Hospitality

Hospitality Is Still a People Business—Even in the Age of AI

Published

8 months ago

December 16, 2025

A professional portrait of Ayman Ezzeddine, Director of Development for Middle East, Egypt, and Pakistan at Radisson Hotel Group, captured during an interview at the Future Hospitality Summit

Exclusive interview with Ayman Ezzedine, Director of Development Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan, Radisson Hotel Group.

How is FHS going so far for you?

It’s very good, actually. It’s been busy. We had some great meetings, meet some industry peers as usual, catch up.

A lot of us have been in the game for a long time. So, it’s always good to see people from the past and always meeting new ones as well.

This event, you know, we’re all in the hospitality business here. So, the hospitality from the hosts, from the organizers and even our competitors or peers, we call them. It’s very nice. And then the owners. So, it’s a great industry. And it’s about hospitality.

Ayman, you’ve been in the industry for quite a while now. Can you share what shaped your approach towards development in developing such complex markets such as Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan?

It’s interesting when you put it Middle East, Egypt, Pakistan, and there are three completely different. Even in the Middle East, you know, you have UAE, you have Saudi Arabia, you have Lebanon, the Levant. So, every country has its own set of challenges, experiences, culture. Coming from the industry, starting out in operations, traveling, meeting, we start to understand the different cultures and how to work with different people.

So that starts, becoming the base. So now when I’m in negotiations with an owner from Pakistan, I go back on my experience of first working with colleagues from these different regions and start to understand their culture. Somebody once told me that Ayman, you speak Arabic, so you’ll do well in Egypt, because Egypt is a very interesting market for us.

The difference is you have to understand the culture, not just the language. So that’s, I think, it’s just understanding culture and then you could expand to them.

In your view, what is the differentiation, when it comes to understanding between a successful hospitality development project from a mere profitable one?

It always depends. Some projects are being done by the government for a greater good. Some are by owners who want to give back to the community. They want better training for staff from their hometown.

And some are purely for financial profit. Each one has its own incentive and its own. So, you really have to understand what the owner is looking for and make sure that we are aligned together.

From my experience, what’s a successful project hotel is one that meets three, four, five of those criterias. One, give back to the community, offer the guests what they want, staying true to our brand values, you know, and making money because we are a business event.

With KSA and Dubai evolving quickly, how have you personally experienced and observed the talents and expertise migration that are shaping the competitive landscape today?

The change has been, I mean, especially KSA in the recent, the recent changes have been such an advanced pace. It was a bit shocking and even for us disbelief at the beginning, but the level of expertise that is now available, you know, in Saudi Arabia, we’ve never had a franchise. Now we already have two, just because now we believe that this expertise exists in Saudi Arabia and we can be more relaxed and approach this opportunity. So, it’s becoming more of a mature market.

UAE has always, has been mature for a while, but it’s changing and it’s also adapting to the changes around the region and working closer with the Saudi market. So, I don’t think they’re competing with each other while they’re working and they’re finding their different niches and complementing.

can you share your insights on how AI and predictive analytics are influencing a smoother guest experience?

I’m still a paper and pen kind of guy, but UAE cannot negate the role that AI is having on the hospitality industry and the future for us to use it. It’s obviously for analyzing what guests like, how we act, what would they like us to do to present to them? So, it’s a tool that we have to use, but at the end, we are a people business.

It’s about the hospitality that comes from person to person. So, we have to learn and continue to learn how we can use AI to enhance that experience. And as people change, the information is out there now. We just cannot completely depend on AI. We got to keep the people in it as well.

Hospitality

NEW SIGNATURE BRUNCH EXPERIENCE LAUNCHES ACROSS DUBAI AND ABU DHABI

Published

5 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Society UAE, the premier lifestyle dining destination, is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated new Brunch offer, going live across both its Dubai and Abu Dhabi locations on August 15th.

Society Unveils A Signature Brunch Across Dubai And Abu Dhabi

Served exclusively on Society’s signature wooden brunch board, the new offering is a meticulously curated feast crafted from the finest, freshest ingredients. Each board is designed to deliver a complete and balanced culinary experience, featuring one hearty main course, one freshly baked pastry, one savoury side dish, and one indulgent dessert. The selections of main dishes include a creamy roasted chicken and mushroom pie, truffle soft scramble on a warm croffle, and huevos rancheros. Desserts include a range of Society’s classic French Toast, Syrniki and creamy dessert cups by MAD Hospitality’s nostaligc dessert concept, HAZE. Fresh pastries include mini garlic bread, mini shio pan and almond croissant while guests can indulge in their favorite side dishes including french fries, chicken sausage or arugula salad. To complement the meal, guests can select one classic beverage of their choice, featuring premium coffee or fresh juice to savour throughout the brunch.

The wooden board concept is designed to be the ultimate centerpiece for social gatherings. Whether it is a relaxed weekend morning with the family or a long catch-up with friends, Society’ Brunch offers a communal, high-quality dining experience tailored for sharing and savoring.

Offer Details:

Launch Date: August 15, 2026
Locations: Society Dubai, Jumeirah 1 and Society Abu Dhabi, Al Mamsha, Al Saadiyat
The Menu: The signature wooden brunch board includes 1 Main, 1 Pastry, 1 Side Dish, 1 Dessert, plus 1 Classic Drink.
Pricing: AED 120 per board (including drink)
Availability: Saturday and Sunday from 8:00AM until 2:00PM
For reservations and more information, please call: +971 56 408 7099 for Society Abu Dhabi, and +97150 210 0096 for Society Dubai.

Hospitality

Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa Launches Seasonal “Taste of Summer Experience” in Abu Dhabi

Published

6 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa has announced the launch of its Taste of Summer Experience, a new seasonal offering designed to combine exceptional dining with leisure, giving guests the perfect way to enjoy the summer months in Abu Dhabi.

The Season with the “Taste of Summer Experience” at Al Raha Beach Resort & Spa

Guests can choose from two distinct dining experiences at the resort’s signature restaurants, Azur and Wanasah, each offering its own unique summer experience.

Two Distinctive Culinary Experiences

The Azur experience is designed for guests looking to enjoy a leisurely afternoon at the resort before dinner. Guests can access the resort’s private beach and swimming pool from 3:00 PM, followed by a three-course dinner from 6:00 PM.

Azur Restaurant – AED 120 per person

Pool & Beach Access: From 3:00 PM

Dinner: From 6:00 PM

Enjoy a complete summer escape featuring:

Refreshing welcome drink
Complimentary access to the resort’s private beach and swimming pool
Three-course set menu

Appetizers

Burrata, Carpaccio Di Monza, Mushroom Soup

Main Courses

Herb-Crusted Lamb Chops, Ravioli Cream, Chicken Tarragon

Desserts

Tiramisu, Crème Brûlée, Apple Tart

Wanasah Restaurant – AED 120 per person

Dinner: From 5:00 PM

The Wanasah experience is a dining-only experience, offering guests an authentic Middle Eastern culinary journey from 5:00 PM onwards.

Appetizers

Hummus, Tabbouleh

Main Courses

Sayadieh Fish, Shish Kebab, Lamb Chop

Desserts

Halawat Al Jibn, Um Ali, Saffron Rice Pudding

A Summer Experience for Every Taste

With two different experiences and timings to choose from, guests can select the option that best matches how they want to spend their summer evening in Abu Dhabi.

For bookings, please direct them to F&B Reservations at +971 56 545 0274 or email fbsecretary.alraha@danathotels.com | Follow @alrahabeachresortandspa on Instagram to stay up to date with the latest offers and experiences.

Hospitality

Marriott Executive Apartments Al Jaddaf Rewards Long Summer Stays with 15,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points

Published

7 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This summer, Marriott Executive Apartments Al Jaddaf is rewarding its longest-staying guests with something worth settling in for. Guests who stay 30 nights or more will earn a bonus of 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

The offer lands as Dubai’s hospitality market leans further into longer-stay demand and within that expansion, hotel apartments have carved out a distinct niche: business travellers on extended assignments, relocating executives and families settling in for months at a time are increasingly choosing the flexibility of a private residence over a traditional hotel room, a shift that is prompting operators across the city to compete harder for the long-staying guest.

The timing is no accident as Al Jaddaf has recently completed a refurbishment across its residences, refreshing interiors while preserving the warm, residential character the property is known for. Every apartment now also features an in-unit water filtration system for premium drinking water, removing the need for single-use plastic bottles across the building, part of a broader push to make longer stays not just more rewarding, but more comfortable and more sustainable. Beyond the apartment door, residents find a fully equipped gym, two outdoor swimming pools, a Balinese spa, a beauty salon, an ATM and an on-site convenience store, along with five restaurants and lounges that carry them from a business dinner to a relaxed family meal to a quiet evening drink.

The bonus builds on rewards that already come with every stay. Across the Marriott Executive Apartments brand, guests now earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points for every US dollar spent, while every night counts as one Elite Night Credit towards Marriott Bonvoy status. For those settling in for a month or a full season, a long stay in Dubai becomes a fast track to elite recognition across Marriott International’s portfolio of more than 10,000 hotels worldwide.

“Many of our guests choose to stay with us for months rather than nights, and this summer’s offer is a way of recognising that,” said Saad Al-Ghamdi, General Manager. “The longer a guest makes Al Jaddaf their home in Dubai, the more rewarding the stay becomes, both during their time here and across the wider Marriott Bonvoy programme.”

With monthly and yearly residency arrangements available, guests enjoy the flexibility of a private lease without the setup costs, the paperwork or the compromise on service that usually accompany it.

Set in the heart of Dubai with views over Dubai Creek and the city skyline, Marriott Executive Apartments Al Jaddaf sits less than 10 minutes from Downtown Dubai, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Airport. Its fully serviced one, two and three-bedroom apartments come with full kitchens, generous living and dining areas and dedicated workspaces, alongside twice-weekly housekeeping, 24-hour concierge and security, and in-room dining around the clock.