Hospitality
AI Should Empower, Not Replace, Human Hospitality
Exclusive Interview with Samir Abi Frem, CEO, Lokalee
Tell us about your journey in hospitality and the vision behind Lokalee
I’m the CEO of Advanced Digital Technology, developers of Lokalee. Prior to founding Lokalee in 2020, I worked for 20+ years in global hospitality IT, most recently as Corporate VP of IT with Rotana Hotels Management. Lokalee has allowed me to combine my passion for technology and hospitality.
Lokalee was born out of a vision to transform the way travellers experience their trips. We recognised a gap in the market for a content platform that seamlessly connects travellers with the hotel they’re staying at, and the authentic local experiences destinations have to offer.
What does Lokalee do and how does the platform help hotel owners and operators?
Lokalee is an AI-powered guest companion allowing guests to access hotel services and browse and book unique local experiences on one digital platform. From learning about the hotel’s facilities and promotions, ordering room service or extra pillows, to chatting with the concierge and booking unique local experiences, Lokalee brings all this together under one digital experience for the guest, while seamlessly integrating with a hotel’s existing apps and systems. Guests can browse and book everything a hotel and the destination have to offer, curated by our local experts and supported by our global partners.
Specifically designed for hotels and holiday homes, Lokalee was developed to help hoteliers enhance their guest experience and increase customer satisfaction, drive commission and ancillary revenue, and improve operational efficiency.
From your perspective, what is the biggest challenge hoteliers face right now?
Providing highly personalised guest experiences is a key priority for hoteliers in response to ever-evolving needs and expectations of travellers, but it’s often also one of their key challenges. We help hoteliers digitise their guest journey and provide unique and personalised local experiences and facilitate the way to book these by complementing the hotel concierge team. AI technology plays a pivotal role in this. Hotel staff can offer recommendations, but they rely on personal knowledge and experience, which may not always align with every guest’s preferences. AI-powered platforms, such as Lokalee, use advanced data analytics to predict individual guest behaviours and anticipate their choices. This helps hotels refine offerings, provide upsell opportunities for in-room services, dining, and curated activities through more personalised offers and promotions.
How can AI-powered tools streamline hotel operations, particularly in enhancing efficiency and guest services?
The growing integration of AI in the hospitality sector presents opportunities across all aspects of hotel operations. Many guest requests such as booking airport transfers, ordering in-room dining and providing directions, can be addressed by AI-powered tools such as Lokalee, freeing up staff to focus on more complex and high-touch customer service. This not only boosts efficiency but ensures a quicker, smoother experience for guests.
Besides tracking and monitoring guest preferences and behaviour in real time, AI is much faster and more efficient than humans in collecting and processing this data to continually refine services. This means it can predict guest needs, suggest tailored experiences based on previous interactions, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.
What advice can you give hotels that are considering implementing AI powered solutions?
My advice is to start small and scale gradually. Begin with a pilot program to test the technology, then ensure the solution integrates smoothly with existing hotel software and platforms to avoid operational disruptions. Train your employees to work alongside the AI solutions so they can step in when necessary and leverage the technology effectively, and communicate transparently with your guests to let them know that they are interacting with an AI tool.
How can hoteliers maintain the human, personal touch while leveraging AI tools?
At Lokalee, we recognise that while AI has the power to enhance the guest experience, it’s essential that we keep the human element at the forefront of everything we do. Our goal is not to replace human interaction, but to empower hotel teams and elevate the guest experience through smart, personalised interactions.
AI may assist with guest inquiries, but if a more complex request arises, it can seamlessly escalate the interaction to a staff member. This ensures that the guest experience remains personal, with the right balance of automation and human touch. Every hotel has its own unique culture and personality, and we understand that it’s essential for this to shine through every guest interaction, whether AI-driven or human.
What are the key advancements in AI that you’re most excited about, and how will they shape the future of hospitality?
Personally, I’m excited about the ability of AI to understand and engage in human-like conversations, which is rapidly advancing thanks to improvements in natural language processing (NLP). This technology will enable more intuitive communication between guests and hotel systems, whether through chatbots or messaging platforms. Soon, guests will be able to make reservations, request services, or get local recommendations simply by speaking or typing in natural language. This breakthrough will ensure an even more frictionless, instant, and personalised experience, enabling guests to interact with the hotel in a way that feels more like communicating with a human.
Lokalee has recently been acquired by Beaconsmind, after successfully securing funding early last year, what’s next in Lokalee’s growth journey?
The acquisition by beaconsmind and Swissnet AG presents an exciting opportunity for us to accelerate our growth and further solidify our position as a leader in AI-driven hospitality solutions. The group adds complementary strengths and capabilities that will allow us to enhance and expand our offerings, bringing cutting-edge technologies that align with Lokalee’s vision of enhancing the guest experience. With beaconsmind’s expertise in location-based services, IoT, and proximity marketing, we’ll be able to leverage advanced geolocation and real-time engagement capabilities to deliver even more contextually relevant, personalised content to guests.
The acquisition opens the door to new markets and strategic partnerships. beaconsmind and Swissnet AG have established networks in key hospitality and technology sectors, and we can leverage these connections to accelerate our growth. We’ll have greater access to larger hotel chains, resorts, and destinations, enabling Lokalee to provide its AI-driven digital concierge services to a wider audience and drive adoption at scale.
Hospitality
A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS AT ARTISAN BAKERS’ THE GARDEN CONCEPT

Artisan Bakers has announced the reopening of its The Garden Concept following a complete refurbishment and expansion, marking an important evolution for the brand’s sixth outlet in Dubai. The refreshed space brings together elevated design, an enhanced menu, and a more seamless guest experience, while staying true to Artisan Bakers’ roots as a warm, neighbourhood bakery and café.
Founded more than 23 years ago and formerly known as Bakemart, Artisan Bakers is a home-grown UAE brand built on European artisanal baking traditions and a deep commitment to craftsmanship. Founded by master baker TK Khaleel, the brand is known for its 18-year-old sourdough culture, preserved in the Puratos Sourdough Library in Belgium, and its focus on handcrafted breads, pastries, and all-day café offerings made using premium ingredients. Today, Artisan Bakers operates six locations across Dubai, combining time-honoured techniques with a modern, community-led café experience.

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Al Quoz (Industrial Area 3), the reimagined The Garden Concept has been designed as a relaxed yet elevated space that invites guests to slow down and stay awhile. Open daily from 8 AM – 11 PM, the interiors draw inspiration from classic European café warmth, layered with natural woods, stone textures, and soft lighting. Through its collaboration with The Garden Concept, the space introduces the garden-inspired elements throughout the dining area, including lush greenery, floral accents, and koi fish features, creating a calming indoor-outdoor atmosphere.
The menu at The Garden Concept has been thoughtfully refined to match the upgraded space while remaining rooted in Artisan Bakers’ core offering. Alongside the brand’s full signature bakery range, the refreshed menu introduces upgraded savoury dishes, refreshed breakfast favourites, and a stronger focus on specialty coffee. Weekly specials will rotate exclusively at this location, while a newly introduced Business Lunch (AED 89 for 2 two-course meal and AED 103 for a three-course meal) adds to its all-day appeal.
Signature dishes at The Garden Concept include the Benedict Royale (AED 55), a refined take on the breakfast classic featuring perfectly poached eggs and rich hollandaise, and the Prawn Chilli Herb Cream with Saffron Rice (AED 68), a comforting yet elevated dish that showcases bold flavours and careful technique. Other highlights include Fish & Chips with Tartare Sauce and Artisan’s Morning Delight Toast, while bakery favourites such as the Plain Croissant, Pain au Chocolat, Pistachio Croissant, Mango Mousse Cake, and Kifaya Cake remain at the heart of the experience.
A standout feature of the outlet is the live baking counter, where guests can watch artisan breads and pastries being prepared in real time, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to transparency and craft. The space also features improved display systems for cakes and viennoiserie, a dedicated coffee station, and an enhanced grab-and-go section designed for guests on the move.
With the reopening of The Garden Concept, Artisan Bakers continues to strengthen its presence across Dubai, offering spaces designed for every part of the day, whether stopping in during a morning walk for freshly baked croissants, settling in for a relaxed lunch, or picking up artisanal breads and cakes to take home. Thoughtfully designed and rooted in craftsmanship, the refreshed The Garden Concept brings together elevated café culture and everyday comfort, reaffirming Artisan Bakers as a neighbourhood favourite where guests return time and again.
Hospitality
BLINGWOOD LAUNCHES AS THE MIDDLE EAST’S FIRST MICRO-DRAMA OTT PLATFORM

BlingWood launches as Middle East’s first dedicated micro-drama OTT platform, expanding access to vertical short-form series through multilingual and dubbed content for diverse audiences. The platform features original vertical micro-dramas that combine regional storytelling with global production standards, serving changing viewing habits and demand for short-form premium content, with early BlingWood Originals including titles such as Kadak Coffee, Dooriyan Hi Hai Zaroori, and Forget Me Not.
Designed for today’s digital-first audiences, BlingWood delivers sharp, snappy, and engaging narratives through a proprietary micro-drama format. Each series consists of 30 episodes, with each episode running for two minutes, creating a complete 60-minute mini-series. This structure enables immersive storytelling in digestible chapters, maintaining narrative depth and character development while aligning with modern attention spans.
BlingWood’s content offering is entirely curated and professionally produced. Unlike user-generated platforms, all programming is scripted, written, and produced by industry professionals to ensure consistent editorial and production quality. The platform features professionally produced micro-drama series available in eight or more languages through original, dubbed, and localized versions, including English, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Korean, and others, reinforcing its commitment to language accessibility and cross-market reach. BlingWood focuses on original micro-dramas that resonate culturally while meeting international benchmarks, with the slate spanning romance, character drama, and high-concept fiction, including titles such as Bot Ne Bana Di Jodi and The Perfumer.

Commenting on the launch, Mohammad Faizan, Founder & CEO of BlingWood, said: “With BlingWood, we are introducing a new storytelling format to the Middle East that reflects how audiences consume content today. Micro-dramas allow us to deliver powerful, emotionally engaging stories in a concise format, without compromising on quality or narrative depth. Our vision is to create a platform that champions regional voices while operating at global production standards, positioning the Middle East as a key player in the future of short-form entertainment.”
The launch comes at a time of rapid global growth for the micro-drama category, which has demonstrated strong engagement and monetization potential. Globally, the format has attracted more than 830 million viewers, with approximately 60 percent identified as paying users. Leading platforms in the space have reported significant year-on-year growth, pointing to sustained audience retention and repeat viewing behavior, with BlingWood’s Originals line-up built around this high-retention episodic model.
BlingWood has been strategically designed for rapid global expansion, with an initial focus on key markets including the UAE and India, followed by a broader international rollout. While global in ambition, the platform remains rooted in regional storytelling, offering narratives that reflect local culture while appealing to a worldwide youth audience, supported by a growing slate of BlingWood Original micro-drama series.
With its launch, BlingWood aims to redefine how premium entertainment is created and consumed in the Middle East, establishing micro-drama as a mainstream OTT format and setting a new benchmark for short-form storytelling in the region.
Hospitality
CELEBRATE EID IN STYLE WITH A LUXURIOUS STAYCATION AT KEMPINSKI PALM JUMEIRAH

This Eid, Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah invites guests to enjoy a serene seaside escape in the heart of the iconic Palm Jumeirah. Available from March 20–22, the hotel invites families and friends to savour a long weekend of relaxation, connection, and celebration. Available with 40% off and free cancellation up to 3 days before arrival, perfect for an effortless Eid escape.
Whether it’s the first sunrise over the Gulf, laughter shared over breakfast, or quiet moments on a private terrace, each select suite offers a stage for unforgettable memories:
- Ocean Two-Bedroom Suite – 163 m² of refined space with sweeping Arabian Gulf views, a master king bedroom, and a second twin bedroom with en-suite, perfect for family stays.
- Palm Two-Bedroom Suite – 163 m² overlooking the tranquil Palm Jumeirah Lagoon, featuring a generous living area and two beautifully appointed bedrooms.
- Two-Bedroom Suite with Private Pool – 350 m² of ground-level luxury, complete with a private pool and two ensuite bedrooms, offering a peaceful retreat from city life.

Every suite has been designed to blend comfort, elegance, and panoramic views, perfect for capturing those picture-perfect Eid moments, from morning coffees by the window to sunset reflections on the terrace.
Plan Your Eid Escape
The offer is available exclusively for stays from March 20–22, 2026. Whether it’s a family getaway, a friends’ retreat, or a quiet luxury break, Kempinski Palm Jumeirah transforms your Eid into a celebration of style, connection, and memorable moments.
-
Tech News2 years agoDenodo Bolsters Executive Team by Hiring Christophe Culine as its Chief Revenue Officer
-
VAR10 months agoMicrosoft Launches New Surface Copilot+ PCs for Business
-
News10 years ago
SENDQUICK (TALARIAX) INTRODUCES SQOOPE – THE BREAKTHROUGH IN MOBILE MESSAGING
-
Tech Interviews2 years agoNavigating the Cybersecurity Landscape in Hybrid Work Environments
-
Tech News7 months agoNothing Launches flagship Nothing Phone (3) and Headphone (1) in theme with the Iconic Museum of the Future in Dubai
-
VAR1 year agoSamsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Clash Of The Folding Phenoms
-
Tech News2 years agoBrighton College Abu Dhabi and Brighton College Al Ain Donate 954 IT Devices in Support of ‘Donate Your Own Device’ Campaign
-
Automotive1 year agoAGMC Launches the RIDDARA RD6 High Performance Fully Electric 4×4 Pickup


