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Kempinski Hotels Guest Experience Elevated with New Leadership

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New product and experience leadership team at Kempinski Hotels, appointed to elevate guest experience in wellness, gastronomy, and travel.

New Leadership to Transform Wellness, Experiences and culinary

Geneva – Kempinski Hotels has announced strategic appointments designed to transform the Kempinski Hotels guest experience across its global portfolio. The group named three new Vice Presidents – Kristian Toivanen, Aurelia van Lynden, and Dan Clayton – to its newly formed product and experience team. Reporting to Chief Product & Experience Officer Rasha Lababidi, the trio will oversee wellness and spa, destination experiences, and gastronomy concepts. Together, they will enhance how guests connect with each property, blending creativity with flawless execution.

Wellness Appointments Strengthen Kempinski Hotels Guest Experience

Kristian Toivanen, the new Vice President of Wellness & Spa, brings decades of experience from luxury icons such as The Savoy and Claridge’s in London. Moreover, his leadership in global longevity and wellness resorts positions Kempinski Hotels at the forefront of a growing travel segment. As a result, wellness becomes more than a service—it becomes a defining element of the Kempinski Hotels guest experience.

Enriching Destination Experiences

Appointed Vice President of Experiences, Aurelia van Lynden joins with over 13 years of expertise in luxury travel. She previously worked at Abercrombie & Kent and held senior roles at Perowne International and Pelorus. Importantly, her work in curating bespoke experiences for ultra-high-net-worth travelers ensures that Kempinski Hotels can deliver memorable journeys rooted in authenticity. Transitioning from design to execution, she will oversee cultural immersion, adventure, and community-driven experiences.

Driving Culinary Innovation

Dan Clayton steps in as Vice President of Food and Beverage & Hospitality. His expertise in culinary storytelling, placemaking, and strategy—along with his role as founder of the well-known culinary platform FoodSheikh—strengthens Kempinski’s gastronomy vision. As dining continues to define travel memories, his leadership will shape restaurants, bars, and rituals that set Kempinski apart in competitive markets.

Aligning with Global Luxury Hospitality Trends

The global luxury hospitality market, valued at more than US$166 billion in 2025, is evolving rapidly. Travellers are now prioritizing wellness, cultural immersion, and authenticity over traditional amenities. Kempinski’s latest appointments directly align with these trends, ensuring the group remains at the forefront of experiential luxury.

Redefining the Luxury Hospitality Standard

The global luxury hospitality market, valued at over US$166 billion in 2025, is evolving rapidly. Travelers increasingly seek wellness, authentic culture, and elevated gastronomy instead of traditional amenities. With these appointments, Kempinski Hotels is redefining the guest journey by combining local character, personalization, and modern luxury. This commitment ensures the brand remains a leader in meaningful and innovative experiences.

Check out our previous post on Alba Japanese Dubai : Street Style Flavours at Your Doorstep

Hospitality

Viva Italia! Future Hospitality Summit World showcases Italy’s new golden age of tourism with exclusive Country Pavilion

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Future Hospitality Summit

The Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World is unveiling a wealth of investment opportunities in Italy’s hospitality sector, with an exclusive pavilion showcasing the country’s new golden age of tourism.

The Italy Pavilion, on show at FHS World, Madinat Jumeirah Dubai, 27-29 October, will highlight the growth, evolution and future goals of the country’s hospitality and tourism sector, which is gearing up for a surge in lifestyle and boutique developments, heritage renovations, wellness retreats and sustainability-focussed offerings over the next 3-5 years.

Investor confidence in Italy has been boosted by a robust rebound of international tourism, with record arrivals over the last two years. Overnight stays reached 458.4 million in 2024, with overseas visitors accounting for more than half of them, making Italy the second most popular tourism destination in Europe, after Spain. Italy is seeing the fastest growth among major European destinations.

Marco G. Malacrida, Italia Hospitality founder, said: “Italy’s incredible – and historic – hospitality sector performance last year has created a virtuous circle, with increased demand fueling more investment, which in turn enables Italy to offer increasingly sophisticated hospitality products. The country is seen as a safe haven for capital and a dynamic, growing market that delivers long-term returns, particularly in projects that focus on sustainability, innovation, and premium, experience-led tourism. At FHS World, we will showcase how strong tourism demand, high-spending visitors and year-round appeal – backed by a government and tourist board commitment to facilitate investment, promote sustainability and enhance infrastructure – make Italy a solid choice for investors looking to create financial returns and a cultural impact.”

Future Hospitality Summit

While luxury remains a cornerstone of Italy’s hospitality and tourism sector, lifestyle hotels, resorts and unique offerings in emerging Italian destinations and lesser-known regions are seeing the most dynamic growth. Investors are discovering the potential of places beyond traditional destinations such Rome, Florence and Milan, and shifting their focus to regions from Abruzzo to Sicily, Puglia to Piedmont, and Umbria to the Dolomites. There is also huge potential in turning Italy’s historical villas, monasteries and palaces into hospitality icons, while adventure, sports, arts, music and gastronomy tourism are also expanding rapidly.

With investors and travellers increasingly favouring destinations that respect the environment, support local communities and create long term value, Italy is also spotlighting sustainability as a key pillar of its future tourism strategy.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of the Bench, organiser of FHS World, said: “Italy is open and ready for investment, and we are delighted to help facilitate that investment with our exclusive Italy Pavilion at FHS World.  Demand, diversification and discovery in Italy’s hospitality and tourism sector are creating exciting opportunities to become part of the country’s future – and to play a role in realising the country’s economic, tourism and sustainability goals.  Viva Italia!”

The FHS World Italy Pavilion is one of four country-focused stands at the event, with the Maldives, Albania and the Philippines also featured.

Visit futurehospitality.com/world/country-pavilions for more details, and Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) | Homepage for all things FHS World.

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Hospitality

NANDO’S UAE JUST GOT SAUCIER WITH NEW WINGS AND BOTTOMLESS TUESDAYS!

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Hand holding glazed chicken wing dripping with sauce over plate of barbecue wings on geometric patterned plate

There’s something new on the grill at Nando’s UAE, and it’s set to turn up the flavour. The brand has unveiled its all-new Saucy Wings, available in two bold flavours, Honey & Soy and Spicy Brown Sugar, bringing a fresh twist and a little extra fun to Nando’s flame-grilled classics. Launching alongside is Bottomless Wing Tuesdays, a new midweek ritual that invites guests to add unlimited wings, and unlimited flavour, to their week.

The new Saucy Wings take a familiar favourite and turn it up a notch. Honey & Soy glazes each wing in smooth, savoury sweetness, while Spicy Brown Sugar delivers deeper caramelised heat with a gentle kick. Both are flame-grilled to perfection, coated generously, and made for sharing, comfort food that’s simple, bold, and unmistakably Nando’s.

Every Tuesday from 11 AM to 6 PM, diners can dig into Bottomless Wing Tuesdays and enjoy unlimited wings for one hour at AED 80. Running for a limited time from October 21st to November 18th, it’s perfect for flavourful catch-ups and easy midweek gatherings – turning an ordinary lunch or early dinner into something worth talking about.

We wanted to bring something new, but in a way that still feels unmistakably Nando’s,” says George Kunnapally, Managing Director at Nando’s UAE. “Saucy Wings take something everyone already loves and give it a fresh twist – familiar, but more expressive. And with Bottomless Tuesdays, we’re creating an experience that’s all about sharing good food, good flavour, and a bit of fun.

With its flame-grilled roots and unmistakable PERi-PERi spirit, Nando’s continues to evolve its menu while staying true to what it does best, food that’s honest, flavourful, and made to share.

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Hospitality

MICHELIN-STARRED KONJIKI HOTOTOGISU INTRODUCES TWO NEW SIGNATURE RAMEN

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Bowl of ramen noodle soup with sliced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, and shredded white radish in savory broth

The famed Tokyo ramen atelier Konjiki Hototogisu, led by Chef Yamamoto, is excited to introduce two brand-new signature ramen in Dubai, Duck Shoyu Ramen and Chicken Edamame Wonton Ramen. These additions mark a new chapter in the brand’s journey of blending Japanese craftsmanship with Dubai’s evolving dining scene.

Handpicked by Chef Yamamoto-san following strong guest demand, the two new ramen dishes continue the brand’s commitment to authentic, artfully balanced flavours.

The Duck Shoyu Ramen presents a deeply layered broth made with duck and Japanese dashi, complemented by mushroom fig sauce and truffle pistachio sauce, and finished with tender duck chashu. It showcases the chef’s meticulous attention to flavour and texture, offering a bowl that feels indulgent yet refined. In contrast, the Chicken Edamame Wonton Ramen brings a gentler harmony of flavours, combining a cloudy chicken and scallop broth with basil paste, edamame and rolled chicken chashu. Light yet satisfying, it offers a comforting warmth that highlights Konjiki’s ability to create depth even in simplicity.

Chef Yamamoto-san recently visited Dubai to mark the official opening of the new Palm Jumeirah Mall branch, located on Level 1, a milestone moment for the Michelin-recognised ramen house as it continues to expand Tokyo’s celebrated ramen culture across the UAE. The new restaurant builds on the success of Konjiki Hototogisu’s Mall of the Emirates branch, which has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand in both 2024 and 2025.

The Palm Jumeirah Mall location reflects Konjiki’s dedication to precision and authenticity, translated into a welcoming setting that mirrors the artistry of every bowl. Guests can expect a dining experience rooted in Japanese culinary philosophy while embracing Dubai’s growing appetite for quality and creativity in gastronomy.

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