment-style living allows dogs and cats plenty of room to stretch out, while leafy canal walks and the proximity to pet-friendly cafés add to the appeal. With flexible pet-friendly options plus luxury amenities and a private balcony in every unit, it’s designed for both productivity and creature comfort.
5 RADISSON RED DUBAI SILICON OASIS
Bold, bright, and buzzing with creative energy, Radisson RED invites pets of all shapes and sizes (cats and dogs) for an inclusive urban stay. Expect bowls and treats on arrival, a lively rooftop for human snacks and snuggles, and a laid-back restaurant with a dog-friendly indoor section. The surrounding smart city district is perfect for strolls, and there are no breed restrictions — making this hotel a hit for Dubai’s coolest canines.
6 VIDA BEACH RESORT, UMM AL QUWAIN
Perched on a tranquil, private stretch of UAE coastline, this resort invites up to two
dogs per room for an unforgettable beach escape. Special pet beds, toys, and bowls are on hand upon arrival, and canine guests can join their owners at the Stage2 lounge and terrace. With palm-shaded lawns and direct sand access, pooches can paddle and play to their hearts’ content. A Dhs150 onetime fee per pet and Dhs50 per night for dedicated room sanitization applies - a small price for paws in paradise.
7 WYNDHAM RESIDENCES, THE PALM
Set on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, this collection of fully-equipped apartments rolls out the welcome mat for dogs, cats, and even feathered friends — yes, parrots included. Units feature private terraces and direct beach access, so pets can roam the sand and families can soak up the sea breeze together. From sunrise walks to unwinding on the balcony, it’s luxury living where no furry companion is left behind, with dedicated pet-friendly packages — including long stay options — available for summer and beyond.
8
MÖVENPICK RESORT AL MARJAN ISLAND, RAS AL KHAIMAH
Sun, sand, and plenty of tail-wags define dog (and cat) stays at this beachside haven. Fourteen specially designed pet-friendly rooms mean direct access to lawns, beaches, and coastal trails. Pet guests are treated to a personalised check-in, plush beds, and delightful treats, while owners enjoy all the luxuries of a five-star stay by the water. An additional charge applies per pet, but the resort’s hospitality ensures lasting memories for every member of the family.
9
SOFITEL AL HAMRA BEACH RESORT French flair meets canine camaraderie at this chic Ras Al Khaimah getaway. Up to two dogs under 20kg are allowed per room, with a Dhs350 cleaning fee. The highlight is the dog-friendly beach — a rare find in the UAE — where your four-pawed companion can join you for a swim or sandy game of fetch. The resort’s relaxed approach extends through outdoor areas, ensuring plenty of space to run free and feel the ocean breeze.
10 VIDA DUBAI MARINA & YACHT CLUB
A stylish waterfront escape in Dubai Marina, VIDA welcomes pets up to 10kg in dedicated rooms with bowls and toys provided on request. The palm-lined promenade makes for scenic strolls, while chic lounges and waterfront dining offer pet owners a social hotspot for both catch-ups and canine cuddles. Advanced booking is essential for pet-friendly rooms, with a nominal fee applicable per stay.
11
JA HATTA FORT HOTEL
An iconic mountain retreat, this familyfriendly hideaway opens its doors to most domestic pets with prior notice. Set amid rolling lawns and rugged peaks, it’s a dream for active pups — think scenic hikes, garden picnics, and plenty of outdoor space to investigate new scents. The hospitality team is well-versed in pet care, offering a relaxed, countryside ambience just a short drive from Dubai.
12
HILTON RAS AL KHAIMAH BEACH RESORT
At this sun-soaked resort, dogs can swap city stress for seaside fun at a dedicated pet-friendly beach area. Dogs are welcome in select rooms and can frolic on the sand or refuel at the dog bar. The hotel organises special pet events and offers outdoor play zones, so sociable pups and their owners always have something to look forward to. Advance booking and a fee may apply — check with the team for current details.
13
25HOURS HOTEL DUBAI
Adventurous at heart, this playful urban hotel near Dubai World Trade Centre is passionate about canine guests. Dogs receive a comfy bed, bowl, and treats on arrival, and are welcome in the lobby and certain dining spots. The lively vibe and eclectic décor ensure both two- and four-legged guests are equally entertained, while the surrounding cityscape is ideal for walkies and exploration.
14
JUMEIRAH CREEKSIDE HOTEL
Set in the heart of one of Dubai’s most charming older neighbourhoods, Jumeirah Creekside offers selected pet-friendly rooms for cats and dogs with advance notice. Spacious gardens and courtyards provide convenient green space for strolls, and pet amenities can be arranged to suit individual needs. The property upholds Jumeirah’s high standard of hospitality for all of its guests – including the furry ones. Bonus: The Irish Village is next door, with a dog-friendly outdoor area offering lake views.
15
W HOTELS – W THE PALM, AND W DUBAI
Renowned for style and energy, both W Dubai hotels turn up the fun for pets and owners. Dogs (and sometimes cats, by prior arrangement) are greeted as VIPs, with comfortable beds, bowls, and even a curated pet menu in select rooms. Outdoor spaces and lively terraces welcome furry guests, making this a go-to destination for those after a playful, glamorous retreat with their trusty companion in tow.
Elemental Epicureanism
These three Marriott Bonvoy-linked properties are taking the themed dinner to the next level
THREE OF DUBAI’S MOST celebrated culinary destinations will unite this month for a limited-time trilogy of chef-led dinners inspired by fire, earth, and water. Taking place at TABŪ, The St. Regis
Downtown Dubai; Akira Back, W Dubai - The Palm; and Tamoka, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai JBR, the series will bring together Chefs Aldo Shimabukuro Nakahodo, Giovanni Ledon, and Ze Sergio Hernandez Ruiz. Each
evening will feature immersive, element-inspired multi-course menus reflecting either the intensity of fire, the richness of earth, and the fluidity of water, paired with curated cocktails. The first one – “Fire” – will be held at TABŪ, The St. Regis Downtown Dubai, on 5 September, with one seating
at 8pm. The second evening –“Earth” – will be held at Earth at Akira Back, W Dubai – The Palm, on 12 September, with seatings at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. The third evening – “Water” –Tamoka, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, on 19 September, from 7pm onwards. Prices start from Dhs400 per person.
Zero-proof luxury
EXPERIENCE
Love a re ned dining experience with a curated pairing, but don’t want to imbibe alcohol? Maison Dali has a solution: chef Tristin Farmer’s new Juice Program menu (with drinks from Dhs65) offers guests a thoughtful, elegant beverage list with all of the sophistication of a world-class wine selection without a drop of alcohol involved - because true luxury starts through choice without compromise.
THE BAG
Timeless Charm
Samsonite’s Streamlite collection is a retro dream
A MODERN interpretation – or reimagination – of Samsonite’s iconic Streamlite collection from the 1940s, the vintageinspired line was launched in commemoration of the brand’s recent 115th anniversary. It’s ultralimited: only 2,025 pieces are to be sold worldwide, with each one coming with a unique, engraved serial number and personalized luggage tag. Collectors can choose a 55” and a 57” spinner, or a briefcase, all available in either Admiral Blue or Bermuda Green, with patterened silk interiors.
THE WATCH
COPPERBAY BAR at Paris’s Hotel Lancaster has launched a cocktail menu in celebration of the hotel’s 100th anniversary, with each drink paying homage to the legendary figures that have helped shape the iconic Champs-Élysées destination’s rich history since 1925. Past guests of the hotel have included
Queen Elizabeth II, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart. The new menu features drinks named after Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and Marlene Dietrich - who lived there for three years – as well as Émile Wolf: the man who purchased the building in 1925, and turned it into a luxury hotel.
Vacheron Constantin has unveiled The Celestial – the latest in its Métiers d’Art tributes. Inspired by the zodiac, each of the 12 pieces features a different star sign depicted through brilliantcut diamonds and hand-guilloché illustrations that took about 16 hours per dial to create. Encased in 39mm 18k white gold set with baguette-cut blue sapphires, they’re powered by the ultra-thin selfwinding tourbillon Calibre 2160, 5.65mm thick with an 80hour power reserve.
Price upon request; available only through Vacheron Constatin boutiques.
A ‘SLEEP FIRST’ RETREAT
Nappily ever after
A HOTEL IN ICELAND has launched a new retreat designed for business travellers in search of better shut-eye. Described as a “sleepfirst travel experience” it was launched by incentive travel experts Motivate by Conscious Travel. The experience includes a three-night stay at Hotel Grimsborgir in the Golden Circle, wherein over a four-day
programme, guests will be given a welcome kit containing relaxing loungewear, custom aromatherapy blends, and a guide to the retreat’s ‘Sleep Journey’, then take part in a range of activities from guided muscle relaxation, yoga, and mindful journaling, to guided walks, thermal baths, and massage. Guests will also have the chance to speak to
a sleep expert about their individual sleep concerns, and enjoy curated meals using locally-sourced ingredients known for aiding digestion and calming qualities. There will be no alarms, no caffeine, and a science-focused approach – and it’s specifically being targeted at corporate teams’ HR leaders and employees alike, to help them heal from
the rest-depriving, burnoutinducing aspects of stress and overwork. The Recharge Retreat costs GBP2,000 per person, and will be available from October to November, with eight people at a time. Prices include the hotel stay, the experiences, and transfers, with the option to add in an additional visit to a local thermal bath.
Don’t be a drip – get one instead!
STRUGGLE WITH JET LAG, or general fatigue, or just need a little boost? The Conrad Spa at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers is now offering customised IV Drip and Oxygen Therapy. The former delivers a personalised infusion of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream. IV drips for vitamin infusion therapy have risen in popularity in recent years, with their benefits purported to include immune support, energy boosting, better hydration, and the
chance to improve one’s skin, while also helping with weight loss, migraines, and more, depending on which “cocktail” of ingredients is involved. Oxygen Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that is said to help improve circulation, sharpen focus, and support recovery and relaxation. Both treatments are carried out by licenced professionals, and can either be done within the spa, or in the privacy of the guest’s hotel room. Advance booking is required for both of these new treatments.
AERIAL YOGA
Learning to fly
SUN SIYAM OLHUVELI MALDIVES has introduced Aerial Yoga to its growing portfolio of wellness experiences, with it now being offered at the resort’s open-air Blue Fit Platform. The experience involves yoga that is practiced while suspended in high-density tricot fabric hammocks, with guests thus supported “through a blend of balance, breath, and flow.” This style of yoga is said to help decompress the spine, improve circulation, and build core strength – and in this case, do all of that while offering a calming
view of the Indian Ocean’s blue waters. Sessions are available as private or group classes, led by certified instructors, and are suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
Drive right in to your next great golfing moment
SEEKING TO IMPROVE YOUR SWING? Topgolf Dubai – one of the city’s most popular golf driving ranges – offers lessons for people of every age, ability, and ambition through its Topgolf Academy. Choose from a Spot Lesson, which offers you a quick fix to refine your technique and sharpen your skills within just 20 minutes for Dhs150, or a one-on-one 55-minute session with a top-notch professional coach for Dhs620. Bonus: the latter option comes
with an hour of gameplay and up to six Topgolf memberships. Or why not use it as a bonding experience with your partner? Topgolf Dubai also offers a Date Night package, encompassing a 90-minute private lesson in the VIP Lux Suite. It’ll cost you Dhs1,300 per pair, but it promises a night of fun and skill-building and – hopefully – enough to set off a spark that’ll have you and your loved one returning for another shot.
CarelessPeople by Sarah-Wynn
GET AN UP-CLOSE look into the inner workings of Facebook/Meta in this electrifying memoir from the tech giant’s former global policy chief. Equal parts jaw-dropping and darkly funny, Wynn-Williams lays bare the toxic corporate culture, shocking leadership
WIlliams
missteps, and high-stakes ethical failures taking place. Now a global bestseller, this unputdownable tell-all is a must-read for professionals navigating power, purpose, and accountability in a globalised business world.
Dhs 51; available on amazon.ae
The Happiness Lab Podcast
DR. LAURIE SANTOS holds the title of teaching Yale’s most “popular” psychology class for good reason. Each episode sees her distil cuttingedge research on the science of well-being into practical, evidencebased strategies. From rewiring habits to reframing success, each episode is a perfect blend of academic insights, storytelling, and actionable tips. Available on Spotify.
Thursday Murder Club
Richard Osman’s bestselling Thursday Murder Club book series made the leap to Netflix movie series on August 28. A group of retirees with a knack for solving cold cases uncovers a more recent, high-stakes crime. Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kinglsey, and Celia Imrie lead the star-studded cast bringing Osman’s clever, charming writing to life.
OUR PICK OF EVENTS TAKING PLACE AROUND THE WORLD
Long Night of Astronomy, Berlin, Germany 13 September
This once Berlinspecific celebration goes country-wide in this free, onenight celebration of the German night sky. Stargazers young and old across Germany are invited to bring their telescopes and gather in parks, public squares, planetariums, observatories, and more for a night of expert-hosted talks, tours, and cosmic Q&A questions. If you’re a fan of astrotourism, this is one to watch - literally!
Riyadh Comedy Festival, Saudi Arabia
26 September - 9 October
Expect big laughs, bold voices, and cross-cultural comedic connections in what will be the world’s largest celebration of comedy. Set in Saudi Arabia’s buzzy capital, the festival line-up features an exciting mix of stand-up, sketch, improv, and satire, with a line-up of both regional and international talent with more than 50 names, including Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Tom Segura, Nimesh Patel, Zarna Garg, Jo Koy, and Russell Peters.
Global Citizen Festival: New York, USA 26 September - 9 October
Music fans, activists, and global changemakers will unite on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City for an evening dedicated to driving action on climate change, education, and equality. This year’s event is hosted by Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman, and features a star-studded line-up that includes The Weeknd, Shakira, and Tyla, among many others.
Attractions
Activities
Dining
Health
Education
Entertainment
Real Estate
Hotels & Resorts
Shopping
The
KINGDOM CALLING
Rixos Hotels has made a grand entrance into Saudi Arabia with Rixos Obhur Jeddah: the country’s first true all-inclusive family-friendly lifestyle concept
WORDS YI-HWA HANNA
n the arena of the family-friendly all-inclusive experience, there are very few brands that can do it the way Rixos Hotels can. The Turkish-founded company, headquartered in Istanbul, has become known and loved for its all-inclusive properties around the world – which, unlike the sometimes-mass-market some other full-packages-charged-upfront properties are known for, still manage to maintain a clear sense of luxury.
It’s the very basis of the brand’s approach. Described as “all-inclusive; all-exclusive”, guests checking into a Rixos property know that the all-encompassing aspect isn’t the key reason they’re booking. It’s primarily because they know they’re going to get a luxurious, culturally-rich, entertainment- lled experience supported by staff that care about the little details, and that just happens to be value-driven too. The all-inclusive, all-exclusive concept means that the guest in question can enjoy the wealth of amenities, food and beverage, and other experiences the property has to offer without the risk of any additional costs or the stress of ever having to check their tab along the way – all while never having to compromise on quality or a sense of inimitability. And in 2025, as all-inclusive resorts across the world are experiencing a signi cant rise in popularity, it’s an even more winning formula.
The might of the all-inclusive era began rearing its head after 2020, post-pandemic. A Travel Weekly Travel Industry Survey report found that all-inclusive resort bookings in the
US made up 21% of travel advisor revenue that year – an 8% jump from 13% in 2018. By 2021, these types of resorts offered the second-biggest sales revenue gain, and by 2022, major hotel brands across the world started noticing serious demand from their customers – and responding in kind. By 2023, British Airways Holidays’ Tavel Trends Report identified all-inclusive holidays as one of seven key trends for the year, with 41% of millennials (more than any other generation) cited as planning to take one that year.
The reasons behind their appeal are many. In an immediate post-COVID-19 world, travellers found it a safer option, with everything they needed at hand, without having to expose themselves to additional and unnecessary risks or regulations – or cancel their holidays altogether. In the years that followed, a work landscape that felt increasingly demanding due to the need to “bounce back” led to higher levels of burnout – and with it, a greater desire to be able to book a break that felt as easy
Rixos Obhur Jeddah - Saudi’s first true all-inclusive resort - redefines the concept of experiential travel in the city
as possible to organise without having to compromise on the fun, offering maximum enjoyment for minimal organisational (or travel) effort. The all-inclusive offered all of that, without ever having to leave the resort. Meanwhile, as pricing models shifted, the all-inclusive offered another silver lining: with all of the upfront costs, the guest would never have to worry about encountering any hidden fees, reducing their holiday-related stresses even further.
In 2025, the global Package Holidays market – which encompasses the all-inclusive resort – is estimated to be worth at least US$330.17 billion, with an annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.91%. In the UAE, the Package Holidays market –which encompasses the all-inclusive – is predicted to be worth US$590.59 million this year, with a further boom towards US$818.48 million by 2030.
And while new brands continue to enter the global market in hopes of riding this wave, few have managed to perfect it the way Rixos Hotels has – after all, Rixos can be considered an all-inclusive “OG”, with the concept built into a large part of the brand’s original ethos.
Meanwhile, across another part of the GCC, the tourism industry has been on the precipice of another major surgethat of Saudi Arabia. And now, the two have come together for a major milestone: with the recent opening of Rixos Obhur Jeddah, launched as Saudi Arabia’s first true all-inclusive family and lifestyle resort.
TOP: A threebedroom deluxe villa with a pool view
LEFT: Rixos Obhur Jeddah reflects the warm, premium feel the brand is known for
An industry game-changer
Situated along the Red Sea in Jeddah’s beloved Obhur Bay, the resort aims to blend modern luxury with traditional Arabian hospitality – and in doing so, redefine the concept of experiential travel in Jeddah. First announced back in 2022 as a partnership with Dur Hospitality and operated by Accor, the property is also part of Ennismore Group. Taking over the former Makarem Annakheel Village, the project promised an upgrade and restyling that would transform it into a luxury resort featuring a water park, swimming pools, and villas with private pools. And it certainly kept its promise.
Rixos Obhur Jeddah also features a private beach, which can be accessed easily and directly from 250 residential units including 176 rooms and 74 villas. It also has a three restaurants, including all-day dining destination Turquoise, serving international cuisine with a Turkish flair. The resort’s culinary offerings include a lounge bar, and speciality beach dining, while for more casual bites and drinks, Amê Beach Club and The Hub sports bar are always ready to cater to visitors.
When it’s time for leisure – a Rixos point of pride – there’s a fitness club, a male and female spa, and clubs for kids and teens. Wellness is also central to the property’s offerings, with a state-of-the-art sports club, outdoor fitness facilities, and holistic programming all on offer. The promised swimming pool wasn’t delivered as a singular effort – there are several swimming pools. Beaches with water sports, and a seaport with a yacht marina are also part of the development. Rixos Obhur Jeddah holds a special appeal for families, too: the property is also home to Saudi Arabia’s only Rixy Kids Club – a dedicated space for child-focused actitivites.
TOP RIGHT: A threebedroom villa with a pool view
ABOVE: Rixos Obhur Jeddah has several swimming pools
For special events, guests can take advantage of a central ballroom ideal for weddings and large gatherings – or for business events, the facilities are complemented by a range of meeting rooms. Whether you’re there for work or pleasure, letting your hair down is easy here – the property offers daily entertainment, including live shows and events, to help guests feel as though every stay has a truly immersive and celebratory feel.
As Saudi Arabia’s rising role as a tourism hotspot of the future only grows in appeal, Rixos Obhur Jeddah is in prime position to make a serious impact. While guests need never leave the grounds to find something exciting to do, if they do wish to venture beyond its walls, the city offers a seemingly endless (and ever-growing) list of ways to be entertained. History buffs can delve into the past with a visit to Al Balad Historical Village. Shopping enthusiasts can go wild at the Red Sea Mall or Mall of Arabia. Maritime mavens can visit the Jeddah Port Lighthouse, or soak in the joys of the blue waters from Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina. Want to step into the future? Head to teamLab Borderless Jeddah – one of the most exciting modern art museums to grace the region in years, and the globally-renowned brand’s first entry into the Middle East. Thrill-seekers can find another adrenaline rush at Al Shallal Theme Park, while those with a bucket list of superlatives can see the world’s tallest fountain by visiting King Fahd’s Fountain, which shoots its jet of water 312m into the air. Visitors seeking to be dazzled and entertained are spoilt for choice, and when combined with a stay at Rixos Obhur Jeddah, the hardest decision they’ll have to make is whether or not they can tear themselves away from all that this spectacular new hospitality star has to offer.
TOP LEFT: Rixy Kids & Teens Club
The Extra Mile
A GROWING APPETITE FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT IS REDEFINING THE WAY PEOPLE PLAN THEIR TRAVELS AND TIME OFF
WORDS YI-HWA HANNA
In the corporate world, upskilling has become big news in recent years. From soft skills (such as critical thinking, effective leadership, powerful public speaking, positive communication, and problem solving) to practical skills (such as learning to work with AI in multiple ways, digital marketing, project management, cloud computing, data science, content creation, and more) – some people see upskilling as crucial to their success. Acquiring these abilities may help us do our jobs better (and often, perform better in our non-work lives too), helping us stay more relevant and competitive in a challenging job market, as we strive to keep up with the rapid and ongoing evolution of technology.
But that’s not all – it can also foster a love of learning, giving us a stronger sense of purpose and satisfaction in our personal as well as professional lives. And that feeling can be somewhat addictive. In a recent McKinsey study on opportunity, 42% percent of respondents expressed an interest in upskilling, believing that it could help people do better in their careers, or even help them change occupations.
The joy of learning isn’t restricted to our work. It’s a trait that is more commonly felt among successful and high-achieving individuals – and for many, the chance to make the most of our time off by learning something new during a trip only enhances its appeal. As our personal time and the choice of how to spend it become increasingly treasured, the concept of an “upskilling holiday” has become something of a luxury – particularly in a world that is progressively valuing the experiential at a higher and higher rate.
Travel is often said to be one of the world’s greatest teachers, but if you’re looking to get more out of your next break, why not considering booking yourself in for an opportunity to learn a new skill, train in a specialised subject, or simply learn something you may never had had the chance to at home – and have fun while doing it? From painting and photography to playing golf or tennis, beekeeping, sailing, singing, dancing, scuba diving, meditating, or making jewellery, more and more places are catering to eager and curious travellers, whether the time available is just a few hours or a few weeks. All you have to do is identify your passion and where you want to do it, and you’re likely to find it. Here are some ideas to get you started.
ABOVE: Surf Abu Dhabi
BELOW: Want to learn the art of jewellerymaking? Parisfounded L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts has a campus in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Shanghai
Learn how to… SURF
Surfing’s popularity has risen dramatically in recent years, not least because of the sport’s inclusion in the Olympic Games since 2020 – a dream that, for many, has been a long time in the making. If you want to learn how to hang ten, there are plenty of places in the world to do that, at a wide variety of price points. Bali, Indonesia, is one of the world’s most popular destinations for wannabe surfers, and if your budget is on the luxury side, the Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort offers multiple options for classes, from its partnership with the Rip Curl School of Surf to the many smaller companies available at nearby Padang Padang Beach. Hawaii is another iconic location for the sport – it is the birthplace of surfing, after all. Lahaina Shores Beach Resort is steps away from the award-winning Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy in Maui – one of the oldest surf schools that not only teaches the physical aspect of the sport, but also covers the historical aspect of its deep connection to Hawaiian culture and its Polynesian roots. A little closer to the Middle East, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are both swell options (pun intended). In the former, Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa and Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort are excellent five-star options, while Kima Surf Lodge has two renowned locations across the country. In the latter, travellers are also spoilt for choice, with a long list of incredible properties offering surf lessons in the pristine nearby waters, including Four Seasons Resort Kuda Huraa, Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Six Senses Laamu, Anantara Dhigu, COMO Cocoa Island, Soneva Jani, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, and many more.
Surfing is also available in the UAE, where it’s not just possible to learn it, the country is also home to the world’s best wave pool. Surf Abu Dhabi offers lessons for every level, with Bab Al Nojoum’s Hudayriyat Villas and Camp being five-star spots to stay in within easy reach.
Learn how to… COOK
In Cape Town, South Africa, the V&A Waterfront is one of the charmed city’s most popular attractions, with some great shopping and dining options found against a backdrop of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. But did you know that you can also learn to cook there? The Stir Crazy Culinary Theatre, located within the Superyacht Training Academy in the waterfront area, offers three-hour cooking classes taught by professional chefs, on everything from authentic Italian, Mexican, and Mediterranean food to burgers, pizzas, and sushi, plus local cuisine including Cape Malay dishes. Each session shows participants how to make four to five different dishes, then guests cook one or two, before sitting down to enjoy the meal together with some local wines.
If your little ones are the budding chefs of the family, drop them off at Giardino during your next stay at Palazzo Versace Dubai – where kids aged four to 12 can learn how to mix cookie dough, bake a mini pizza, and more, on Mondays to Fridays from 2-3pm as long as you’re a guest of the hotel. They’ll also receive their own personalised certificate, signed by the chef.
Ever dreamed of learning how to make fresh pasta? Some of Italy’s most beloved institutions include Mama Isa’s Cooking
School in Venice, and Cooking Art Brunelleschi in Florence. During your next quick trip to Rome, you can also check out Cesarine – a community of home cooks that give you the chance to learn how to make Italian food in the home of a local. Tour company Casa Mia – founded by a trio of culinary professionals – can also arrange your dream cooking class for you. Top it all off with fresh truffles you foraged yourself: La Villa in the Piedmont region can teach you to hunt for your own truffles, complete with a local hunter and dog.
ABOVE: Learning how to make your own pasta is a great skill to take home
TOP RIGHT: The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, has a culinary theatre with three-hour classes
Perhaps French cuisine is your favourite. If that’s the case, a dedicated visit to Le Cordon Bleu for one of their globallyacclaimed courses is hard to beat for serious budding chefs, and La Cuisine Paris is a great idea for the casual cook with a little extra time on a trip to the city of lights. Located in the centre of the city, it’s not far from key sights including the Notre Dame cathedral, and is within quick walking distance from hotels such as Maison Colbert – a member of Meliá Collection, Hotel Du Jeu De Paume, Hôtel Charles V, and the SO/ Paris. They also offer food tours, if you prefer an eating-focused day trip. Closer to home, those with a sweet tooth may want to consider Paramount Hotels Dubai, which offers a chocolatemaking workshop at The Cheat Chocolate Lab.
If the historical aspect of food intrigues you, consider a visit to The Lux Collective’s LUX* Tea Horse Road hotels, where you’ll be able to book a culinary journey along the famous Tea Horse Road. This ancient path served as a key trade route from the Tang and Song Dynasties through to the establishment of the Republic of China, wherein Yunnan pu-erh tea was exchanged for Tibetan horses, alongside medicinal herbs, aromatic substances, and more. The LUX* resorts in these areas offer a unique itinerary that involves travelling from the LUX* Shangri-La to the LUX* Tea Horse Road Lijiang, and along the way, drinking tea with the monks of Songzanlin monastery; trying cheese fondue at Napa lake; foraging for mushrooms for a Tibetan hotpot while hiking through the Niding forest; and harvesting summer fruits with a local farmer in Daju Village before enjoying a traditional Naxi stone barbecue dinner.
Want to focus on tea? The Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto in Japan, offers a tea ceremony at their tea house, Shakusui-tei, where you’ll be guided by an expert in the ancient art of brewing and tasting various teas, and the rituals surrounding it.
Learn how to… RIDE HORSES
While the Arabian stallion is now found worldwide, this majestic horse originates from the Middle East – and if you’d like to learn how to ride one, Ras Al Khaima’s Nirvana Retreat – formerly known as Anavrin Equestian Retreat – can be a dreamy place to connect with horses. When it first opened, the property was mostly horse-themed, but with its revamp, it has become more focused on luxury wellness and integrative healing, offering ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, and more, alongside chalet-style accommodation surrounded by nature. Spending quality time with animals is still a large part of the resort’s philosophy, and guests can not only feed and meet the horses that live within its grounds, if you have a pet, you can also bring your other furry friends along. Today, there is another beautiful property where you can learn how to ride, groom, and handle horses in the northern emirate: The RitzCarlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert offers riding lessons, as well as pony grooming for children. Elsewhere across the UAE, Dubai’s JA The Resort and Sir Bani Yas Island’s Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort both offer horse riding experiences that will set any equine-loving heart alight.
If you crave a ride in the British countryside, you can take an English mare out on a hack during a stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, where you can also try a spot of pony grooming, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Lucknam Park Hotel in Thickwood, Wiltshire, also offers riding experiences around the estate grounds, in Bath and through the beautiful Cotswold countryside, in settings worthy of a Jane Austen novel. Meanwhile The Swinton Hotel in The Yorkshire Dales will give you a chance to enjoy some equestrian activities before spending the night in a luxury grade II castle. Bonus: The Swinton Estate also features a cooking school.
BELOW: The Swinton Estate, Yorkshire
BOTTOM LEFT: Triple Creek Ranch, Montana
Dude ranches – yes, that’s an actual term – were literally created for this purpose, being cattle ranches converted into holiday retreats. To experience one for yourself – and learn how to ride like a bona fide American cowboy or cowgirl (or cowperson), Triple Creek Ranch in Montana, USA offers a fiveday all-inclusive stay with all the bells and whistles, including a welcome and farewell event hosted by the head wrangler. In the winter, you can also go dog sledding there.
SHOOT, SCORE, GOAL!
A rising taste for wellnessinfused travel has led to more choice in sport-focused stays around the world. Perhaps you’re after Olympic-worthy training somewhere like Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort in Phuket – or the chance to learn Muay Thai with a master at a place like Anantara Layan Resort on the other side of the island. Or maybe you’d like to learn how to dance – if so, the Strictly Come Dancing experience from Warner Hotels may
tickle your fancy. But if football is what kicks off your enthusiasm, Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort has a real treat coming up this autumn: from 20-23 October 2025, it’s hosting an exclusive kids’ football camp led by none other than football legend Michael Owen. The coaching sessions themselves may only be for little ones, but the resort has thrills for the whole family, and it’s a great excuse to be in the presence of footie royalty.
Learn how to… WRITE
An estimated 81% of people say they want to write a book some day – although only 3% actually do it. If you’d like to be one of the 3% – or get away from the noise of city life while learning how to be a better writer, at least – writing retreats are on the rise across the world, and the UK’s Arvon Foundation offers some of the best. A charitable organisation that promotes creative writing, its historic writing houses include Totleigh Barton – a 16th century manor house in Devon; Lumb Bank – an 18th-century millowner’s house in West Yorkshire; and The Hurst – the former home of playwright John Osborne, in the stunning Shropshire Hills. The foundation offers numerous courses throughout the year on everything from memoir writing to poetry and various types of fiction, giving guests the chance to not only learn how to sharpen their storytelling skills, but enjoy some restorative rest and wholesome food in the beautiful English countryside at the same time.
THE SHOEMAKER’S ELF
Got a passion for fashion
– and specifically, shoes?
Guests of the Rome Cavalieri
– a Waldorf Astoria hotel – can take a shoe-making class. The team will take you into the generations-old workshop of a genuine Italian cobbler, where you’ll learn the art of cobbling by crafting your own pair of sandals that you can, of course, take home with you.
Learn how to… CRAFT
The chance to craft something with your own two hands isn’t just immersive – it’s also often a neat way to take home a custom souvenir you made yourself. And there are countless interesting things to learn about, from knitting to glassblowing. Italy’s Hotel Montana Monte Bondone in Vason (near Trento), for instance, hosts knitting retreats within the hotel grounds weekly from Friday to Sunday. Across the country, the Hotel NH Collection Venezia Murano Villa is right next door to the Museo del Vetro, and can organise a visit where you’ll get to observe the techniques behind Murano’s famous, exquisite hand-blown glass in person. That’s a highly-specialised skill with a high level of danger though, so for your souvenir, you can purchase one from the shop! For a more hands-on Venetian craft, you can book into a Venetian mask-making workshop at Alberto Sarria Masks through Marriott Bonvoy – best combined with a stay at the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa.
ABOVE: Lumb Bank in West Yorkshire, England
RIGHT: Learn to make Venetian masks in Italy; or learn how to make Arabic perfume in Abu Dhabi
At the Palace Hotel Tokyo, you can book into a JAXURY package – a Japanese interpretation of luxury – that is all about celebrating the art of Japanese craftsmanship. During your stay, you can book into an origami-making workhop every Wednesday afternoon, opting to go for the traditional route, or a modern one,by creating your own paper Hello Kitty complete with a changeable wardrobe. In Greece, you can take a woodcarving workshop on-site at the Istoria Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels, Santorini... while in the UAE, a property inspired by Greece – the Anantara Santorini resort – gives guests the opportunity to discover the art of Arabic perfume making.
Learn how to… SKI & SNOWBOARD
Always wanted to learn how to hit the slopes, but still only feel confident enough to hit the après-ski (aka the social and entertainment activities that happen after the day’s on- and off-piste activities)? Don’t worry – there are resorts that not only cater to the experienced, but that can also teach the uninitiated how to handle either or both sports, regardless of your skill level (or age).
For a classic Swiss experience, the Grand Hôtel & Kurhaus, Arolla in Evolène, Switzerland, is a stunning alpine retreat during the warmer months – enticing visitors with its beautiful forest setting (it’s literally in the heart of an ancient forest, high up with an altitude of 2070m) and lush green surrounds that make it a fantastic spot for mountain biking, hiking, paragliding, climbing, and more. During the cooler months, it transforms into a winter wonderland where you can not only go skiing – it has a fantastic ski-in and ski-out location – you can also go ski mountaineering, ice climbing, go ski-touring, heliskiing, free-riding, dog sledding, and more. The nearby Val d’Hérens even hosts some well-known races: Patrouille de la Maya, the Patrouille des Aiguilles Rouges and the famous Patrouille des Glaciers – but newbies need not be intimidated, because the hotel can also hook you up with a guide to show you the ropes on all of the above and more. When you’re done, snuggle up by a fireplace and reward yourself for your hard work with fondue under the stars. Across the world, in another equallycelebrated ski destination, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch offers a premier ski resort experience in Denver, Colorado
THE WAY OF THE FALCON
Falconry is a beautiful sport and cultural practice that’s among the Middle East’s most treasured traditional activities. While many hotels in the region will have the occasional falcon on the premises for guests to take a photo with (or even pet), if you’d like to learn how to do it yourself, you can actually do so at Bab Al Shams. The Rare Finds Desert Resort offers a range of falconry experiences, including a chance to get hands-on with experts for an
hour, beyond its view-only falconry shows. You can pair it with an Arabic coffee-making lesson, or a camel-trekking experience. Alternatively, in Scotland, Gleneagles is actually home to the first dedicated falconry school in the world (first opened in 1982), and at Gleneagles Hotel, you can book in for a variety of skills-learning sessions with the birds of prey, held in association with the falconry school. You can also learn hawking and gundog training.
TOP LEFT: Learn to ski in Swizerland, Colorado, Azerbaijan, or even Dubai!
that combines Michelin-recommended dining and five-star accommodation with extensive ski activities, including ski-in and ski-out facilities. It’s described as one of North America’s top hotels for a reason, and you can choose from luxe rooms with fireplaces, to grand penthouses.
If that’s a little too far out for you, Shahdag Mountain Resort in Azerbaijan offers a wide range of winter activities (including skiing on 32 slopes, with a network of 20 lifts) just a three-hour flight away from the Middle East. Even closer is the Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, where you can learn the basics of both skiing and snowboarding at Ski Dubai in Mall of the Emirates –and even stay in an Alpine Chalet afterwards, if you wish.
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT
Ever wished you were not only able to wield Thor’s mighty hammer, but that you could actually learn how to make one too? Or perhaps you’ve wished you could learn how to make swords worthy of the ones in Game of Thrones (or whatever your favourite fantasy, medieval, or knights-based story is, real
or fictional). Well, if you pay a visit to Lapland Guesthouse in Kangos, Sweden, you’ll get your chance! Set in a small village near the Artic Circle, the destination is a popular plce to witness the Northern Lights – and it also has a Blacksmith Forge right on the premises (in addition to a river sauna, viking cabins, a forest,
a restaurant with menus that incorporate as many locally-produced ingredients as possible, a spa bath by the river, and more). There are plenty of activities here, but one of the most unique is the chance to learn how to forge your own metal masterpiece with Mia, a local blacksmith, in an on-site half-day workshop.
First
impressions
Ahead of its highly-anticipated launch this year, Saudi Arabia’s new digitally-native airline Riyadh Air has unveiled a peek of the interiors of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet
FUTURE FORWARD
The digitally-driven airline will offer a tech-first booking experience - and gate-togate free high-speed wifi provided by Viasat for all customers, upon signing up for its loyalty programme
PRIME VIEWING
Standard business class seats have a 22-inch 4K OLED IFE screen, while business elite seats have a 32-inch screen - the world’s largest in a business class option
GOOD BUSINESS
At the front of the aircraft, there will be a total of 28 Safran Unity business class seats, four of which are classed as business elite
ELITE COMFORT
Business elite seats will be found in Row 1, and the middle two seats in this row can be combined into a double bed. The ergonomic seats are made with plush foam and custom-designed premium “homeinspired” fabrics, with tufted stitching, for a restorative feel
FLYING HIGH
The fleet of 40 Boeing 787-9s will have 290 seats across economy, premium economy, business, and business elite classes
GOOD -TOKNOW
The interiors aim to blend cultural storytelling with functional beauty. The signature canopy twist design was inspired by traditional Arabian tents. Its colours and materials, including lavender tones and mocha gold metallic elements, are said to reflect Saudi heritage
RUNNING
NEOM NATURE RESERVE IS MORE THAN A SANCTUARY FOR WILDLIFE: IT’S A HAVEN FOR ARABIA’S LOST SPECIES, AND A CHANCE TO DISCOVER ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE DESTINATIONS ON EARTH
WILD
WORDS YI-HWA HANNA
Imagine this scenario: you’re several years into the future, and visiting one of Saudi Arabia’s most thriving tourism destinations. While there, you pay a visit to a historical site. It’s beautiful, and the knowledge of all of the memories it has held for centuries only makes it more impressive. Your tour guide hands you a pair of Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) goggles, and when you put them on, you’re greeted with a live projection of the past: visions of ancient populations walking the very same paths you now walk. But the wonder isn’t quite over yet – as you remove the goggles, you hear the pitter-patter of feet, and feel a unique vibration in the ground before you. And then you see it: an animal that was once extinct, right in front of your eyes, running wild and free across this incredible land. In the span of a few moments, you’ve just experienced the past, present, and future all at once.
This may be a fantasy now, but believe it or not, it’s a scene that might someday be possible, thanks not only to the impressive amount of funding, research, infrastructure, and visionary thinking that’s being poured into the kingdom’s tourism industry, but also through the utterly remarkable rewilding efforts being conducted by NEOM Nature Reserve.
The reserve is both a place and a mission. Physically, it’s described as an extraordinary location where majestic mountains, vast deserts, tranquil coastal plains, and vibrant marine habitats converge. Located within Saudi’s Tabuk Principality, more than half a day’s journey from Riyadh by car, part of it is also (albeit less commonly) known by the name Bajdah Wildlife Reserve. But Bajdah – which has been
open to visitors since May 2024 – is only part of what NEOM is doing to help bring back the true glory of the Arabian desert.
ABOVE: The onceextinct Oryx can be seen running wild at NEOM Nature Reserve
TOP RIGHT: The reserve plans to plant 100 native trees, shrubs and grasses
BELOW: Dr. Paul Marshall
OPPOSITE PAGE: NEOM Nature Reserve
NEOM Nature Reserve serves as the foundation for NEOM’s commitment to protecting 95% of its area for nature. Its efforts are led by Dr. Paul Marshall, NEOM’s Head of Nature. An active Adjunct Professor at Australia’s James Cook University, Marshall brings award-winning expertise to the project. He holds a PhD in Coral Reef Ecology and Management, has earned a Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for his ongoing contributions and dedication to the field of nature conservation, and has authored a number of notable publications on everything from climate change to coral bleaching. And in Saudi Arabia, his primary focus is to develop and implement solutions to not only safeguard, but also bring new life to NEOM’s expansive land – including fostering the return of several lost species.
“I grew up surrounded by the striking natural beauty of Australia – camping in eucalyptus forests, boating along its coastlines, walking tide lines, and watching the seasons shift in the bush. Those early experiences instilled a sense of wonder in me that never left. Over the years, I’ve worked with many of the world’s leading conservation management agencies, helping to bridge land and sea, and adapt ecological practice to the accelerating challenges of climate change. But nothing compares to what we’re building here in NEOM,” Marshall says.
What they’re building, to be specific, is a place that is committed to protecting 95% of its nature. The reserve plans to plant 100 million native trees, shrubs and grasses to rejuvenate the environment. It is also aiming to restore 1.5 million hectares of habitat, as well as revive key species populations. So far, the species they’ve already returned to this land includes the Arabian oryx, mountain and sand gazelles, Nubian ibex, red-necked ostrich, and Lanner falcon – which, prior to these efforts, had not been spotted in the wild in Saudi Arabia for at least four decades.
“This is conservation reimagined,” Marshall says. “We’re not simply protecting what remains, we’re restoring
DESTINATION
what was lost, at a scale and ambition almost unprecedented globally. As Head of the NEOM Nature Reserve, I’m leading a team committed to rewilding an entire desert biome –reviving ancient ecosystems across tens of thousands of square kilometres. NEOM’s Nature Reserve is a laboratory, a sanctuary, and a bold signal to the world that ecological restoration in arid lands is not only possible – it’s essential.”
The return of the lost species
At the heart of NEOM’s rewilding strategy is what Marshall calls a phased, ecologically grounded sequence of species reintroductions. “We began with herbivores – species whose presence had been erased by decades of overgrazing and hunting. Arabian oryx, ibex, sand and mountain gazelles have returned to our Conservation Focal Areas, now thriving under close management. These animals are not just visible symbols of recovery; they are foundational agents of ecosystem function. As part of our programme, we have seen the birth of the first Arabian oryx in NEOM in over a century. That moment marked more than a milestone – it signalled the return of a future that once seemed lost,” Marshall says.
The effort it took to do this required a lot more than the fantastical approach one might imagine after having watched, say, a Jurassic Park film. Marshall and his team mapped habitat types, hydrology, and historical ranges to match each species with the environments where they’re most likely to thrive. For predators, they’re taking a staged approach. “We’ll
RIGHT: Exploring the wonders of NEOM Nature Reserve
FAR RIGHT: The reserve is home to a variety of lizard species, including rare desert varieties
BELOW:
Camping is one of the visitor experiences planned for NEOM Nature Reserve
BOTTOM RIGHT:
The reserve is a dream for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers of all levels alike
soon reintroduce striped hyenas – resilient, ecologically vital carnivores that once roamed these landscapes freely. And we’re preparing the landscape for the return of cheetahs, whose ecological role as coursing predators is critical to prey population regulation and ecosystem balance,” Marshall explains. “We’ve also begun trials with smaller mammals like hyrax and Arabian hares, and initiated reintroductions of raptors such as barbary and lanner falcons. These efforts contribute to restoring complex food webs and trophic cascades, key features of resilient ecosystems,” he adds.
The greening of a desert
This rewilding effort, Marshall explains, is complemented by an equally ambitious re-greening programme – restoring vegetation across some of the most degraded landscapes in the Arabian Peninsula. In the coastal lowlands, where groundwater over-abstraction and decades of livestock grazing had accelerated desertification, they’ve launched a massive active restoration initiative. “Our native plant nursery, among the largest of its kind in the region, produces over two million seedlings annually. These plants, carefully propagated from locally adapted genotypes, are hardened before planting, mulched and watered through distributed
FANTASTIC BEASTS
THE NUBIAN IBEX is a desertdwelling wild goat that can be found in NEOM’s rocky, mountainous terrain, typically recognised by its impressive arched horns. Males have backward-arched horns that can reach up to a metre long, while females have much shorter horns and are lighter in colour. They are incredible climbers, with their rubbery-
soled hooves acting as suction cups on hard surfaces, helping them navigate steep cliffs to avoid predators such as wolves. NEOM has successfully reintroduced 53 Nubian Ibex to the Reserve. These add to the population of several wild Ibex that have naturally returned to the area, and are often caught on camera as part of NEOM’s monitoring
programme. They join the Arabian Oryx as another key majestic horned beast in the Reserve. When the Arabian Oryx was first reintroduced there in December 2022, it was the first time the animal had walked the sands of north-western Saudi Arabia for nearly 100 years.
In the early 1970s, the Oryx was extinct in the wild due to hunting and poaching – but conservation efforts across the region have seen its numbers swell in recent years, with more than 208 now calling NEOM home. Fun fact: it’s thought to be the inspiration for the mythical unicorn.
irrigation systems for up to three years. We’ve already planted over 4.8 million native trees in fenced areas where livestock and off-road vehicles are excluded.”
But perhaps the most compelling evidence of success, Marshall states, is in what he describes as their passive restoration zones. “In upland deserts where we’ve simply removed grazing pressure, we’re seeing wildflowers and native grasses return in spectacular abundance. After rainfall, entire valleys erupt in bloom, an ecological memory awakened. I’ve stood at the edge of a fenced zone and marvelled at the contrast: inside, a riot of life; outside, bare sand stripped by hooves.”
From treasured memory to lived experience
“Rewilding here isn’t just ecological, it’s cultural. We’ve had Saudi visitors tell us of grandfathers moved to tears upon seeing images of oryx and gazelles returned to their ancestral terrain. For them, these species aren’t novelties, they’re heritage,” Marshall says.
FAST, NOT FURIOUS
The largest and fastest living bird on Earth, the flightless Red-necked Ostrich can stand up to 2.7m tall and weigh more than 150kg. Their eggs, at 15cm long and weighing up to 1.4kg, are the largest of any living animal.
The 27 chicks that have been successfully raised in NEOM Nature Reserve feed on seeds, grass, leaves, and occasionally small insects or animals, and can run at speeds of up to 70km/hr.
“That emotional connection has helped drive remarkable public engagement. In the first nine months of opening our rewilding reserve to visitors, we received over 120,000 pass bookings – many from the surrounding region,“ he continues.
Visiting consciously
Marshall explains that NEOM Nature Reserve is designed to be experienced, but never at the expense of ecological integrity. Their zoning system includes: conservation focal areas, conservation landscapes, and wilderness areas. The conservation focal areas involve intensive management, with limited visitor access and active restoration. The conservation landscapes are open to guests, with self-guided exploration allowed across vast, semi-restored environments. And the wilderness areas consist of remote, process-led zones with minimal human footprint.
“With real-time environmental monitoring, adaptive management and a new generation of ranger programmes, we’re pioneering a conservation model where access and protection are not at odds but mutually reinforcing,” Marshall says.
A heart-led win for Saudi’s tourism sector
Six years after the launch of the kingdom’s global tourism visa programme, NEOM Nature Reserve are surely and steadily pioneering an entirely different kind of destination that most visitors to the Middle East – or indeed, anywhere in the world – are accustomed to. The results the team is aiming for will take a little more time to be fully realised – after all, the creation of this type of progress is certainly not as fast as some of the creatures it’s reintroduced, such as the Arabian Sand Gazelle (which can clock speeds of up to 100km per hour in short bursts), or the Lanner Falcon (which is known for its speed and agility, with the ability to dive at speeds of more than 320km per hour). But eager guests can already visit. To experience what’s taking root there – already an impressive experience, even five years before they reach their 2030 targets – visitors will need to book a pass through the Discover NEOM app. They’ll have to prepare for some off-road driving, and some significant time spent on the road – but once there, they’ll be welcomed with a jaw-dropping destination rooted in restoration, innovation and long-term stewardship.
“Instead of walking through crowded cities, we invite visitors to hike re-greened wadis, where they can spot falcons riding thermals above the cliffs, and track the quiet prints of gazelle across the sand. Here, they’ll feel awe. They’ll feel silence. We hope that they will carry that change with them,” Marshall says.
“NEOM’s rewilding programme is just beginning. But even now, I’ve seen deserts turn green, seen oryx calves take their first steps, and watched the faces of children light up as they spot wildlife they never imagined could live in their backyard,” he continues. “This is not just conservation – it’s a rewilding of our relationship with the natural world. And it’s happening, right here, in one of the most unexpected places on Earth.”
Take a trip to the past with a visit to AlUla This spectacularly unique destination isn’t just home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Hegra (with more than 100 ancient Nabatean tombs carved into its sandstone cliffs), or the proud bearer of the first officially-named Dark Sky Parks in the GCC (for its Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserves) - nor even the space research and astrotourism hub run by the SETI Institute, with a Laser SETI instrument installed at the Al Manara Observatory. It’s also an incredible destination for arts and culture, with amazing art exhibitions such as Desert X having been hosted here, as well as music festivals such as Azimuth, and the renowned AlUla Wellness Festival.
Soak up cultural capital in the top cities Riyadh and Jeddah are two of Saudi’s most popular urban destinations, for good reason: the former is known for its thriving business potential (and excellent food scene), while the latter is packed with entertainment. Enjoy the scenic coastal life at Jeddah’s Yacht Club & Marina, or peek at the past at Al Balad in Historic Jeddah. If the future is more your speed, you’ll find it at TeamLab Borderless Jeddah. In Riyadh, the spectacular architecture of Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliyyah are not to be missed, then when you’re ready to see where it all started, Diriyah - the historical site where the first-ever Saudi state was founded - is just a 30-minute drive away.
Saudi Bucket List
5 must-do experiences to add to your bucket list in the kingdom
GET READY to pack your bags and your excitement, because Saudi has a summer calendar sizzling with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. From vibrant coastal festivals to mountain escapes and stargazing in the desert, this is where ancient culture meets world-class entertainment. And if you’re wondering what Saudi is really like? Think stunning landscapes, warm hospitality, and a spirit of discovery that pulls you right in.
Catch the mountain breeze in Aseer
If you need a breath of fresh air, literally, head to Aseer. At 3,000m above sea level, this misty green region is a paradise of cool weather, colourful festivals, and unbeatable views. Don’t miss Art Street in Abha and Al Muftaha Village, where Saudi’s creativity explodes in every corner. Want to get interactive? Al-Qatt Al-Aseeri Workshops, held at the Fatima Museum in Rijal Alma, give you the chance to get hands-on with this UNESCO-recognised art form. For adrenaline junkies, Al Habala Park and Sky Village offers ziplining, hiking, and mountain-top cafés, while Rijal Alma is a historical gem perfect for culture lovers and Instagram feeds.
Discover hidden luxury on the Saudi Red Sea
Imagine this: kayaking through mangroves, e-foiling over glassy waters, diving into coral gardens, and watching the sun dip behind the horizon from your overwater villa. That’s the Saudi Red Sea, and it’s redefining paradise. Hit up Shebara Resort for orb-like villas, moonlight massages, and wildlife encounters; Desert Rock for adrenaline-filled adventures carved into sandstone. Go sailing, snorkelling, windsurfing, and kayaking as you explore over 1,000 islands (many of them untouched) and 500 dive sites, and discover 1,200 marine species. The area is also known for its regenerative tourism, making it a win for sustainability buffs.
Unlock the magic and scents of Taif
Taif, Saudi’s mountain-side city, is bursting with heritage, fragrance, and must-do moments. Here, you can visit Rose Product Factories to get a behind-thescenes look at how Taif’s iconic roses are turned into luxurious oils, waters, and perfumes; and see Kaaki Palace, a hidden architectural gem where Roman elegance meets Hijazi charm, perfect for history buffs, design lovers, and Instagram shots. At Arruddaf Park you’ll find live music, dancing fountains, and late-night vibes surrounded by green open spaces, while a short road trip to Wahba Crater will take you to a jaw-dropping volcanic site that’s 3,000m wide and 380m deep.
HOTEL REVIEWS
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates + The Other House, South Kensington + Najd Al Meqsar, by Sharjah Collection
Putting business travel to the test
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Brasserie Boulud
HOTEL REVIEW
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
One of Dubai’s earliest truly unique hotels, this European superstar isn’t just a five-star property in the heart of the city – it’s going strong for a new era
What’s it like?
First opened – to much fanfare – in April 2006, this property’s launch was major news, not just because it was connected to one of the most exciting then-new malls in the heart of the city, but also because it had a direct view (in some rooms, at least) of that same mall’s indoor ski slope: a triumph that made global news headlines. Although Dubai’s hotel market has since blossomed with a considerably more vast range of properties to choose from (including many touting their own unique appeal), Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates is still going strongand with this year’s appointment of three new talents in its leadership team (including a new hotel manager, executive chef, and marketing director), it’s also been undergoing a quiet renaissance. Its refresh has, in keeping with the rest of the hotel’s offering, not been loud or splashy, but understated and elegant. Though the last official full renovation was an extensive multiphase affair from 2012 to 2016, the hotel has made subtle yet impactful changes recently. The lobby’s high ceilings pass all the way up to floors with rooms and some of its restaurants, which include two 2023 additions that have become highly popular: Eugène Eugène, and Xu. This summer, the F&B offering expanded with another feather in its cap: Vera Versilia, a Tuscan Italian restaurant. The hotel is wise enough to not change what doesn’t need to be changed, however, and one thing that, thankfully, remains quite untouched is its ski chalet rooms – masterpieces in themed design and luxurious comfort that aren’t just perfect the way they are, but that are maintained pristinely.
Rooms
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re escaping the city without actually leaving, this hotel’s Aspen Ski Chalets will do the trick. Rustic with modern
touches (and useful tech), they offer direct views of Ski Dubai’s snowy slopes, along with stunning wooden tables, plush beds, large TVs, and a stone faux fireplace. Note: Skiiers can see into the rooms, too, albeit from afar. There are one-, two-, and three-bedroom options, each billed as a winter wonderland where sand and snow meet. Each chalet stay comes with executive lounge access and dedicated butler service, private check-in and out, and tickets to Ski Dubai’s Snow Park. It’s not gimmicky, nor is it just an aesthetic - it’s a totally immersive experience with love poured into every detail. The hotel also has classic rooms, as well as a “Fit Room” equipped with a Technogym Bike and Training Case, a foam roller, massage ball, exercise mat, and power bands.
Facilities
New restaurant Vera Versilia is truly a victory, with its authentic, surprising, showstopping yet never theatrical take on coastal Italian cuisine that offers a refreshing change amidst Dubai’s saturated restaurant scene. Another top pick is Salero: this tapas bar and bodega is a well-kept secret GOOD -TOKNOW
The Aspen Ski Chalets can also be used for meetings of up to 15 guests. The hotel also has 10 meeting rooms (that fit 18-150 people), boardrooms, and an outdoor terrace that can host up to 300 guests.
VERDICT
A truly unique place to stay with topnotch service, a focus on quality and quiet elegance, and easy access to an extensive variety of things to do.
BEST FOR
A way to get out of town without actually getting out of town; a stay with a difference; or a hygge-worthy ambience for cozy, nurturing rest.
DON’T MISS
The Aspen Ski Chalets’ hot chocolate ritual between 5-6pm each day: try it to enjoy a warm cup of cocoa in a way you won’t find anywhere else in Dubai.
PRICE
A stay in an Aspen Ski Chalet starts from Dhs2,109 a night in September
CONTACT
Mall of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai; +971 4 341 0000; kempinski.com/mall-of-the-emirates
for locals in the know thanks to its authentic Spanish cuisine and live entertainment. The afternoon tea at Aspen Café is another hidden gem, with an entire library of teas to choose from. When you’re ready to relax, the hotel has a SENSASIA Stories Spa, a pool, and direct access to the mall with its cinemas, shops, entertainment hubs, and more.
The Other House, South Kensington
A luxe home-away-from-home experience ideal for long-stay guests and repeat visits
What’s it like?
The Other House could be called an aparthotel – but to do so would do it a serious disservice. Described as a ‘Residents Club’, it has 200 fully-fitted apartments available for both short and long stays, as well as a series of unique facilities available only for hotel guests and club members. The first thing you’ll notice upon entering is its striking decor. A unique blend of British maximalism and bold Art Decoinspired elements, it’s at once opulent and comforting, and always playful - embodying its motto of living life ‘as curious as a monkey, wise as an owl’. It’s clear in an instant that this property doesn’t want to be ordinary. It will offer the most important aspects of a hotel - great service, physical comfort, and a beautiful environment - but it insists on thinking outside of the box with how it approaches that. This celebration of individuality can be felt in everything from its criteria for admission to its private members club - where it’s not about your status, but your attitude, interests, and aspirations. Membership
applications are open to all and undergo an admission review, but all guests are de facto members during their stay. It holds events all year, from cinema nights to wellness-, music-, and literature-centric evenings. The Other House also recently launched “Tap Into Home”, a pioneering anti-homesickness package for guests staying for a month or more, to ease the stress of moving to London through well-being practices, curated community-building, and more.
kitchenette, open sitting and dining area, en-suite bathroom, and desk. The aesthetic continues with botanical prints, textural fabrics in rich jewel tones and warm hues, and eccentric pairings that work together beautifully. Its guest services can be accessed through an app, but it’s not required if you prefer an offline approach.
Facilities
There are two key dining options: The Other Kitchen (with all-day breakfast plus lunch), and The Owl and Monkey (a swish cocktail bar with tasty small sharing plates). Visits to The Keeping Room and Hogsmire - private members club venues open to guests - are a must. The latter is a lovely place to work, while the former is full of whimsy and atmosphere, and the perfect place to read a book, do some work, have a casual meeting or catchup, or just order a drink and bite and enjoy the fireplace. Books are also available in the exquisitely-designed library. You can take F&B from any venue elsewhere in the property - a home-like feature we loved. It’s a truly compelling, stellar place to be able to call your go-to home in London.
VERDICT
Rooms
It has a variety of Club Flats that fit up to two people each, some with atrium and courtyard access, and some with multiple floors. All include a plush bed, fully-equipped GOOD -TOKNOW
International memberships are now available for The Club, at GBP1,250/year, with access to its events and a 20% discount on best rates for Club Flats
An exceptional place to stay that’s as appealing in its decor and service as it is in its unique approach - an ideal spot for discerning repeat visitors.
BEST FOR
Luxury without pretense, and feeling like a local with the comforts of a hotel.
DON’T MISS
A dip in the indoor vitality pool, with a steam in the sauna and steam room.
PRICE
A stay in a Club Flat starts from GBP360 a night in September
CONTACT
15-17 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 4JJ, United Kingdom; +44 (0) 20 3846 6000; otherhouse.com/south-kensington
Najd Al Meqsar, by Sharjah Collection
A
one-of-a-kind way
What’s it like?
GOOD -TOKNOW
While the hotel itself doesn’t offer an activity list, there’s plenty to do nearby including hikes and kayaking at Rafisah Dam (just a 5-minute drive away), and Khor Fakkan beach.
to experience a slice of Emirati history and culture
Found on the top of a hill in Sharjah’s Khor Fakkan area, this hotel is part of the Sharjah Collection - a portfolio of retreats owned by Shurooq, The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority. Each of the resorts in the Sharjah Collection focuses on cultural and environmental immersion through authenticity and a celebration of that particular destination’s most unique qualities, and in the case of Najd Al Meqsar, it’s all about history. This property is built upon the remains of an ancient village and archaeological site that dates as far back as 300 years ago. The original settlement was built as a seasonal escape for local villagers, for when they’d seek refuge during times of heavy rainfall. As the nearby wadi they lived in became flooded and unsuitable for regular habitation, they’d settle into this cluster of hilltop homes until their other settlement was once again dry and safe – and it’s these old homes that have been restored to form the accommodation in the current hotel. While the original village had 14 homes, the current hotel has just seven keys, as these were the only ones in a suitable enough condition to be restored. This factor gives the entire place a feeling of real exclusivity, with a maximum of fourteen total guests staying over at the resort at any given time.
Rooms
Each of the villas – called Kareen Houses – has been lovingly and meticulously restored, with an ideal balance of modern finishings and as much of the original feel as possible. They feel incredibly cozy with the exposed stonework walls and remade thatched roofs, plus
warm, natural decor featuring local embroidery. Each room comes with a modern rain shower with easy-press functions and lovely brass finishings, a comfortable king or queen-sized bed, highly effective air conditioning, an LED smart TV, complimentary wifi, a mini-fridge, and comfortable seating areas both indoors and outdoors, including a sofa set in the living area. In the kitchenette area, you’ll find coffee and tea-making facilities as well as local treats, like Emirati dates.
Facilities
The hotel itself doesn’t offer activities, but a walk through the resort is highly recommended, particularly to the 19th century fort at the top. It has one restaurant – Wishi, named after the nearby wadi – that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner... and you can ask to have dessert taken back to your room, if you wish(i)! The menu is varied and the quality is top-notch: fresh salads, juicy grilled meats, and seafood, with both Emirati and non-Emirati cuisine. Service is fantastic – everyone from the reception to the security team and restaurant staff (shout-out to Hassan, Sharif, and Mary) was incredibly sincere and welcoming.
VERDICT
One of the most unique options for a staycation in the UAE - worthy of a visit for residents and tourists alike, who seek atmosphere that’s still with creature comforts, off the beaten path.
BEST FOR
History-lovers and those who enjoy non-cookie-cutter travel experiences.
DON’T MISS
The view from the old fort tower at the top of the hill, at sunset or sunrise.
PRICE
A stay in a Kareen House, including breakfast, starts from Dhs880 a night
CONTACT
Wadi Weshee, Khor Fakkan, Sharjah; +971 9 277 7447; sharjahcollection.ae
Brasserie Boulud
A multi-awardwinning modern French restaurant worthy of its wide -spread acclaim
What’s it like?
There are celebrity chefs, and then there are the kind of celebrity chefs in such high regard that other chefs reference them – and in this case, French chef
and restaurateur Daniel Boulud is so famed that he even made a cameo appearance on TV show
The Bear – a show about one of the world’s best (fictional) chefs – as a talent to look up to. His eponymous restaurant in New York City holds one Michelin star, and he also has restaurants in Palm Beach, Miami, Toronto, Montréal, Singapore, the Bahamas,
Food and drink
VERDICT
and Dubai – each one celebrated as not just a place to have a meal, but a highly acclaimed way to experience food. But despite all of his accolades, you won’t find a shred of food snobbery here – Boulud’s philosophy involves the true nature of hospitality; that is to say, everyone is welcome to come and enjoy it, and what he wants is for every guest at his restaurants to walk away feeling truly satisfied and fulfilled by their meal. And this trendsetter – he’s been credited as the reason why fine dining restaurants stopped fearing putting burgers on their menu, and elevated burgers are now a norm – has built his empire upon dishes that straddle the line between traditional French cooking and well-chosen experimentation, but are always are expertlycrafted. Brasserie Boulud exemplifies this with its classic, elegant interiors utterly charming staff, and outstanding cuisine.
The menu here feels at once simple and creative. You’ll find classic French dishes like pea and onion soup, beef tartare, pâté, escargots, and various elegant cuts of beef, but each one will be presented like edible art: not too flashy, but haute enough. You won’t go wrong with anything you order, but certain dishes – like the tarte flambée – are a revelation, with each ingredient and preparation technique carefully chosen to create a celebration of flavour and texture with every bite. One of its most famous dishes is the Filet de Boeuf Rossini, and if it’s your first time, it’s one not to miss: juicy, perfectly pan-seared slices of tenderloin served with an artful trio of foie gras, stuffed Roscoff onion, crisp potato, and sweet brioche, with a decadently rich jus-based sauce. From desserts to cocktails, it’s a menu that will make you want to return again and again, not just on the odd special occasion. It also has a Business Lunch from Dhs150 for two courses, Monday to Friday.
Service Friendly, sincere, and totally unpretentious, the staff here truly want you to enjoy your experience.
A restaurant that doesn’t just act multi-awardwinning in name, but puts it into practice with every tenderly-orchestrated and refined detail.
HOURS
Open for lunch from 12.30pm to 3pm Monday to Saturday; open for dinner from 7pm to 11.30pm from Monday to Saturday; closed Sundays.
CONTACT
Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, Wafi, Sheikh Rashid Road, Dubai; +971 4 281 4020; sofitel-dubai-theobelisk. com/restaurants-bars/ brasserie-boulud
DRESS CODE
Smart casual TOP TIP
The bar is open slightly longer than the dinner service, open from 6pm to 12am. Grab a drink near the open kitchen and watch these culinary masters’ work, to see why it’s earned a Michelin and Gault&Millau nod three years in a row!
Healing with soul and style
SONEVA FUSHI in the Maldives is combining world-class wellness offerings with its signature barefoot luxury through its upcoming SOUL Festival, to be held on the white-sand beaches of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve from 9-13 October this year. Bringing together renowned practitioners, thought leaders, and seekers from around the globe for a transformative five-day journey of self-discovery and connection, the festival will feature sunrise rituals, immersive workshops, inspiring panel discussions, and one-on-one consultations, alongside holistic activities centered around mindfulness, movement, nutrition, and healing therapies. The festival package - with rates starting from US$3,360 per night for two adults - encompasses daily dining made with the hotel’s organic cuisine, luxury accommodation in its secluded villas, return seaplane transfers, and a complimentary treatment at its spa, all served up with the resort’s outstanding hospitality.
BUSINESS CLASS
Stay connected with your loved ones even at 30.000 feet. Available to Suites, First Class, Business Class travellers, and KrisFlyer members in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.
Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience in the air with ‘Book the Cook’ featuring creations by our International Culinary Panel.
Join one of our free 2.5-hour guided tours demonstrating the spirit of Singapore while waiting for your connecting flight in Singapore.
Singapore Airlines operate daily flights from Dubai to Singapore, and onward destinations in Southeast Asia, North Asia and Southwest Pacific. Dubai and Singapore route is operated with a four-class cabin configuration – First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class - ensuring unparalleled travel experience for all passengers.
Ultimate Waterfront Living
