FHS Business Unusual: how do we deal with it? | News
In a powerful demonstration of industry unity during turbulent times, The Bench recently hosted a special Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) lunch at XU restaurant, organized by RIKAS Hospitality Group.
The exclusive behind-closed-doors meeting, attended by more than fifty C-level hospitality industry executives from across the UAE, served as a platform for leaders to connect, share perspectives and strengthen the community’s shared vision for the future of tourism in the Middle East.
HE Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, attended the event as a special guest and expressed deep pride in the resilience demonstrated by the local hospitality community. Addressing the leaders directly, he said: “I am proud to be in a room with all of you who have stood strong and stood by the UAE economy and this sector during these challenging times. The least we can do is support you and ensure this industry continues to grow and prosper.”
His Excellency emphasized that the Government meets daily and updates regulations weekly to remain agile. Looking at the upcoming high season.
HE’s participation underlined the importance of collaboration and transparency, while strengthening confidence in the UAE’s long-term vision for the tourism sector.
The event also included a candid, data-driven briefing from Azad Zangana, Head of GCC Macroeconomic Analysis at Oxford Economics, who discussed current regional volatility.
While Zangana noted a temporary downward revision in arrival forecasts due to the ongoing conflict, the longer-term outlook remains driven by resilience and the underlying strength of global travel intent. Highlighting consumer resilience, Zangana said: “People still demand holidays. They still want to travel. If you look at the share of disposable income spent on travel and tourism, it is still very high.”
He further explained that while some travel patterns may shift to domestic or regional destinations in the short term, with domestic and regional demand already accounting for two-thirds of the GCC market, the fundamental desire for travel remains a primary driver of the sector’s ultimate recovery, with recovery cycles shortening with each external shock.
Zangana also strengthened the underlying strength of the regional hospitality market despite short-term volatility, supported by the UAE’s global connectivity, diversified demand base and continued government support for tourism.
Jonathan Worsley, chairman of The Bench, said the event aimed to bring the community together to “reimagine hospitality” during a period of uncertainty, and praised the minister’s close interaction with the private sector. The session concluded with a shared commitment to transparency and strategic marketing, ensuring the UAE remains at the forefront of global tourism as the sector approaches peak season in September.
As the hospitality industry recalibrates, the FHS meeting made one thing clear: the industry is not just waiting for recovery, but is actively building toward it through unity, transparency and coordinated action.
