hala matar choufany
Visitation Growth & Key Tourism Drivers in the MEA Region
Hala Matar Choufany | November 1, 2024
Tune in to Hala Matar Choufany's interview with Maya Hojeij on Bloomberg Alsharq discussing visitation growth and key tourism drivers in the region: International visitation has been staggering growth in 2024 and is expected to continue across the mid to long term; Investments in tourism infrastructure, notably airports and airlines, continue to play a key role in enhancing visitation growth and tourism appeal; Morocco, Egypt and Saudi offer good investment opportunities supported by government plans and major upcoming international events; Project delays and cancellations are not uncommon in emerging destinations and qua...
The Future of Investments and Financing – Hospitality Sector Trends
Hala Matar Choufany, ISHC | September 12, 2024
The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and evolving global economic trends. These changes are reshaping how investments and financing in the sector are approached. Over the next two decades, the industry is expected to witness substantial evolution in investment strategies and priorities. Currently, there are approximately 300,000 rooms under development across the GCC. However, in the current economic environment, challenges such as rising borrowing costs, development expenses, and operational expenditures are increasingly impacting hotel va...
Brand Dilemma: Navigating the Pros and Cons of Launching New Brands – An Unbiased Perspective
Hala Matar Choufany | June 14, 2024
Throwback to Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia last month, where Hala Matar Choufany هلا مطر شوفاني contributed her insights on the “Brand Dilemma: Navigating the Pros and Cons of Launching New Brands – An Unbiased Perspective". Click here to watch the discussion unfold with Catherine Edwards, Chief Strategy Officer at QUO. ...
Africa On The Rise
Hala Matar Choufany | December 20, 2023
By Hala Matar Choufany This year revealed diverse hotel performance trends across Africa’s 54 countries, reflecting the vast expanse and distinctiveness of the continent and emphasizing the regional disparities. Indeed, certain areas saw substantial growth and an uptick in international arrivals, while others grappled with persistent challenges. Hospitality sector performance Northern and southern Africa, home to well-established hospitality markets like Egypt and South Africa, reported slower economic growth rates. In contrast, most countries spanning the Eastern and Western regions experienced accelerated economic growth due to inc...
HVS Global Hotel Industry: 2023 Recap and 2024 Outlook
HVS | December 5, 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, regional HVS leaders across the globe take a look back at how the global hotel industry fared this year and opine on the outlook for next year. While the U.S. experienced muted 2023 RevPAR growth relative to 2022 gains, most other global markets recorded extraordinary RevPAR growth, well above 10%, primarily fueled by strong ADR gains. While transaction activity cooled across the Americas and Europe, the Asia Pacific saw a significant strengthening as this region’s markets moved beyond pandemic-era restrictions. United States By Rod Clough, President – Americas As 2023 ends, we look back on a year where hot...
Navigating the Investment Terrain: Trends in GCC Hotel Development Costs
Hala Matar Choufany | September 26, 2023
By Hala Matar Choufany, Filippo Sona Welcome to the world of hospitality development, where unique developments and unforgettable moments come to life. We are thrilled to introduce you to our latest publication, "Navigating the Investment Terrain: Trends in GCC Hotel Development Costs" where we delve deep into the intricate world of hotel development costs, unveiling the secrets that impact project costs and hotel values. In this joint publication, we outline the main hotel development expenses and recent trends in hotel development and design. Whether you are a seasoned developer, an aspiring hotelier, or simply an enthusiast curious ...
Indisputable Success – The UAE
Maria Quintero | June 21, 2023
By Maria Quintero, Hala Matar Choufany Throughout the last decade, the UAE has established itself as a leading regional and international tourism destination. Over 22 million international visitors in 2022 - almost on par with pre-pandemic levels - along with the UAE’s game-changing infrastructure, year-round sunshine, top-class tourism attractions, and rich cultural heritage, reinstated the country’s positioning as one of the strongest business and leisure markets in the world. As of 2022, UAE, the second largest economy in the Arab world, ranked at the top of the Travel & Tourism Development Index in the MENA region and among ...
How Major Sporting Events Are Spurring Growth in the GCC
Hala Matar Choufany | May 19, 2023
The UAE, KSA and Qatar have been major players in shaping the region’s tourism industry, helping to reposition the region to accommodate millions of tourists who are seeking alternative experiences. The race to reach world-class status did not stop at state-of-the-art buildings, modern legislation, FDIs and ease of setting up businesses in a stable environment. The desire to differentiate these destinations and offer exceptional tourist experiences was witnessed at the Expo 2020 event in Dubai, as well as Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia securing the Olympic Asian Winter Games in 2029. Such events have ...
