Hospitality
Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World 2025 to mark 20 years in the UAE
After another record event in 2024, Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World, will return to Dubai from 27-29 October 2025 for what will be a milestone event for organisers The Bench, marking 20 years in the UAE for the region’s leading hospitality and tourism investment event, previously known as AHIC.
FHS World 2024 saw a record 1,596 attendees representing 735 companies from 60 countries, of which over 550 were women faciliated by the organiser’s #FHSWomenPower initiative.
The FHS World Advisory Board convened in Dubai last week to discuss and shape the vision and agenda for this year’s event. The Advisory Board comprises some of the hospitality industry’s most prominent leaders, including Anthony Costa, Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle, Candy Capital; Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Modon Hospitality; Amit Arora, Chief Executive Officer, Arada; Dinky Puri, Founding Partner, Eagle Wing; Othmane Jabri, Principal, Real Estate and Hospitality (Investment), Investment Corporation of Dubai; Nicolas Mayer, Partner, Global Industry Leader Tourism, PwC; Philipp J. Klohr, Senior Vice President, Mubadala Investment Company; Jeff Tisdall, Chief Business Officer Accor One Living, Global Head of Mixed-Use, Ahmed Nazim, Managing Director, Maldives Fund Management Corporation; Aboudi Asali, Executive Vice President, Hotels & Hospitality MENA, JLL, and Saahil Lalit, Vice President | Lodging Development EMEA, Marriott International.
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, said: “This will be a very exciting year for us as we celebrate our 20th anniversary in the UAE, and at Madinat Jumeirah where it all began in 2005, and we’re thrilled to have Jumeirah as our Host Sponsor again to mark this milestone moment.”
Thomas B. Meier, CEO of Jumeirah, said: “It’s a pleasure to once again sponsor and host FHS World at Madinat Jumeirah, marking the summit’s 20th anniversary in the UAE. This milestone reflects both the summit’s growth and Dubai’s transformation into a global tourism and hospitality hub. As Dubai’s homegrown luxury hospitality brand, Jumeirah shares a parallel story, having redefined luxury hospitality with Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in 1999 and grown into a global brand that offers distinctive and purposeful experiences in destinations designed to inspire. We look forward to welcoming global hospitality and investment leaders as we shape the future of our industry.”
FHS World will focus on the global transformation of the hospitality industry in a changing world. Content tracks will include key topics such as, global economic trends impacting hospitality, new business models in hospitality, ESG and sustainable tourism, as well as the future of hospitality investment, lifestyle hospitality & well-being, and hospitality spaces. In addition, there will be sessions on hospitality investment opportunities in Africa, Europe and Asia as part of the programme.
Delegates can look forward to the usual strong debate, dealmaking and networking that FHS is known for, along with its many immersive features such as the TenX Leadership Talks, Roundtable Discussions, Country Pavilion Showcases, the Branded Residences Forum, Sustainable Hospitality Challenge student competition and ESG Lab.
FHS is firmly established as the leading event of its kind in the region, with two growing, annual events that underpin the unprecedented expansion of the Middle East’s tourism offering. The Bench itself is also growing in line with FHS’s expansion. Olja Nicholl has joined as Head of Sales for FHS World, as part of the company’s multi-cultural, highly experienced team.
This year, FHS Saudi Arabia takes place from 11-13 May at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh, followed by FHS World from 27-29 October 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.
Hospitality
Stomping Grounds Marks International Coffee Day With Buy One, Get One Free Coffee and Bottomless Filter
Stomping Grounds, the Aussie-owned café in Jumeirah 1, is marking International Coffee Day with an offer built around one simple idea: have another cup or three! On Thursday, 1 October 2026, guests who buy any coffee can pick one of two ways to keep going:
•Taking it away? Buy any coffee and get a second one of the same, free.
•Dining in? Enjoy bottomless filter coffee all day.
This year’s International Coffee Day is the first since the United Nations General Assembly formally recognised 1 October in March 2026, acknowledging the millions of farming households whose livelihoods depend on coffee.
“Every cup we pour started with one hardworking farmer and their family. They put in the hard yards all year, then we grind a few grams, push a couple buttons, pull a lever or two, draw a little leaf with the milk and take all the compliments, ” said Ryan Godinho, founder of Stomping Grounds. “So have another cup, ask the team where it came from, and give a quiet nod to everyone who got it here. We’ve been at this since 2015, and the best part is still seeing someone who popped in for a quick coffee settle in an hour later, second cup in hand, chatting with our team. That’s the whole idea.”

The coffee is roasted in Dubai by its partners at Specialty Batch, who have been pioneering the UAE’s specialty coffee scene since 2011 and have filled every grinder at Stomping Grounds since day one. The menu runs from its house blends through to rotating single origins and seasonal micro lots.
On the day, the filter brews will rotate through exceptional coffees from Brazil, Kenya, El Salvador and Colombia. Four countries, no passport required.
The baristas are trained, know their stuff and love a coffee chat. Guests can discover a new favourite micro lot or simply get a recommendation based on what they normally drink.
Whether you stick to your usual order, try something new or settle in for a bottomless cup of filter, it’s a good day to drink a little more and find out what you like.

About Stomping Grounds
Tucked away in Jumeirah 1, off the main roads and away from the malls, Stomping Grounds is an escape from the hustle: close enough to the water for a post coffee wander, far enough from the traffic that you can actually hear yourself think. Owner-operated since opening in 2015, it has a warm, rustic vibe, a menu built for people who properly enjoy eating, and an exceptional coffee programme roasted locally by Specialty Batch. It’s pet-friendly, so four-legged regulars are welcome too, and the team are switched on hospo professionals who care about the details, from the first coffee of the morning to the last plate out of the kitchen.

There’s plenty of free parking nearby, which makes life that much easier. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, a quick cuppa, a laptop session, or one of those “I’ll just pop in for a coffee” visits that somehow turns into brunch. Happens to the best of us.
Terms:
Valid Thursday, 1 October 2026 only, during opening hours. Takeaway: one free coffee per coffee purchased; the free coffee must be the same drink, same size, and
is served on the same visit. Bottomless filter coffee is for dine-in guests only and runs all day with any coffee purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. While coffee stocks last.
Details
Location: Villa 98, 12D Street (corner of 51st Street), Jumeirah 1, Dubai | Phone: +971 4 344 4451 | Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7:30am to 8pm; Friday-Sunday: 7:30am to 11pm | Instagram: instagram.com/stompinggroundsdxb | Website: stompinggrounds.me
Hospitality
Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi
TYAM – Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi. The project brings together emerging and independent artists, galleries, collectors, cultural institutions, and international experts from the art world.
The event will take place from September 25–27, 2026, at the National Palace of Youth, on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. TYAM is a new platform created to support young and independent artists, increase their visibility, and establish connections with the broader art market.
The first edition brings together artists working in Georgia and abroad under the theme “COEXISTENCE.” The concept reflects the meeting of different generations, artistic practices, perspectives, and approaches within one shared creative space.
The programme includes an Art Market section, public and panel discussions featuring international guests, opportunities for professional networking and the development of an artistic network, as well as a special VIP programme. TYAM aims to become a new point of attraction for Georgia’s and the international creative community, connecting artists with collectors, galleries, institutions, and the wider public.
- TYAM 2026, September 25–27, 2026
- National Palace, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Tbilisi Youth Art Market
Hospitality
COFFEE PLANET CELEBRATES SAUDI NATIONAL DAY WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE STORIES, MEMORIES AND PRIDE OF THE KINGDOM
This Saudi National Day, Coffee Planet is inviting customers to celebrate the Kingdom through the memories, messages and everyday moments that make it feel like home.
As part of the celebrations on 23 September, Coffee Planet cafés in Hail and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, will be dressed for the occasion with Saudi flags and National Day decorations, creating a festive setting for customers to enjoy with friends and family.
At the centre of the celebration will be a Memory Board, where customers can leave a short message sharing their feelings, memories or pride for Saudi Arabia. The initiative will bring together personal reflections from visitors throughout the celebrations, creating a collective expression of what the Kingdom means to the people who live, work and spend time here.


Customers will also be invited to enjoy complimentary coffee and a dessert, adding to the relaxed National Day experience and giving visitors another reason to pause, gather and celebrate together.
The activation will take place at Garden Mall in Hail and KAFD in Riyadh, two locations that reflect the brand’s growing presence in the Kingdom.

For Coffee Planet, the National Day celebration is a natural extension of the role its cafés play in bringing people together, whether over a morning coffee, a catch-up with friends or a shared moment with family.
“Saudi National Day is about celebrating the Kingdom and the people who make it what it is,” said Allan Jones, Founder and Chairman of Coffee Planet. “We wanted to create an experience that gives our customers a chance to share their own memories and feelings of pride, while enjoying a simple moment together over coffee. It is a small gesture, but one that reflects the warmth and connection at the heart of the occasion.”
With Saudi Arabia’s coffee culture continuing to evolve, Coffee Planet has seen growing demand for premium specialty coffee and café experiences across the Kingdom.
“Saudi National Day is a proud moment for all of us at HB Brands and an opportunity to celebrate the Kingdom’s remarkable journey, its people, and its ambitions for the future,” said Abdullah Ihlaiel, Group Marketing & Business Development Director, HB Brands. “As Coffee Planet continues to grow in Saudi Arabia, our focus is not only on expanding the brand’s presence, but on building a meaningful connection with the communities we serve. We are proud to be part of this journey and to celebrate this special occasion together with our customers across the Kingdom.”
The celebration reflects the spirit of Saudi National Day 2026 and its theme, ‘Our Pride is in Our Nature’, while giving customers an opportunity to mark the occasion in a way that feels personal, social and rooted in community.
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