Bader Al Hokair, Deputy CEO Western Region - Al Hokair Group, opened the seventh edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2019 on Sunday (April 21) at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events with thousands of hospitality industry professionals attending the Kingdom's premier trade show here. Gary Williams, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia's event director, stressed the importance of the event and how it is helping to develop the industry. "With tourists' arrivals in the Kingdom growing year on year, hoteliers and restaurateurs understand the need to keep investing and researching to keep up with the increased levels of competition and to better serve their clients." Once again the three-day event, which ends on Tuesday (April 23), has opened with a range of features, CPD seminars as well as loads of networking opportunities with industry peers. The event is open from 4:00p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Like in the previous six shows, The Hotel Show has drawn a record number and diverse range of professionals in hotels, resorts and restaurants looking for the latest international products, or to establish a presence in the Kingdom. Exhibitors from China, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Turkey, Portugal, India, France, United Arab Emirates, United States, Slovenia and more are attending this year's premier hospitality event that'll illustrate how the industry is responding to cater to the specific needs of the customers and their guests. Over 6,500 sector professionals — from GMs, owners and operators, through to procurement managers, designers and the all-important architects, housekeepers, executive chefs, revenue managers and engineers working in the hospitality industry — will be on hand to interact and network while showcasing the latest in trends and technology driving the industry. Many reputable global brands and new entrants to the hospitality sector are participating in the trade show in order to explore opportunities in one of the most important markets in the region, with new hotels opening in the different regions of the Kingdom. Following new legislation and government reforms making the Kingdom more accessible than ever, Saudi Arabia represents the largest development opportunities in the hospitality industry in the Middle East. In addition to hotel construction, major infrastructure projects and ease and affordability of tourist visas are set to have a big impact on the growth of the Kingdom's hospitality sector, which is gearing up to enhance their guest experience through high quality service. The Hotel Show is also hosting the 3rd ‘Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition — Mystery Box Challenge'. The competition will witness its most competitive line-up to date — with 12 kitchens from some of the Kingdom's leading hotels cooking up a storm in a bid to be crowned champion. Endorsed by Worldchefs, the Saudi Arabian Chefs Association and the Saudi Arabian Chefs Table Circle, the unique culinary competition for the Kingdom will run throughout the three days of the event, with the victorious hotel team to be announced on its final day. — SG
