Hospitality

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

Published

4 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

Chaat Junction Brings India’s Favourite Street Food Classics to Mausam

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

Step into the vibrant flavours of India’s bustling street food culture at Mausam’s Chaat Junction, a specially curated experience celebrating the country’s most loved bite-sized classics. Inspired by iconic chaat from cities like Delhi and Kolkata, the menu brings together tangy, spicy, sweet, and crunchy favourites in one colourful spread.

Guests can enjoy signature highlights including a live Pani Puchka station with flavoured mint-coriander and tamarind waters, Kolkata Special Bhel, Kadak Aloo Matar Tikki, Bhalla Papdi Chaat, and the unique Khasta Karela, a Madhya Pradesh speciality layered with chutneys, spices, and fresh toppings.

Available from 13th to 24th April, 6 PM to 10 PM, this limited-time experience is priced at just AED 50 per person for unlimited servings, making it the perfect evening outing for friends and families looking to enjoy authentic Indian street flavours in the heart of Dubai Mall.

Blending nostalgia with contemporary presentation, Chaat Junction at Mausam recreates the energy of India’s street-side flavours in a warm and elegant dining setting.

Offer: Chaat Junction Indian Street food experience | Date: 13^th – 24^th April
| Time: 6 PM – 10 PM | Price: AED 50 (Unlimited per person) | Location: Mausam Dubai Mall

Hospitality

STAY, WORK, AND UNWIND THIS SUMMER AT ARABIAN PARK DUBAI

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

Arabian Park Dubai is inviting residents and visitors to make the most of the summer months with two value-driven accommodation experiences, including a Staycation Offer and a Monthly Long-Stay Special Offer available until 31^st August 2026, designed to suit both short getaways and extended city stays.

Ideal for couples, families, and professionals seeking flexibility without compromising comfort, the staycation package includes complimentary breakfast for two at Gardenia, along with 25% savings on food and beverage, laundry services, and tennis and padel court access, making it a convenient option for a relaxing urban escape.

For guests planning longer stays in the city, the hotel’s Monthly Long-Stay Special Offer provides a practical and comfortable living solution in the well-connected Al Jaddaf district, with added lifestyle benefits including Wi-Fi access, gym and swimming pool access, free parking, and housekeeping service three times per week, alongside 20% savings on food and beverage, laundry services, and telephone calls.

Reflecting the growing shift toward flexible work environments, the long-stay experience supports a work-from-hotel lifestyle that allows professionals to stay productive while enjoying a structured setting beyond the home office. With reliable connectivity, comfortable accommodation layouts, and access to wellness and recreation facilities, Arabian Park Dubai offers an environment where guests can balance work commitments with relaxation throughout their stay.

Conveniently located between key business and leisure districts, the hotel provides access to a range of recreational facilities including a temperature-controlled swimming pool, fitness centre, tennis court, padel court, and football pitch, creating a balanced setting designed to support both wellbeing and productivity.

As working patterns continue to evolve, more residents are looking for flexible alternatives that combine comfort, connectivity, and lifestyle benefits in one place. Our summer staycation and long-stay offers at Arabian Park Dubai are designed to support this shift, giving guests the opportunity to stay productive while enjoying the convenience of hotel living in a well-connected location,” said Stefan Schmid, Complex General Manager, Al Jaddaf Rotana Suite Hotel.

Whether planning a weekend reset, a midweek break, or an extended summer stay in Dubai, these limited time offers provide flexible and accessible options for guests looking to enjoy added value throughout the season.

Both offers are available until 31^st August 2026 and remain subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Hospitality

REDEFINE YOUR 9-TO-5 WITH A HOTEL WORKDAY IN DUBAI

Published

1 day ago

April 27, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

Dubai professionals can now redefine their traditional work routine with the launch of “Your Office, Reimagined,” a flexible hotel-based work experience starting from just AED 50 across Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, and Sheraton The Walk.

Designed for remote workers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and business travellers seeking a productive yet comfortable alternative to conventional offices, this offering combines convenience with hotel-style hospitality across prime city locations.

Guests can enjoy complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, valet or self-parking for added ease, unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day, and 40% savings on food and beverages, creating a seamless environment to stay focused, refreshed, and productive throughout the workday.

Ideal for those looking to elevate their weekday routine, this limited-time offer presents a smart and accessible way to experience a premium workspace within a hotel setting in Dubai.

Details:

Details: Work from Hotel – Your Dedicated Workspace | Price: Starting from AED 50 | Location: Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, Sheraton The Walk, Dubai