Serviced Apartment Summit MEA

The Summit

More than 150 top senior international industry professionals including many CEO's attended last year's inaugural Serviced Apartment Summit MEA, and the 2016 event promises more.

More quality speakers and informed content, more breakout, more networking, more new business opportunities and more exhibitor engagement to help drive your business forward within the region.

Join your fellow industry professionals at the region's only b2b conference for the serviced apartment, branded residence, aparthotel, corporate accommodation and short-term rental sectors.

The MEA region already has a fast-growing hospitality development pipeline with a wide range of projects from local and international developers and operators. The area is rapidly becoming a global hot spot for the serviced apartment, branded residence and extended stay sectors, with activity levels ramping up considerably.

The headline numbers behind the GCC’s remarkably rapid transformation into one of the world’s business and tourism hotspots

• $23 billion Dubai's Expo 2020 predicted to add $23 billion to UAE GDP
• $132 billion total cost of construction of Kuwait’s new Silk City, which will cover 250 sq km and will house the Burj Mubraka al-Kabir, one of the world’s tallest buildings
• 4.1 million+ Abu Dhabi hotel guests in 2015, 17% Y on Y growth
• 78 million+ air passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in 2015, 10.7% Y on Y growth with 85 million target for 2016
• 100 number of towers within Saudi Arabia’s new King Abdullah Pilgrim City, at a cost of $13 billion
• $180 billion projected value of the global family tourism market in 2018, up from $130 billion in 2013
• 73 number of major attractions that will be housed within Dubai’s latest leisure megaproject, Dubai Parks and Resorts
• 53.5 million predicted GCC population by 2020, 24% will be aged 15 and under
• 4 Dubai is now the fourth most visited global city
• 170 ongoing UAE hotel projects totalling 64,000 rooms, the highest in the region

• 1 serviced apartment, branded residence, aparthotel, corporate accommodation and short-term rental conference and exhibition for the Middle East and Africa

A recent Colliers International report said at least 10,000 additional serviced apartment units were needed to fulfill projected demand in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. Serviced Apartment Summit MEA is the response to demand from the industry for a dedicated forum for networking, education and sharing best practice.

Event Speakers

Mohammed Al Marzooqi

Cheval Residences

Mohammed Al Marzooqi is group managing director for Cheval Property Management Ltd and Cheval Residences Ltd.

Guus Bakker

Frasers Hospitality

Guus Bakker has spent the vast majority of his career in the serviced apartment industry, both in France and the UK.

Anil Bhardwaj

A.A. Almoosa Enterprises LLC

Anil Bhardwaj, a chartered accountant by profession, has been a director with A.A. Almoosa Enterprises LLC, Dubai (The Arenco Group) for several years.

Piers Brown

International Hospitality Media

Piers is the CEO of International Hospitality Media (IHM) and the founder of Serviced Apartment Summit MEA.

Dan Cross

Nexa Digital

Dan has been in Dubai for nine years - during that time he has helped establish Agoda.com (Priceline Group) in the MENA market.

Francine Heywood

GuestRevu

Francine co-founded GuestRevu in 2013 and heads up the company’s sales and marketing activities globally.

Shaun Hinds

BridgeStreet Global Hospitality

Shaun leads BridgeStreet Global Hospitality in all territories outside of the Americas.

Judy Hou

Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

Judy Hou is the managing director of the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in Dubai.

Guy Hutchinson

Rotana Hotels

Guy Hutchinson joined Rotana as chief operating officer in January 2014.

Tara Marlow

Al Tamimi & Company

Tara trained in the City of London, qualifying in 2000, and remained in private practice advising property developers, financial institutions, investors, landlords and tenants.

Hala Matar Choufany

HVS

Hala Matar Choufany, MRICS is the managing partner of HVS Dubai and is responsible for the firm's valuation and consulting work in the Middle East and North Africa.

Jaidev Menezes

Emaar Hospitality Group

Jaidev Menezes brings over ten years of global corporate strategy and hotel development expertise to Emaar.

Gareth Morris

Change The Picture

Gareth is the founder of Change The Picture.

Joe Sita

IFA Hotel Investments

An accomplished CEO, Sita brings more than 35 years’ experience to his position as chief executive officer of IFA Hotel Investments.

Patrick Smith

IFA Hotel Investments

Patrick is SVP asset management at IFA Hotel Investments.

Filippo Sona

Colliers International

Filippo Sona has been in the global hotel industry for the past 20 years working for international hotel companies and consultancies in the UK, USA, Middle East and North Africa.

Jeremy Scott

Al Tamimi & Company

Jeremy is a senior associate in the property division of law firm Al Tamimi & Company.

Shafi Syed

Jumeirah Group

Shafi Syed joined Jumeirah in August 2016 as the group chief development officer.

Nick Turner

Bespoke Hotels International

Nick Turner was appointed managing director of Bespoke Hotels International in 2015, and is primarily be tasked with growing management contracts and marketing agreements overseas as the company looks to expand its remit beyond the UK.