Future Hospitality Summit Podcast

Hosted by Future Hospitality Summit

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205

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) podcast series. FHS is the world's most influential annual gathering of hotel owners, investors, hotel brands, restaurant leaders, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups, consultants and government representatives. For more information, visit futurehospitality.com

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60 recent

October 12, 20266 min

Episode 164: Beyond Co-Working - Why Workspace Belongs in Egypt's Mixed-Use Destinations

Michael Aldridge, Founder and CEO of KOFISI, joins the FHS Egypt Podcast to explain the "hotelified workspace," the model KOFISI has refined over ten years by applying hotel-grade hospitality to the world of work. After launching in East Africa, expanding through West and South Africa, and most recently opening in Casablanca, KOFISI now has Cairo in its sights, with three leased buildings of 80,000 to 100,000 square feet planned for New Cairo. Michael explains why workspace belongs in Egypt's mixed-use compounds and destinations, how lounges, terraces, restaurants, event space and meeting rooms sit under one roof, and why Cairo fits alongside KOFISI's Dubai and Riyadh openings. He closes with advice for Egypt's hospitality market: look to where innovation is heading, meet users' global expectations, and build for the standards of tomorrow, not today.

September 30, 202618 min

FHS Podcast Episode 163: Five Worlds, One Vision, Marc Dardenne, CEO, Modon Hospitality, Unveils Afiniti

Marc Dardenne, CEO of Modon Hospitality, joins the FHS Podcast to discuss how guest expectations are reshaping the future of hospitality and why travellers are increasingly choosing experiences over destinations alone. He introduces Afiniti, Modon Hospitality's new experience-led hospitality brand, designed around five distinct worlds: family, adults-only, adventure, urban resort and wellness. Rather than asking guests to choose a destination first, Afiniti is built around the type of experience they want to have, with each property offering its own character while remaining part of one connected brand environment. Pasted text Marc also explains how branded residences will form an important part of the concept, allowing guests to buy into the lifestyle while accessing hotel-style services, management and rental options. Pasted text Looking ahead, he shares Modon Hospitality's plans to grow Afiniti from its Abu Dhabi base into new destinations across the UAE and internationally, including Ras Al Hekma, island destinations, Africa and Europe. The focus, he says, is not on chasing hotel numbers, but on building the brand carefully, maintaining control over the guest experience and creating a long-term platform that can grow with consistency. Pasted text

September 25, 202619 min

Episode 161: The UAE's Next Chapter: A Conversation on Tourism and Investment

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director of Tourism Development at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, joins us to discuss the UAE's continued strength as a global tourism and investment hub. The conversation explores what is driving the country's resilience, how the Ministry is supporting long-term tourism growth, and where the next opportunities are emerging across investment, destination development, infrastructure, talent and lifestyle.

September 24, 202622 min

Episode 162: Madinah's New Investment Story: Building a Destination for the World

In this episode, Dr. Moath Alyahya, Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Economic City, explores how Madinah is evolving into a broader investment, hospitality and mixed-use destination. The conversation looks at KEC's expansion strategy, major developments including Knowledge Gardens and the Islamic World District, changing demand beyond religious tourism, and how new partnerships and investment structures are helping shape the city's next chapter under Vision 2030.

September 24, 202633 min

Episode 159: Branded Residences: Where Luxury, Living, and Capital Meet with Riyan Itani

In this episode, Riyan Itani, Founder of Global Branded Residences Ltd., explores how branded residences are evolving at the intersection of luxury, real estate and investment. The conversation looks at what drives brand premiums, why standalone residences are gaining ground, how buyer expectations are changing, and why the Middle East has become one of the sector's most dynamic growth markets.

September 24, 202651 min

Episode 158: The Story Sells: Richard Stevens on Branding Bold Hotel Brands

In this episode, Richard Stevens, Director at Sectorlight, explores why strong hospitality brands are built through story, not just design, and how a clear brand narrative can shape everything from market positioning to guest perception. The discussion looks at what makes a hotel brand distinctive in an increasingly crowded market, how developers can create concepts that feel bold without losing commercial relevance, and why branding needs to be considered early in the development process. Richard also shares his perspective on the relationship between storytelling, place, design, and long-term brand value, and what it takes to create hospitality concepts that people remember.

September 24, 202630 min

Episode 157: Building for Growth: Hospitality Development in a Changing Market

In our latest FHS podcast, we sit down with Ayman Ezzeddine, Director of Development, Middle East at Radisson Hotel Group, as he walks us through the behind-the-scenes of hotel development. Our conversations ranged from resilience to what makes an opportunity worth pursuing. With hospitality across the Middle East evolving at remarkable speed, we explore the forces shaping the region's next phase of growth, the markets catching developers' attention, and what it takes to build partnerships that create long-term value for owners, operators, and destinations alike.

August 20, 202627 min

Episode 155: Building Swiss Hospitality in the Heart of Abu Dhabi

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Building Swiss Hospitality in the Heart of Abu Dhabi, Georgette Davey, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy - Les Roches, discusses how the Academy is bringing Swiss hospitality excellence to one of the region's fastest-growing tourism and hospitality markets. She shares how hospitality education is evolving to meet the needs of a changing industry, the importance of developing future-ready talent, and why Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to become a leading hub for hospitality learning, leadership and innovation.

August 20, 202629 min

Episode 154: Egypt's Hospitality Landscape - Capital Flows, Liquidity and the Road to Maturity

In this episode of the FHS Egypt Podcast, Daria speaks with Amr El Nady, Head of Hotels & Hospitality MEA and Managing Director of the Global Hotel Desk at JLL, about the evolving hospitality investment landscape in Egypt. Amr explores the growing momentum behind the market, including increased participation from regional developers and Gulf capital, continued activity from domestic investors, and hotel development expanding across Cairo, the Red Sea and the North Coast. The conversation also examines what investors are looking for beyond occupancy and ADR, from operating margins and asset competitiveness to governance, transparency and the ability to repatriate capital. Amr highlights that while Egypt offers attractive operating fundamentals and significant room for additional hotel supply, greater transaction transparency and clearer exit pathways will be important in attracting a broader pool of institutional and international capital. Drawing on lessons from more mature hotel investment markets, the episode considers how ownership structures, access to debt, professional asset management, legal frameworks and greater market liquidity could further strengthen Egypt's investment proposition.

August 5, 202621 min

Beyond Heritage: Building Egypt's Next Generation of Lifestyle Destinations

In this episode of the FHS Egypt Podcast, we are joined by Nina Vithlani, Managing Director MENA at Sectorlight, to explore how Egypt can build distinctive, world-class destinations that resonate with local, regional, and international audiences alike. Drawing on her experience working across major projects in Egypt and the wider Middle East, Nina unpacks what makes Egypt such a unique place branding opportunity, and why the conversation is shifting from ancient history and leisure tourism toward luxury hospitality, branded residences, and lifestyle-led development. From Cairo's urban energy to the North Coast's potential as an all-year-round lifestyle destination and the Red Sea's established nature and wellness credentials, Nina breaks down how each of Egypt's key markets can define its own identity without competing with one another. She also addresses how developers can appeal to domestic, GCC, and international buyers without diluting their proposition, and why authenticity and a destination-first strategy are the keys to long-term value. The episode also covers the rise of wellness as a differentiator, the pace of development in Egypt, and the growing need for education and capability-building in selling super-premium branded residences to international investors. Tune in for a candid and insightful conversation about where Egypt is headed, and what it will take to get there.