Track Rotana Hotel Management in one place. This hub aggregates the latest news and openings across Rotana’s hotels in the Middle East, Africa and beyond, as covered by trusted sources. Follow a leading regional hotel group.
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FHS World 2026 Opens in Dubai, Hosts Over 200 Investors Managing $6 Trillion in Assets
29 September 2026📅 FHS World 2026 kicked off in Dubai from September 29 to October 1, attracting 1,000 delegates from 50 countries. The event features 170+ speakers and 200+ investors with over USD $6 trillion in assets. Approximately 25% of investors attend for the first time, and 40% come from outside the GCC. The summit includes more than 30 seminars and the FHS Awards, where Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Tim Clark.
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Future Hospitality Summit 2026 in Dubai to Host 200 Investors With Over $5 Trillion in Assets
28 September 2026🌏 September 28, 2026, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai hosts Future Hospitality Summit World 2026, drawing over 200 investors managing USD$5 trillion. 25% are first-time attendees, 40% from outside the GCC. Investor sentiment has shifted towards disciplined asset selection amid geopolitical risks and construction cost inflation. Morocco’s tourism surged to 19.8 million in 2025, with a 2030 target of 26 million. FHS World, spanning September 29 to October 1, includes networking and investment opportunities, focusing on future hospitality trends.
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GCC and North Africa to Add 200,000 Hotel Rooms by 2030, Boosting Supply by 27% with $90 Billion Investment
23 September 2026🏨 Saudi Arabia leads the Middle East hotel expansion with 110,000 rooms, constituting 50% of the pipeline, spanning Riyadh, Makkah, and NEOM. The GCC and North Africa foresee a 27% room supply boost by 2030, with 200,000 new rooms worth $90 billion. Egypt follows with 42,000 rooms, while the UAE focuses on Dubai’s luxury projects. The Future Hospitality Summit occurs in Dubai from September 29 to October 1, 2026, emphasizing sustainable, competitive hospitality ecosystems.
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His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Sir Tim Clark Honored at FHS World for Leadership in Tourism and Aviation
21 September 2026📅 September 29-October 1, 2026, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai: At FHS World, His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Sir Tim Clark were honored. Abdulla bin Touq received the FHS Leadership Award for advancing UAE’s economy and tourism since 2020. Sir Tim Clark earned the FHS Lifetime Achievement Award as Emirates Airline President since 2003. The awards recognize their pivotal roles in regional tourism and aviation. The ceremony will occur on September 29 at 11:50 AM.
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Future Hospitality Summit 2026 in Dubai to Highlight Wellness and Longevity as Major Growth Drivers in Hospitality
18 September 2026💡 Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World 2026, occurring from September 29 to October 1 in Dubai, emphasizes wellness in hospitality. Hotels with major wellness offerings doubled Total Revenue per Available Room compared to others in 2024. Experts discuss wellness as a growing asset class, highlighting increased expectations from travelers for personalized wellness experiences. Wellness tourism is set to grow 9.1% annually, with longevity travel reaching $44 billion by 2030. Longevity and wellness are driving shifts towards integrated lifestyle and hospitality…
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Gulf Hotel Operators Forecast Full Tourism Recovery by Late 2027, Citing Decline in Room Rates as Key Issue
15 September 2026🌍 At the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, hotel operators expect tourism recovery by late 2027, not 2026, with a 10-15% business decline. Occupancy is rising (70s-80s%), but room rates are down 5-8%. Demand from Europe and the U.S. has dropped, with growth in Gulf and short-haul markets insufficient. Dubai saw 6.97 million visitors in the first eight months of 2026 compared to 12.54 million in 2025, and August occupancy fell to 66% from 78.5%.
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FHS World 2026 in Dubai to Host Over 100 Global Industry Leaders, Including UAE Minister, from September 29.
9 September 2026📅 29 September to 1 October 2026, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai hosts FHS World 2026, featuring over 100 global hospitality leaders. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri delivers the keynote on the UAE’s growth in tourism and investment. The agenda covers investment, sustainability, and technology. Networking includes the FHS Dealroom and Investor Breakfast. FHS Living debuts, highlighting investment across seven asset classes. The event concludes with the FHS Leadership Award, celebrating hospitality pioneers.
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Amadeus Research Finds 69% of Travellers Rely on AI Summaries for Travel Booking Decisions, Rising to 87% in India
26 August 2026💰 August 26, 2023: Amadeus Travel Dreams 2026 finds 69% of travelers rely on AI for booking decisions, peaking at 87% in India and 86% in China. Chatbot travel inspiration use rose from 6% to 18% over five years. In hospitality, 39% of hoteliers cited flexible cancellations as a major shift. Highline Hospitality acquired AC Hotel and Element San Antonio, totaling over 5,500 rooms and $1.7 billion assets. Canadian RevPAR grew 6.5% YTD.
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FHS Living to Explore Global Trends in Branded Residences and Investment Opportunities in UAE and Saudi Arabia on October 1.
26 August 2026📅 On October 1, FHS Living in the UAE focuses on branded residences, covering various living asset classes. Driving factors include a desire for quality living and investment opportunities, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, due to national development strategies and investor-friendly policies. Experts like Susanna Mander and Mohamad Haj Hassan highlight branded residences’ appeal for blending lifestyle and investment benefits. Demand is rising in Dubai and Saudi gigaprojects, with brands like Melià and Wyndham offering global expertise.
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Maria Lamarche Appointed General Manager of Cayo Levantado Resort in Dominican Republic’s Samaná Bay
29 July 2026🏝️ Cayo Levantado Resort in Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic, has appointed Maria Lamarche as general manager. With nearly 40 years in luxury hospitality, Lamarche has led operations for global brands like Hilton and InterContinental. Her recent role was at Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana’s pre-opening. Lamarche aims to enhance guest experiences by celebrating the beauty and culture of the Dominican Republic.
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Oracle Launches Free Opera Cloud AI Assistant, Impacting Thousands of Hotels Including Wyndham, Accor, and Hyatt
17 June 2026💻 Jun 17, 2026 – Oracle debuts the Opera Cloud Assistant, free for existing PMS users, including Wyndham (2,100+ properties), Accor (110 countries), and Hyatt (1,000+ properties), enhancing hotel operations AI at no extra cost globally. Launched at HITEC in San Antonio, it contrasts with paid AI solutions from other vendors. This strategic move challenges the value of separate AI expenditures, focusing on AI quality over cost, with widespread adoption as a significant test.
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Hotel brands in a crowded market
10 February 2026🏨 The hotel industry houses over 450 brands with 17.5 million rooms under major groups and 14.3 million independent rooms globally. Marriott’s 2016 acquisition of Starwood created the largest hotel group with 30 brands. Global and regional groups account for 55% of accommodation capacity. Franchises focus on owner economics rather than guest preferences. The “big five” hotel groups dominate through scale and loyalty ecosystems. Sustainability and personalized loyalty programs drive modern consumer decisions.
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Global Hotel Alliance unveils 2025 full-year review
27 January 2026📈 Global Hotel Alliance’s 2025 revenue hit $3.2 billion, up 21%, driven by international travel, which made up 67% of revenue, with Thailand, UAE, Singapore, and Spain as top destinations. Repeat-stay and cross-brand revenues increased by 18% and 15%, respectively. Membership rose 25% to over 34 million, while direct digital bookings saw a 29% rise. The US and UK led as outbound markets. GHA added eight hotel brands, expanding its global footprint.
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From Small Alliance to Global Powerhouse: GHA Generates Billions in Revenue for Its Member Hotel Groups
27 January 2026📰 In 2025, GHA Discovery reached 34 million members, up from 3.2 million in 2024, and generated USD 3.2 billion in transactions, a 21% increase. Eight new hotel brands and 175 properties were added, with Thailand and UAE leading in bookings. International stays made up two-thirds of revenue, with top countries being Thailand (93%) and Portugal (87%). The U.S. and U.K. were leading markets, generating USD 432 million. Growth is expected in 2026, driven by younger travelers.
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Global Hotel Alliance Delivers Outstanding 2025 Results, Marking Another Year of Remarkable Growth
26 January 2026💸 GHA DISCOVERY revenue hit $3.2 billion in 2025, a 21% increase from 2024. Repeat stay revenue was $1.8 billion (+18%), and cross-brand stay revenue reached $424 million (+15%). Membership grew 25% to 4 million, with D$ redemptions up 55% to D$31 million. The US and UK generated $432 million in international stays, up 18%. 175 new properties were added, and direct bookings surged 29% as GHA expanded its global presence.
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Live from the 25th Hospitality Awards, discover the winners!
25 November 2025🏨 Emmanuel Macron, President of France, supported the 25th Hospitality Awards in 2025. Recognizing pioneers like Robert H Burns and others, the event highlighted Kempinski’s Flourish program, Meliá’s sustainability initiative, and Marriott’s anti-trafficking efforts. VisitBritain’s campaign drove £20 per £1 spent. Club Med’s anniversary reach included 16M impressions. Rotana co-founders Nasser Al Nowais and Selim El Zyr were honored for their 33-year legacy. Sofitel’s transformation emphasized sustainable luxury.
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A new stage in Rotana’s development
3 November 2025🏨 Rotana has signed a deal for Rotana Jabal Omar – Makkah, a 655-key hotel near Al Masjid Al Haram, during the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai. The project supports Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing pilgrimage capacity and service quality. Rotana operates 12 hotels in Saudi Arabia and plans nine more. Makkah is expanding its hospitality infrastructure, with hotel rooms expected to increase from 63,000 to over 71,000 by 2027, aiming to host 30 million pilgrims annually by 2030.
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Interview with Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana Hotels & Resorts
15 October 2025📍 Rotana, led by its first external CEO, is evolving from a strong regional presence to a global contender. Operating 80 hotels across 14 countries, with plans for 35 more, the company aims for 200 hotels in five years. Key growth regions include the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa. In Saudi Arabia, Rotana targets secondary cities. Integration into the Global Hotel Alliance expands access to 30 million loyalty members, reinforcing its globally connected, regionally rooted identity.
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Global Hotel Alliance strengthens leadership with three appointments
24 July 2025📈 Katharina Dein, Jelena Kezika, and Andrea Krenn assume pivotal roles at Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) in 2023. Dein, with GHA since 2013, becomes VP of Commercial, while Kezika, also since 2013, is VP of Strategy. Krenn, part of GHA from 2021, is now Senior VP of Communications. GHA, with 800+ hotels in 100 countries, champions gender diversity, with women making up 60% of leadership. New hotel additions in 2025 include Cinnamon Hotels (Sri Lanka), Sunway Hotels (Malaysia), and Rotana…
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Rosewood Baha Mar Welcomes Gowdhaman Perumal as Director of Food & Beverage
21 May 2025This article was written by Hotel Executive. Click here to read the original article Bahamas, Nassau. May 21, 2025 Rosewood Baha Mar is pleased to announce the appointment of Gowdhaman ‘GP’ Perumal as Director of Food & Beverage. With over 24 years of international hospitality experience, GP brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for culinary excellence to this exciting new role at one of The Bahamas’ most prestigious resorts. GP’s distinguished career spans renowned luxury properties around the…
