The Kingdom's 2020 Vision aims to diversify and transform its economy, dramatically boosting tourism.

A minimum 5% year-on-year increase for visitors to the Kingdom is forecast.

Travel and tourism in Saudi Arabia is expected to account for 9.2% of Saudi Arabia's GDP by 2019 - generating USD$78.4bn in revenue, Word Travel and Tourism Council

Business Monitor International predicts the number of tourists visiting the Kingdom will rise to more than 12million in 2010 alone.

Saudi Arabia has an annual tourism market worth more than US$13.8bn, Arab News Daily

Industry employment is predicted to rise from 7.3% to 9.4% by 2019- creating 922,000 jobs, World Travel and Tourism Council.

Saudi Arabia is home to two of the world's holiest cities, Makkah and Madinah; attracting a vast number of tourists, without fail, every year.

International hotel chains are already tapping into the market. The Reizdor Hotel Group and IHG's Holiday Inn, amongst other global names, have announced their decision to expand in the Kingdom.

CAPITALISE ON SAUDI ARABIA'S MEGA-PROJECTS AND GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN HOSPITALITY

Shape Saudi Arabia's expanding hotel and tourism sectors by taking advantage of some of the Kingdom's hottest projects:

Red Sea coast: Government investment of USD$40bn is being pumped into the region to transform the Kingdom's coastline into a holiday hotspot.

New resort towns: The development of 19 resort towns have been planned, all requiring new luxury hotels, leisure facilities, infrastructure, retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment.

The Jabal Omar project: The development, which is valued at USD$2.7bn will accommodate thousands of new visitors in the Makkah region.

The Al Oqair project: Government investment of USD$13bn will create a 'tourist city'

CAPITALISE ON SAUDI ARABIA'S MEGA-PROJECTS AND GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN HOSPITALITY

Shape Saudi Arabia's expanding hotel and tourism sectors by taking advantage of some of the Kingdom's hottest projects:

Red Sea coast: Government investment of USD$40bn is being pumped into the region to transform the Kingdom's coastline into a holiday hotspot.

New resort towns: The development of 19 resort towns have been planned, all requiring new luxury hotels, leisure facilities, infrastructure, retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment.

The Jabal Omar project: The development, which is valued at USD$2.7bn will accommodate thousands of new visitors in the Makkah region.

The Al Oqair project: Government investment of USD$13bn will create a 'tourist city'

The event was aimed at attracting investment to the capital as well as promoting it as an outstanding tourist destination among regional and international players. Uncovering effective cost solutions and strategies, enhancing efficiency and creating growth for those in the hospitality industry, the event saw several highly influential figures from the world’s hospitality sector attending.

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Today marks hospitality in Dubai

November 25th, 2009 - An annual event which took place this week could be relevant to those with a commercial property in Dubai.

The 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress set out to attract capital investment to the region.

It was also keen to promote the emirate as a key tourist area. [...]

Blair Hagkull, managing director for Jones Lang LaSalle in the Middle East, focused on the region"s hospitality performance in his talk.

He said the future was becoming brighter as: "Markets [are] seeing positive investor sentiments about the future of Middle East and North Africa real estate as well as a positive net balance of the three richest energy economies." [...]

To read the full article, visit The First Group.

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Emaar Hospitality Group takes home four awards at the Middle East Hotel Expansion Congress

November 25th, 2009 - Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality & leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has won four awards at the Middle East Hotel Expansion Congress (MEHEC) in Abu Dhabi. The MEHEC awards, now in their third year, recognize outstanding individual and organization achievements in the hospitality sector.

Emaar Hospitality Group won top laurels for Excellence in Hospitality Leadership (organization), and Leading Developer of the Year, while Mr Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels & Resorts, won the Excellence in Hospitality Leadership (individual) award. The Palace – The Old Town, managed by Emaar Hospitality Group’s five star hotel brand The Address Hotels + Resorts was awarded the Best Hotel Design award.

Mr. Dardenne received the awards from Mr. Fabien Faure, Managing Director - Naseba at a gala ceremony held in Abu Dhabi recently.

Commenting on the awards, Mr. Dardenne said: “Winning the MEHEC awards for Emaar Hospitality Group is a reiteration of our thought-leadership position and the fresh thinking that we bring to the industry. The Palace – The Old Town winning the Best Hotel Design award is testimony to the unique design it has adopted which keeps guests coming back. On a personal note, I am also thankful for The Excellence in Hospitality Leadership (individual) award, which highlights the opportunities provided by the company to identify, undertake and develop various world-class projects.”

“Emaar Hospitality Group has grown from strength to strength in a very short period of time. With over 30 years of international experience, not only has Marc Dardenne built a world-class team but he has played a key role in the launch of Emaar’s own hotel brand, The Address Hotels + Resorts,” said Mr. Faure during the MEHEC Awards ceremony.

To read the full press release, visit Emaar corporate web site.

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naseba holds MEHEC Excellence in Hospitality Awards 2009

November 23rd, 2009 - Naseba (Euronext Paris: MLNSB) hosted the MEHEC"s Excellence in Hospitality Awards, 2009 at the 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress.

The Awards took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Abu Dhabi and highlighted success stories spanning practices, innovation, individual and architectural efforts of the highest calibre.

The awards - attended by industry leaders and media reporters - aimed to recognise those who have broken new ground, rewarding them for their outstanding achievements. It also publicly recognised the achievements of the region"s leading hospitality leaders who - through a combination of leadership and incisive vision - have advanced their organisation"s strategic goals. [...]

The Award Ceremony was part of the 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress (MEHEC) taking place at the Sheraton Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

3rd Annual MEHEC 2009 brings together 150 extensively prequalified decision makers from multinational & regional hotel brands, resort developers, owners, hotel operators, contractors and designers who are actively looking for new avenues in the ever-growing Hospitality market to expand their businesses and market share.

MEHEC is bringing influential figures in the hospitality industry in the region to deliver keynote addresses exploring exciting developments and crucial concerns currently facing the market.

The event also aims at offering effective cost solutions and strategies, enhancing efficiency and creating growth for those in the hospitality industry. [end].

To read the full press release, visit AME Info.

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Tourists want their hotels green

November 23rd, 2009 - Sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly important for the region’s hotel industry as consumers become more concerned about the environmental footprint hotels leave.

The UAE hotel sector was one of the worst offenders in terms of its effects on the environment, analysts and hoteliers said at the Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress in the capital.

“It’s always about the environment versus hotels,” said Noel Massoud, the chief executive of Jinan Hotels and Resorts, a new hotel management company in Abu Dhabi that specialises in eco-hotels. [...]

A typical five-star hotel in Dubai has a total energy bill of up to Dh7 million (US$1.9m) a year, a report by the energy consultancy Farnek Avireal shows.

Dubai hotels use an average of 850 litres of water for each guest, while European hotels use 350 litres.

“I think that sustainable business is going to be seen as being an increasingly important facet or ideology of thinking about how business is taken forward in the future,” said Simon Clouston, the technical director at WSP Middle East Environment and Energy.

“In this region, there are very real issues and constraints around the availability of some of the natural resources that are required to make hotels and resorts function – thinking particularly of water and energy.” [...]

To read the full article, visit The National.

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Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress to discuss developments and economic growth

November 22nd, 2009 - Naseba is hosting the 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress (MEHEC) from November 22nd - 23rd of at the Sheraton Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

The Middle East"s strong foundation - especially during the current economic slowdown - is a key driver of economic growth in the region.

With uncertain times calling for a sharper focus, the 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress uncovers effective cost solutions and strategies, enhancing efficiency and creating growth for those in the hospitality industry. [...]

The event also features the MEHEC Excellence in Hospitality Awards, 2009 encompassing the event"s theme, "Exceeding Expectations". The awards aim to address success stories spanning practises and innovation. These innovations include corporate achievements, strong individual efforts and the most compelling community efforts.

MEHEC Excellence in Hospitality Awards, 2009 highlights success stories of the highest calibre and will take place on 22nd November at 18h at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel. [end].

To read the full press release, visit AME Info.

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The 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress takes place from November 22nd – 23rd

naseba (Euronext Paris: MLNSB) is hosting the 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress (MEHEC) from November 22nd - 23rd of at the Sheraton Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

November 21st, 2009 - naseba (Euronext Paris: MLNSB) is hosting the 3rd Annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress (MEHEC) from November 22nd - 23rd of at the Sheraton Hotel, Abu Dhabi.[...]

Topics of discussion include ‘Vision to success: An entrepreneur’s story’ which talks about starting a hospitality business and pricing in the current climate; ‘Exploring the regional and global hotel investment’ which looks at the performance of the regional hospitality market; ‘Middle East investment opportunities in the hospitality sector’; ‘Hotels of the future’; ‘Changes in hospitality landscape’; ‘Pursuing differentiation in the market’; ‘Environmentally sustainable hotels in the GCC market’; ‘Exploring the potential of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia’ and ‘Working towards achieving Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision’ with a focus on making Abu Dhabi a world class tourist destination. [...]

To read the full press release, visit PR Log.

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MEHEC 2009 focused on "exceeding excellence"

The third annual Middle East Hospitality Expansion Congress (MEHEC) being held later this month will focus on the theme of “exceeding excellence”.

November 3rd, 2009 - Naseba Group managing director Fabien Faure, responsible for organising the event, said: “MEHEC in 2009 has strived to stay true to its roots of delivering what the hospitality market desires. In 2009, MEHEC has come up with an extensively comprehensive agenda that features cutting edge keynote session touching on topics that are of an utmost level of urgency to the market.

“We have also tried to create an opportunistic situation for delegates and vendors alike and as such have created a day that focuses on key, up and coming hospitality projects in the GCC region.

“Finally the MEHEC Excellence in Hospitality Awards 2009 is created to reward exciting projects, creative thinking management, sustainable development projects and undertakings by a hotel as well as a large array of other exciting categories,” added Faure. [...]

To read the full article, visit Hotelier Middle East.

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Kingdom Hotel Expansion and Investment Summit 2009 - Press coverage
6th - 7th June 2009, Riyadh, KSA

Summit welcomed leading hotel owners, operators, hotel developers, investors, architects, contractors and interior designers from all across the region to network, re-educate and most importantly conduct face-to-face business meetings in a highly exclusive environment. They discussed various topics related to investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, growth and development strategies in domestic tourism, the balance between operations and infrastructure and the future trend of sustainable green hotels.