Hospitality
BEYOND THE STADIUM: HOW HOTELS CAN WIN BIG IN THE SPORTS TOURISM BOOM
By Ben Thomsett, Marketing Manager, Hudini
2025 has been a blockbuster year for global sporting events in the Middle East. From the Asia Cup cricket clashes in the UAE in September, the Qatar Grand Prix in November followed by the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, the Abu Dhabi Championship golf in November with the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the week after, to the T100 triathlon and Dubai Premier Padel P1 in November, the calendar has been full with headline events. Add to that the return of European soccer leagues after the summer, the game is on.
For hotels, this isn’t just game season. It’s a golden opportunity. Sports tourism already accounts for 10% of global tourism spending, a staggering $560 billion in 2023, and is projected to double by 2032. Fans don’t just travel to watch games; they extend trips, explore cities, dine out, and celebrate victories long after the final whistle. The real prize for hoteliers lies not only in selling rooms, but in upselling experiences that keep guests engaged before, during, and after the action.
Understanding the sports traveller
Unlike traditional leisure tourists, sports fans often plan trips around specific fixtures, but what they do off the field is just as valuable. Expedia’s latest study shows that:
- 62% of sports trips last between 2–6 days, and nearly one in five travellers stay a week or longer
- Over 50% of sports fans spend significantly on ancillaries, while cultural preferences vary: Japanese tourists lean toward sightseeing, Germans toward history, and younger travellers toward wellness and adventure
- On average, travellers spend $1,500 per trip, with nearly a quarter of that reserved for activities outside the stadium
The implication is clear: fans may come for the match, but hotels that fail to extend the experience risk losing wallet share to restaurants, bars, and online platforms.
Why upselling matters more than ever
Upselling isn’t about pushing extras, it’s about anticipating what guests already want and making it easy to say “yes.” After all, when fans fly halfway across the world for a tournament, they’re primed to spend on memorable experiences.
Consider three phases of the journey where upselling makes the difference:
- Pre-arrival
- Offer packages like “Match Night Dining Deals” or “City Sightseeing + Stadium Shuttles”
- Highlight communal match screenings for guests without tickets, complete with bundled food and drink offers
- In-stay
- Trigger real-time offers: “Celebrate the win with 20% off cocktails in the lounge”Push personalised recommendations based on guest demographics and country of origin on hotel apps
- Simplify bookings through mobile apps for spa, transport, or dining reservations
- Post-stay
- Keep the fan relationship alive with loyalty offers tied to future tournaments or repeat matches
Hotels that master these touchpoints not only capture incremental revenue but also deepen guest loyalty, converting one-time visitors into lifelong fans.
How technology brings this to life
Here’s where digital guest platforms, like ours at Hudini, change the game. By blending personalisation, real-time engagement, and seamless booking, hotels can transform upsell opportunities into frictionless experiences.
- Pre-event engagement
Imagine a fan in Dubai ahead of the India–Pakistan cricket clash. Hours before the game, they receive a push notification on the hotel App for “Match Day Brunch” at the hotel’s rooftop bar, complete with shuttle booking to the stadium. For those without tickets, the App promotes a live screening in the lounge with a Burger & Drink Combo. - Post-event opportunities
As the final whistle blows, the App nudges guests with a timely “Celebrate the win with cocktails in the lobby bar” offer. The next morning, another notification highlights a “Recovery Spa Package”, perfectly timed for fans who partied late into the night. - Personalisation at scale
The technology to drive personalisation at scale is already available. For example, Hudini’s AI-driven engine ensures offers resonate with different guest segments: food & beverage packages for groups of friends, sightseeing bundles for families and spa recovery packages for the night owls. Multilingual support ensures no fan feels left out, no matter where they’re from. - Frictionless execution
Crucially, all of this happens within a few taps. Guests can book, pay, and confirm instantly via the app, in-room tablet, or even the TV.
In short: technology ensures that upselling doesn’t feel like selling, it feels like service.
Beyond the stadium: Capturing the real goldmine
Sports tourism is no longer niche; it’s mainstream, global, and growing fast. For hoteliers, the opportunity is not simply to provide a bed for the night, but to become the hub of the fan experience.
Those who can see beyond the stadium, those who curate dining, wellness, cultural, and celebratory touchpoints around the big match will be the ones to unlock the true value of this booming market.
With smart upselling powered by digital AI-powered guest engagement platforms, hotels can score bigger than ever, not just during this sports season but for every one that follows. An omnichannel solution that unifies guest touchpoints and channels, spanning mobile, web, in-room tablets, and IPTV, lets hotels anticipate guest needs and deliver the right offers at the right moment. By staying connected pre- to post-stay, hotels that think beyond the stadium can become genuine experience hubs, turning fans into loyal brand advocates.
Hospitality
10 REASONS WHY SIYAM WORLD IS THE MALDIVES’ ULTIMATE SUMMER PLAYGROUND

Think summer in the Maldives is all about sipping cocktails and doing absolutely nothing? You could. But at Siyam World Maldives, you could also swim with sharks, race electric go-karts, become a certified mermaid, train with football legends and explore one of the Maldives’ newest shipwrecks, all before deciding what is for dinner. Because normal island holidays are not really our thing. Here are 10 reasons why Siyam World is turning up the fun this summer.
1. Dive into the Maldives’ Newest Obsession
Some resorts have house reefs. Siyam World has a shipwreck. The newest underwater attraction in Noonu Atoll is a 66 metre former Maldivian tuna freighter that now rests beneath the surface, ready to be explored by divers and marine life alike. Today it is an exciting new wreck dive. Tomorrow it will become a thriving artificial reef. Not bad for a retired fishing boat.
2. Train with Football Legends
This August, young football fans can swap the local pitch for paradise as former Premier League stars Andrew Johnson and Wayne Routledge arrive at Siyam World for two exclusive football camps. Not every summer holiday comes with professional coaching and ocean views. 10th – 14th AUGUST 2026 – Andrew Johnson / 15th – 19th AUGUST 2026 – Wayne Routledge. For kids between the ages of 5-12 years. More info here:
3. Swim with Sharks. Brag About It Later.
Swimming with sharks sounds terrifying. Until you realise these are gentle nurse sharks and curious sea turtles gliding through crystal clear waters. A three-hour snorkelling trip suddenly becomes one of those holiday stories you will tell for years.
4. The Floor Is Lava. The Water Park Is Not.
The Maldives’ biggest floating water park is basically an invitation to unleash your inner child. Climb it. Jump off it. Race your friends. Repeat.
5. Become a Mermaid. Seriously.
Some people come home from holiday with a tan. Others leave Siyam World with a mermaid certificate. This Try Mermaid Pool Program includes one session in the pool, all the equipment you’ll need as well as a certificate of completion. We know which one sounds more fun.
6. Golf, But Make It Shipwrecked.
Take on the Shipwrecked golf challenge, compete with friends and maybe even win resort credit while you are at it. Losing gracefully is optional.
7. Saddle Up, Maldives Style
Horse riding is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Maldives. That is exactly why we love it.
8. Dinner Underground, Island Style
Hidden beneath the island, Barrique is home to exceptional wines, curated menus and one of the most unique dining experiences in the Maldives. Choose between multiple course gourmet tasting menus that are served surrounded by hundreds of world-renowned vintages, where our sommelier is ready to take you through a wine journey that you will never forget. Because even adventure seekers need a sophisticated evening now and then.
9. Swap Flip-Flops for Pole Position
Who says paradise cannot come with a little friendly competition? Siyam World’s electric go-karts bring speed, excitement and plenty of laughs to the island, proving once again that this is a destination designed for those who like their holidays with a side of adventure.
10. Take on the Delmare Golf Challenge
Add a competitive twist to your stay with Siyam World’s golf challenge at Shipwrecked. Guests have the chance to win resort credit while enjoying a fun and social activity set against the backdrop of the ocean. Fun fact, the gold balls are fish food.
To make the most of summer, Siyam World is offering an exclusive limited-time offer with up to 45% off best available rates, complemented by added benefits including complimentary shared seaplane transfers on selected stays, USD 150 resort credit per bedroom, and a one-time floating breakfast for longer stays. Guests can enjoy the full Premium 24-hour WOW! all-inclusive experience, with up to two children under 12 staying and dining complimentary. The offer is available for bookings until 31 August 2026, for stays until 31 October 2027. Then tell us again that the Maldives is only for doing nothing.
Hospitality
IDEAS NAMED A LEADER IN INAUGURAL IDC MARKETSCAPE FOR HOSPITALITY REVENUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
IDeaS, a SAS company and a provider of AI-powered hospitality revenue management software, today announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Revenue Management Systems in Hospitality 2026 Vendor Assessment.[i]
The recognition comes as hospitality revenue management enters a new era, evolving from standalone pricing tools into integrated commercial intelligence platforms. According to the IDC MarketScape, “The hospitality revenue management system market is at a genuine inflection point. The convergence of AI maturity, platform consolidation, and expanding commercial scope is redefining what an RMS is expected to do and for whom.”
Dorothy Creamer, Senior Research Manager, Hospitality and Travel Strategies, IDC, noted “Differentiation emerges with vendors that believe genuine automation requires a rigorous forecasting foundation, not just rules that appear to run themselves.”
The IDC MarketScape further highlights IDeaS’ broader commercial capabilities, noting that “the company has built a portfolio of commercial capabilities around its core RMS, spanning business intelligence, total revenue planning, portfolio management, function space optimization, and marketing demand management.”
From Automation to Decision Intelligence
“This is a turning point for hospitality,” said Dr. Ravi Mehrotra, President, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at IDeaS. “The industry is moving beyond surface-level automation toward decision intelligence built on rigorous forecasting science, explainable AI and connected data. Hotels don’t need more recommendations; they need confidence in every decision they make across the business. That’s the shift I believe this recognition reflects.”
Mehrotra continued, “As pressure mounts to respond faster to changing market conditions, hotels are rethinking how they connect revenue decisions with broader commercial strategy. We believe the IDC MarketScape emphasizes that the most effective systems are those that balance advanced automation with transparency and control, enabling teams to act quickly while maintaining trust in the underlying models.”
Beyond Pricing: A Broader Commercial Role
The IDC MarketScape also highlights a clear industry shift: “The hospitality technology stack has gotten thornier, with more integrations, more booking channels, and simply more data sources that are often highly siloed and fragmented.”
That shift is already accelerating. IDeaS recently reported strong adoption of its broader commercial strategy solutions, reflecting growing demand for technologies that unify revenue, marketing, sales and operational decisions into a single, coordinated approach.
And as hotel teams are increasingly tasked with making faster, more complex decisions across multiple functions, IDeaS continues to expand its capabilities to meet this need. By bringing together revenue management, business intelligence, financial planning and portfolio-level insight into a unified commercial framework, IDeaS helps organizations make more confident decisions across the business.
But as these commercial decisions become increasingly AI-driven, confidence depends not only on automation, but also on understanding how and why decisions are made.
Trust as the Foundation of AI-driven Decisions
As AI adoption accelerates, explainability has become a defining requirement for revenue management. The report highlights that revenue managers must be able to understand and defend the logic behind system-driven recommendations, reinforcing the importance of transparency alongside automation.
“AI without trust is just noise,” added Mehrotra. “The future belongs to systems that don’t just automate decisions, but make them understandable, actionable and aligned with how hotels actually operate.”
To learn more about the IDC MarketScape assessment and what it means for hospitality revenue management, download an excerpt of the paper here.
Hospitality
BEACH STAYS, THE VIDA WAY SWAP THE MARINA FOR THE BEACH, SOAK UP THE SUNSHINE, AND MAKE EVERY STAY A LITTLE MORE UNFORGETTABLE.

Your Dubai stay just unlocked its ultimate plot twist. Check into Vida Dubai Marina & Yacht Club, then swap skyline views for shoreline bliss with complimentary beach access at Address Beach Resort on selected room categories. Morning coffee by the marina, afternoon swims by the sea, and golden hour back at the yacht club? That’s a holiday itinerary that just makes sense.
Think less choosing between city and coast, more having both. Lounge by the beach, enjoy exclusive savings at the beach outlets, then head back to the energy of Dubai Marina. With complimentary access for children below 12 years too, it’s the kind of summer upgrade that gives you two iconic Dubai experiences in one stay.
Date: Until 30 September 2026
Offer:
– Complimentary beach access at Address Beach Resort for selected room categories
– Complimentary return transfers between Vida Dubai Marina and Address Beach Resort
– Complimentary beach access for children below 12 years
– 20% savings on food and beverages at the beach outlets
Venues: Vida Dubai Marina & Yacht Club and Address Beach Resort
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