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ABU DHABI HOSPITALITY ACADEMY – LES ROCHES HIGHLIGHTS KEY INDUSTRY TAKEAWAYS

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9 months ago

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Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches (ADHA-LR), rooted in Emirati hospitality and shaped by Swiss education excellence, has highlighted key insights emerging from the third edition of the Future Leaders Challenge, held from 9 to 12 February 2026. Over 100 students from prestigious institutions worldwide, including four students from the Academy, tackled real-world challenges impacting the hospitality and tourism landscape.

Themed, ‘Community over Competition,’ the Future Leaders Challenge 2026 provided participating students with a platform to interact with educators and industry leaders, gaining valuable real-world insights into the regional hospitality and tourism sectors. The three-day challenge highlighted key learnings, including leveraging technology that empowers teams and aligning operational excellence with long-term sustainability goals. Furthermore, the FLC Advisory Board sessions during the finals highlighted the critical need for stronger industry academia integration, and future-ready leadership development, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and long-term resilience. The finals also brought together hospitality and tourism education leaders from across the Middle East and Africa, creating a platform for strategic dialogue on curriculum relevance, workforce alignment, and industry–public sector priorities in preparing the next generation of talent.

Alhosani and three of his peers from Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches participated in the innovative challenge, collaborating in teams with students from across the world to develop actionable solutions to current issues impacting the landscape, such as industry attractiveness, growth, sustainability, innovation and more.

The 2026 Future Leaders Challenge invited students from across the Middle East & Africa to tackle a key industry question: ‘How can the hospitality, tourism, and events sector design future-ready experiences for guests and employees that combine authenticity, inclusivity, and innovation?’ Participants were asked to propose prototypes such as guest journeys, employee programs, service models, or digital-human concepts demonstrating how the sector can remain attractive, competitive, and globally impactful.

Alhosani and his group stood out among 18 competing teams, securing third place for their NSX Platform concept – a forward-thinking model that leverages neuroscience and AI to help hospitality professionals respond to emotional cues. By shifting the focus from scripted service to a deeper understanding of how guests think and feel, the model equips employees with the tools and knowledge to lead with empathy and create more personalized guest experiences.

Reflecting on this win at the Future Leaders Challenge 2026, Professor Scott Richardson, Academic Dean at Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, says: “We are incredibly proud of Mansoor’s success at the Future Leaders Challenge. It is a testament to how our students are prepared to think creatively, work collaboratively, and navigate the complexities of this industry, while staying true to the values and authenticity of Emirati hospitality. It is a privilege to guide them on this journey and see their talent recognised on a global stage.”

The Academy’s performance at this year’s event reflects its commitment to developing leaders who have a culturally grounded yet globally informed perspective for every touchpoint of the guest and employee experience. By delivering transformative education that blends Swiss academic standards with real-world industry exposure, Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches prepares students to tackle the fast-paced hospitality landscape in the UAE and beyond.

Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches continues to lead the way in shaping the future of hospitality careers and advancing the UAE’s Tourism 2030 strategy to be a global hub for innovation and sustainable hospitality leadership. By empowering young talent with future-ready skills and knowledge, the Academy ensures the region’s evolving challenges are met with resilience, cultural integrity, and an innovative mindset.

The judging panel this year was made up of a talented line up of industry thought leaders, part of the Advisory Board of the Future Leaders Challenge. These included Khalid AlAwar, Director – Stakeholders and Government Relations Dubai Economy and Tourism, Eddy Tannous, COO of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, Colin Abercrombie, Strategy Director at NEOM Hotel Division, Tim Cordon, COO Middle East & Africa & APAC, Radisson Hotels, Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Vice President, Dubai World Trade Center, Mark Kirby, President, One&Only Resorts, Judi Nwokedi, Chair Gauteng Tourism Authority, South Africa, Jonathan Sheard, SVP Operations Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, Accor Hotels, Marie-Louise Ek, VP HR Middle East & Africa, Hilton, Hubery Ummels, Founder and Owner, GameChangers and Future Leaders Platform, Nuno Filipe Ribeiro, Executive Director – Commercial Affairs & Investments.

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Hospitality

Qatar Airways Unveils Onboard Signature Music Created in Partnership with Award-Winning Composer Hans Zimmer

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1 day ago

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November 7, 2026

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Qatar Airways today unveiled its new onboard signature music, created in partnership with world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer.

Inspired by Qatar and its culture, Qatar Airways’ new onboard music brings a distinctive sound identity to the passenger experience through its collaboration with the iconic composition of Hans Zimmer. The music is also featured on the ‘Burgundy Symphony’ album, a bespoke five-track album that encapsulates the airline’s wider sound identity and signature sound elements.

The collaboration brings together Zimmer’s acclaimed cinematic storytelling and Qatar Airways’ commitment to delivering memorable experiences, creating a recognisable sound that reflects the emotions, moments and memories that define travel.

The launch was celebrated at Hans Zimmer’s highly-anticipated concert in Doha on 6 November, where audiences were given an exclusive first look at the story behind the collaboration through a specially created film on the creative process and inspiration behind Burgundy Symphony, alongside a preview of the music. Qatar Airways passengers can experience the new composition onboard from today.

The Burgundy Symphony album captures the rhythm of travel through five original tracks, each reflecting a different stage of the journey:

Dawn opens the collection with a sense of anticipation and possibility experienced when stepping beyond the daily routine and discovering new horizons.

Dusk reflects the tranquillity of flight as daylight fades and travellers are carried above the clouds beneath a sky illuminated by stars.

The Orchard introduces a restorative pause, inspired by moments of calm and reflection amidst the pace of everyday life. The inspiration for the composition is drawn from the sense of escape offered by the ORCHARD – one of Hamad International Airport’s most distinctive passenger experiences.

Homecoming reflects the quiet gift of returning home and the small but lasting ways travel enriches life. The track encapsulates the adventure continues beyond touchdown, with memories of places and skies keeping moments of wonder alive long after the journey ends.

An Ode to Qatar, concludes the album with a tribute to the nation’s rich heritage and forward-looking vision. The piece brings together a sense of history, culture, and ambition, reflecting a country where tradition and progress exist in harmony.

Following the unveiling, Burgundy Symphony is now available on the Qatar Airways YouTube channel, inviting audiences around the world to experience Hans Zimmer’s original compositions inspired by the journey of travel and the spirit of Qatar Airways.

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Hospitality

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah Wins Sustain Sharjah Award for Second Year Running

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2 days ago

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November 6, 2026

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Coral Beach Resort Sharjah has won the Sustain Sharjah award for Hotel Properties at the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum 2026, organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). This marks the resort’s second consecutive recognition under the initiative.

The accolade acknowledges the property’s progress at Level 2 of the programme’s Explorers journey, structured around four core pillars: Guest, Experience, Local, and Story. Across each pillar, the resort has prioritised measurable, practical measures that engage guests, support the surrounding community, and ensure transparent sustainability reporting.

Central to this achievement are three primary operational initiatives:

  • Onsite water bottling plant: Replaces single-use plastics with reusable glass bottles, eliminating approximately 300,672 plastic bottles annually.
  • Winnow AI food-waste system: Weighs and monitors kitchen waste in real time, enabling culinary teams to curb excess directly at source.
  • Onsite biodigester: Installed in 2026, making the property the first hotel in Sharjah to process organic waste entirely on site.

Commenting on the achievement, Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, said: “Securing the Sustain Sharjah award for the second consecutive year is an honour for our entire team. Initiatives such as our water bottling plant, AI-driven waste monitoring, and onsite biodigester reflect our daily operational commitment—one shared with our guests, partners, and the local community. We thank the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for this recognition and for their steady leadership in advancing sustainable tourism across the emirate.”

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah is a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and continues to align its operations with broader international climate targets.

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Qatar Airways Connects Doha to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia with First Flight

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2 days ago

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November 6, 2026

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Qatar Airways has inaugurated its new twice-weekly service connecting Doha with Caracas and Bogotá. The service represents a significant milestone for the airline, as Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate nonstop services from the Middle East to both Bogotá and Caracas. The new route underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening global connectivity for the region and is operated on Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.

Qatar Airways flights to Caracas (CCS) and Bogotá (BOG)

Qatar Airways’ flight schedule has been designed to provide smooth onward connections through Hamad International Airport to key markets including Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. This offers passengers greater flexibility and seamless transfer options across Qatar Airways’ global network of over 170 destinations.

Departing every Wednesday and Sunday:

Doha (DOH) to Bogotá (BOG) – Flight QR783: Departure 07:35; Arrival 16:25

Bogotá (BOG) to Caracas (CCS) – Flight QR783: Departure 17:55; Arrival 21:00

Caracas (CCS) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR783: Departure 23:30; Arrival 20:35

The addition of Caracas and Bogotá marks the 16th and 17th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways. The airline began serving South America in 2010 with its inaugural flight to Brazil’s São Paulo.

The airline has recently expanded its partnership with LATAM to include LATAM Airlines Colombia, offering travellers greater access to the region. Qatar Airways will place its code on LATAM-operated flights between Bogotá and key domestic destinations including Cartagena, Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Leticia, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pereira, Pasto, Riohacha, San Andrés Island, Santa Marta, and Yopal.

Qatar Airways continues to strengthen global connectivity, serving more than 170 destinations this winter. Bookings can be made at qatarairways.com or through the airline’s mobile app.

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