Hospitality leaders arrive in Dubai for Middle East’s first HITEC

Hundreds of hospitality leaders and decision makers have converged in Dubai ahead of the debut Middle Eastern leg of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, HITEC®, the world’s largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand, which takes place on November 14 – 15 at Conrad Dubai.

HITEC Dubai is co-produced by Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Naseba, and endorsed by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the principal authority for the planning and marketing of tourism in Dubai.

HITEC Dubai will feature an expo floor with more than 40 technology providers showcasing the latest industry innovations. It also features a brand-new summit portion with meticulously crafted educational sessions, panel discussions, tech talks, workshops and networking sessions for senior hospitality executives to explore collaborations and partnerships.

With an industry-leading agenda covering Smart rooms, loyalty by blockchain, PMS, sustainable technology, all-cloud hotels and Smart data analytics, the event’s opening address will be delivered by Jumeirah Group CIO and HITEC Dubai Advisory Council chair, Marwan Al Ali.

Further highlights on the agenda include Emilio Dragas, CEO, m3connect, who will deliver a Tech Talk session titled Bandwidth (5G) and its impact on the hotel market; and HFTP Hall of Fame member Fraser Hickox, Managing Director, Conceptual Group, who will present a session on technology project management.

Other confirmed speakers include Dr. Sanjay Nadkarni Director, Research and Innovation, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; Laurent A. Voivenel, SVP – Operations & Development, for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International; Bob Gilbert, CEO, HSMAI; and Nigel Hattersley, Sr. Director Technology MEA, Marriott.
Laurent Voivenel, said, “HITEC is the largest hospitality technology show for hotels worldwide and it is exciting to see its debut in Dubai. As we operate in smart cities such as Dubai, our hotels need to be smart too and HITEC provides a great opportunity to learn about the latest technological developments and trends shaping our industry.”

Naveen Bharadwaj, Production Director of Naseba said: “From robotic butlers, to mobile phone key cards and cutting edge content systems, technology is transforming the Middle Eastern tourism and hospitality market at a break-neck pace. The debut of HITEC in the Middle East marks a new era in collaboration and best practice management, facilitated by a recognised and prestigious global brand. That is constantly at the forefront of technological development in the hospitality space.”

HITEC Dubai is supported by lead sponsor m3connect, gold sponsors, AVAYA, xnprotel, Acentic, Oracle Hospitality, and silver sponsor and official lounge partner, Lufthansa Industry Solutions, who will all be represented in the exhibitor hall. Other key exhibitors include market leaders such as IDS Next, Otrum, Assa Abloy and many more.

Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP said: “With the number of projects being built and under refurbishment, Dubai is one of the most attractive hospitality markets in the world. Leadership in the UAE are looking to foster innovation and HITEC DUBAI wants to be the bridge that connects hospitality and technology in the region. We’d like to thank our advisory council, sponsors, exhibitors, attendees and partners and I look forward to welcoming everyone to HITEC DUBAI.”

HITEC DUBAI’s summit begins at 9:00 AM and takes place on the 4th floor of the Conrad Hotel. The expo will also be running concurrently from 10:30 AM and will be taking place on the 4th floor.