Latest news with #AmsaHospitality
Trade Arabia
08-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Mercure Khamis Mushait opens its doors in Aseer region
Mercure, a locally-inspired brand from Accor, has opened Mercure Khamis Mushait in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, 15 kilometers from Abha International Airport. The hotel, managed by Amsa Hospitality, offers 93 modern rooms and blends authentic Saudi hospitality with the region's cultural offerings. Designed for business and leisure travellers, it features an all-day dining restaurant, coffee shop, modern gym, indoor swimming pool, and meeting room. Mercure Khamis Mushait also offers 24/7 in-room dining and laundry services. The hotel's design incorporates locally-inspired elements, paying tribute to the region's cultural richness. Since its establishment in 1973, Mercure has been dedicated to creating a truly local experience for guests through its "Discover Local" programme. The brand has recently achieved a milestone by surpassing 1,000 hotels worldwide. Hameed Ali, General Manager, said: 'We take immense pride in bringing Mercure's renowned hospitality to the Aseer region. Our dedicated team is committed to providing guests with a unique blend of local character and exceptional service, whether visiting for business or leisure.' Aamir Riaz, Chief Operating Officer of Amsa Hospitality, said: 'We at Amsa Hospitality are beyond delighted to start welcoming guests to Mercure Khamis Mushait. We thank the Accor team for their excellent collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together to make sure our guests experience the warmth of Mercure.' Paul Stevens, Chief Operating Officer of Accor's Premium, Midscale, and Economy Division in the Middle East, commented: 'The rising demand for midscale and economy brands in Saudi Arabia's secondary cities highlights the nation's rapidly evolving hospitality landscape. Mercure Khamis Mushait is a key milestone in Accor's commitment to expanding its footprint in alignment with Vision 2030 enhancing tourism and economic diversification. As the first opening under the master development agreement with Amsa Hospitality, it paves the way for additional hotels in key cities like Ha'il, Jubail, and Al-Ula. Together, we are bringing our globally recognized brands, including Handwritten Collection, ibis Styles, Mercure, and Novotel closer to travelers seeking quality, comfort, and local authenticity.' -TradeArabia News Service
Tourism Breaking News
06-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Mercure Khamis Mushait opens its doors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Post Views: 104 Mercure announces the opening of Mercure Khamis Mushait in the Aseer region, under the management of Amsa Hospitality. Located 15 kilometers away from Abha International Airport, the hotel is the first internationally branded hotel in Khamis Mushait offering 93 modern and comfortable rooms. Infused with Mercure's signature warmth and deep connection to place, the hotel blends authentic Saudi hospitality with the rich cultural offerings of the Aseer region. Designed for business and leisure travelers, Mercure Khamis Mushait features an all-day dining restaurant, a coffee shop, a modern gym, an indoor swimming pool, and a fully equipped meeting room. Guests can also enjoy the convenience of 24/7 in-room dining and laundry services. The hotel's design incorporates locally-inspired elements, with thoughtfully curated interiors across its rooms and public spaces that pay tribute to the region's cultural richness. Since its founding in 1973, Mercure has been dedicated to unveiling the treasures surrounding each address, creating a truly local experience for guests. Through its 'Discover Local' programme, Mercure ensures that guests are instantly immersed in a locally inspired atmosphere. The brand has recently achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 1,000 hotels worldwide. Hameed Ali, General Manager, said: 'We take immense pride in bringing Mercure's renowned hospitality to the Aseer region. Our dedicated team is committed to providing guests with a unique blend of local character and exceptional service, whether visiting for business or leisure.' Aamir Riaz, Chief Operating Officer of Amsa Hospitality, said: 'We at Amsa Hospitality are beyond delighted to start welcoming guests to Mercure Khamis Mushait. We thank the Accor team for their excellent collaboration and look forward to continuing our work together to make sure our guests experience the warmth of Mercure.' Paul Stevens, Chief Operating Officer of Accor's Premium, Midscale, and Economy Division in the Middle East, commented: 'The rising demand for midscale and economy brands in Saudi Arabia's secondary cities highlights the nation's rapidly evolving hospitality landscape. Mercure Khamis Mushait is a key milestone in Accor's commitment to expanding its footprint in alignment with Vision 2030 enhancing tourism and economic diversification. As the first opening under the master development agreement with Amsa Hospitality, it paves the way for additional hotels in key cities like Ha'il, Jubail, and Al-Ula. Together, we are bringing our globally recognized brands, including Handwritten Collection, ibis Styles, Mercure, and Novotel closer to travelers seeking quality, comfort, and local authenticity.' To celebrate its opening, members of ALL – Accor's award winning loyalty programme, can take advantage of 20% savings on the best available rate and 4Xbonus reward points. The offer is available until 31 August 2025, with a flexible cancellation policy and blackout dates, including Eid Al Adha. Mercure Khamis Mushait is owned by Amsa Hospitality and is the first hotel to open under the master development agreement with Accor.
Trade Arabia
06-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Hospitality education is key bridge skills gap in Saudi Arabia: experts
A brand new feature at Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia, the NextGen Investment Forum aims to inspire top leaders to come together and tackle the most pressing questions surrounding education, training, and talent retention in Saudi Arabia's hospitality industry. FHS Saudi Arabia takes place from May 11 to 13 at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh. On the agenda of the first day of the summit, the NextGen Investment Forum aims to address the challenges of future hoteliers on several fronts by building a community of educators and industry experts, creating pathways to career growth, bridging the skills gap, empowering Saudi nationals, and fostering public-private collaboration. With 1 million new tourism jobs predicted by 2030, the Kingdom's hospitality sector is facing some critical challenges. First, notable skill gaps are evident in specialised areas like hospitality management, digital competencies, and vocational training in tourism. Second, only 8.1% employed in the Saudi tourism industry are women, and third, Saudi Arabia's youth unemployment rate remains around 16%, with limited vocational pathways in hospitality for young Saudis. We asked leaders from Amsa Hospitality, Baraka Real Estate Investment & Development, Riyadh School of Tourism & Hospitality, Red Sea Global, and Dr Abeer Atallah Alamri, skills development and talent optimisation expert for their insights into the challenges, purpose and approach behind investing in the next generation of hoteliers. How important is investment in hospitality education to develop the next generation of leaders? What challenges does the industry have to overcome to develop meaningful strategies and programmes in this regard? According to Dr Alamri, investment in hospitality education is crucial for cultivating future leaders by equipping them with essential skills, knowledge, and a professional mindset. Challenges include bridging the gap between academic curricula and real-world industry needs, attracting students amidst perceptions of long hours and lower pay, and securing adequate funding for quality programmes and resources. Dr Fabien Fresnel, CEO at The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality, said: 'There is no tourism strategy if there is no talent capability building strategy. Building programmes is not the issue. Making the industry aspirational is one: attracting. Delivering the proper training in the proper format and leveraging technology with relevant content: educating. Making sure the industry is providing career perspectives and sustaining the training and development effort throughout: retaining. Attracting, relevant training, retaining = tri-dimensional equation.' Layla Alamri, Senior Manager – Education at Red Sea Global, added: 'As the hospitality sector experiences rapid growth in Saudi Arabia, a key challenge is building a strong pipeline of talent. To address this, we have launched a series of training initiatives to empower young Saudis with the skills they need to thrive, with many graduates securing employment with the company. This includes educational, vocational and on-the-job training, with 1,995 students benefitting since 2019. Industry leaders sometimes struggle to pinpoint the real barriers to attracting and retaining next-generation talent. Ebrahim Al Qassab, Projects Director at Baraka Real Estate Investment & Development, believes that the struggle comes from viewing talent attraction as a recruitment issue rather than a cultural one. 'Many leaders focus on incentives but miss the deeper emotional and intellectual needs of today's generation. Young professionals aren't just looking for jobs - they're seeking purpose, ownership, and alignment with values. At Baraka, we redefined this challenge by embedding one of our core pillars: catering for the dreamers. We actively try to inject this spirit into Baraka's DNA by involving talent in shaping our workspaces and communities. When people see their identity and aspirations reflected in the environments they help create, they stay not out of obligation, but out of passion.' How can the industry attract – and retain – the talent that is needed to turn Vision 2030 into a reality? 'Attracting and retaining talent for Vision 2030 requires the industry to offer competitive compensation and benefits, foster a positive work culture with opportunities for growth and development, and promote the sector as a dynamic and rewarding career path. Highlighting the industry's contribution to national goals and offering specialised training programmes are also vital,' said Dr Alamri. Layla Alamri added: 'Attracting and retaining talent requires more than just competitive salaries. Employees need to feel a sense of ownership and purpose. In our case, this means ensuring that our employees are aware of the importance of their work to the future of the Kingdom, diversifying the economy and putting it firmly on the global tourism map.' Dr Fresnel believes that the industry has a critical role to play. 'It needs to trigger aspirations, deliver the proper messaging, manage youngster's expectations, and offer an entrepreneurial mindset in a corporate environment.' He went on to say, 'I think Saudi Arabia has the intelligence, the expertise and the financial means to implement a nationwide educational strategy to meet the kingdom's goals. It goes with building capabilities, and this can be done fast, delivering programmes and training efficiently. I don't see any roadblocks to do that if there is willingness and fire power.' Will strategic partnerships between private academies, government entities, and universities transform human capital development in Saudi Arabia's tourism and hospitality sectors? 'Since its launch, Amsa Hospitality Academy has signed agreements with some of the best universities and colleges across the kingdom. One notable collaboration is with King Khalid University which allows recent graduates to enrich their academic learning with real-world practical experience. The first cohort is currently undertaking training at the brand-new Mercure Khamis Mushait and has experienced the dynamic operations of a hotel pre-opening phase. Other agreements include those with Princess Noura University and King Saud University. Moreover, we recently welcomed the Deputy Governor for Training Policies and Quality to our premises for an overview of ongoing training programmes that endow students with the required knowledge to pursue successful career paths,' said Muin Serhan, CEO at Amsa Hospitality. Layla Alamri added: 'Strategic partnerships are vital for knowledge-sharing and innovation. Our scholarship programmes with the University of Prince Mugrin and École hôtelière de Lausanne are designed to equip young Saudis with international hospitality management skills. Drawing on the universities' technical and educational expertise, we are preparing future leaders to contribute directly to Vision 2030.' What is your organisation doing in terms of education investment, particularly when it comes to developing Saudi citizens for roles in hospitality and tourism? Dr Fresnel said: 'The purpose of The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality and its affiliates is to serve the country and the younger generations, help KSA pivot part of its economy towards tourism, deliver outstanding customer journeys to trigger repeat business, and overall ensure a bright future for millions of young Saudis whose pride will only be exacerbated as the industry grows.' Amsa Hospitality has its own vocational training academy, Amsa Hospitality Academy. 'We launched last year in collaboration with the globally recognised Luxury Hotelschool Paris. Our mission is to help aspiring Saudi hoteliers develop the skills needed to excel in the hospitality industry. The academy is open to everyone, not only prospective employees of properties managed by Amsa Hospitality, commented Serhan. 'Investing in people is key to our regenerative tourism vision. Our Elite Graduate Program - now in its sixth edition - enrols Saudi graduates into a comprehensive system of placements and training programmes. We have also established a number of vocational education programmes to equip local talent with the skills to support the growing Saudi tourism sector. Our goal is to empower Saudi men and women, so they excel and drive Vision 2030 forward,' said Layla Alamri. Meanwhile, Ebrahim Al Qassab commented: 'Industry leaders can create a culture where questioning traditional models of hospitality education and talent engagement is encouraged. Real innovation doesn't come from people who all think the same. It comes from open, honest conversations, especially between generations. I've learned to not just include young voices, but to let them help shape the way forward. Leaders need to welcome new ideas, encourage diverse skills, and mix different fields together. At Baraka, we often bring creatives, educators, and developers into one room and that's where fresh, relevant ideas are born. Challenging the system isn't about breaking it, it's how we grow and improve it.'
Syyaha
10-04-2025
- Business
- Syyaha
Hotel and Hospitality Expo Saudi Arabia Examines How Tech and Talent Investment are Key to New Era
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 10, 2025: The Hotel and Hospitality Expo Saudi Arabia continued for a second day with industry decision makers, thought leaders and disruptors taking a deep dive into Saudi Arabia's rapidly growing hospitality sector and examining how ecosystem stakeholder can capitalise on new technologies and trends to attract investment and talent, resulting in increased visitor numbers and achieve sustainable growth. With thousands of industry professionals convening at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre (RICEC), the three-day event is providing the perfect platform to set the tone for a new era in the Kingdom's hospitality offering, amid the drive to become a global touristic hub. Hospitality Sector Urged to Embrace AI and Check-in with Data Opening another future-focused day at the Hospitality Leaders Summit, a panel of experts discussed how hotel owners and operators can do more to leverage AI in order to appeal to visitors with data-driven, tailored experiences. In a session titled 'AI-mazing stays: Revolutionising Saudi Hospitality with Smart Tech', Muin Serhan, CEO, Amsa Hospitality, pointed to how emerging technologies have advanced hotel and hospitality experiences, with developments such as early online check-in, pre-payments, customised room comforts and more. Fellow panelists, including Julio Corredor, CEO, Shaden Hospitality; Taha Mallat, Sales Leader, Lutron Electronics; and Kamal Marghlani, Chief Revenue Officer, Foodics, agreed that while the Kingdom's hospitality sector is starting to embrace the benefits of AI, more can be done at a faster pace. 'AI can give you so much meat on the bone, so many options become available if you adopt AI and adapt with it,' said Corredor. Mallat added that just a few years from now, hotel reception desks will be a thing of the past, and guests will be checking in with facial recognition or direct access cards through their smartphones. Marghlani, meanwhile, told delegates embracing AI 'not only allows for better guest experiences, it also helps the bottom line,' while Serhan said technological developments are enabling hotel operators to secure new systems through the cloud within '30 – 45 days' whereas previously they may have had to wait 'seven months.' The panel agreed that the adoption of AI can accelerate the Kingdom's run towards a new era of hospitality. Collaboration and Investing in Saudi Talent are Key for Kingdom's Booming Hospitality Sector Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector is on track for significant growth with bountiful opportunities for stakeholders, local and international investors, and Saudi talent to play their part in shaping the industry for a dynamic future, according to leading figures at the 13th Hotel and Hospitality Expo Saudi Arabia. With the ecosystem coming together, collaboration is key, agreed industry thought leaders in a thought-provoking discussion titled 'Panel Recap: Executive Think Tank – Clause & Effect: Navigating Legal & Investment Pathways in Saudi Hospitality' on the Hospitality Leaders Summit stage. The session, featuring Lillian Mai, Legal Director, ROSHN Group and Raed Alqubaysi, Senior Vice President – Real Estate Investment, Awqaf Investment, examined legal frameworks and investment models shaping Saudi Arabia's booming hospitality market, with a focus on Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs), operational structures, Saudization, ESG compliance, and the rising opportunity for local brands. Mai outlined that HMAs are not just legal contracts but operational frameworks that define 20+ year relationships between owners and operators and discussed how owners must build in-house capabilities to oversee and manage operators effectively. Alqubaysi highlighted Awqaf's model of combining investor, developer, and operator roles in select projects and stressed the importance of understanding local markets when structuring partnerships. The pair offered advice for first-time investors, including the need for transparent commercial terms (base/incentive fees), defined KPIs for operator performance and clear governance and decision making. Both agreed Saudization & ESG are no longer optional, they are strategic Imperatives, with hospitality and hotel operators required to demonstrate commitment to hiring, training, and promoting Saudi talent, as well as integrating local suppliers and sustainability practices into operations. 'Saudi is one of the most ambitious and fast-evolving hospitality markets globally. While the scale is massive, the opportunity for local players to rise is now — if supported with the right operational and legal foundations,' said Mai. In another enlightening session titled 'Beyond Bricks & Mortar: Designing Experiences Through Hospitality Architecture & Interiors' design experts agreed that Saudi Arabia has a unique opportunity to create experiences through its hospitality architecture while incorporating the Kingdom's rich heritage and cultural diversity. Saudi Arabia on the Right Track for Enhanced Sustainability in Hospitality Sustainability was also high on the agenda on the second day of the three-day event, with Aasim Hameed, Group Director Sustainability & ESG at a PIF Company, discussing Saudi Arabia's journey to net-zero and regenerative hospitality. Hameed highlighted how the Kingdom is shifting from traditional sustainability practices to regenerative tourism, focusing on ecosystem restoration, community involvement, and long-term environmental value; and how AI, IoT, and robotics are now actively integrated into hospitality ESG strategies, improving energy efficiency, waste reduction, and guest experiences. The sustainability expert said the country's Giga projects are prime examples of regeneration in action, integrating biodiversity conservation, water recycling, and renewable energy at scale, while many hospitality developments are now embedding circular economy principles—reusing materials, reducing waste, and adopting low-impact construction methods aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Stressing the importance of training and empowering Saudi talent to lead future ESG implementation, he said sustainability is not a cost, but rather a value that can drive measurable ROI and long-term savings, especially in energy and resource consumption. Organized by dmg events & KAOUN International, the exhibition runs until April 10 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre, and has the strategic backing of the Kingdom's Ministry of Investment and Ministry of Tourism. With more than 120 exhibitors from 12 countries, the show offers industry professionals a dedicated platform to explore advanced technologies, forge business connections, and gain valuable insights from more than 50 expert speakers at the annual Hospitality Leaders' Summit.
