TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Expert speakers at AHIC identify a gap in Dubai’s hospitality sector for experiential accommodation and entertainment.
Gurdish Bassi
Economist at GRMC
Advisory Consulting
The total tourist spend in Dubai is expected to reach AED144 billion by 2021, compared to AED113 billion in 2016, and the largest spending increase would be in the entertainment sector. Shopping malls may not have it all. Entertainment and experiential concepts will capture a significant proportion of the total spend.
Klaus Assmann
Vice President–Hospitality and Retail
Dubai Parks and Resorts
I think theme parks, more MICE space, more out-of-the-box thinking from hotel operators will follow. As we know, there’s already a remarkable growth in the number of shopping malls and other kinds of projects coming up. I think it becomes more residential, more freehold; just in general, I think it will grow more and more but in the same pattern as it is now.
Dr Martin Berlin Partner
Deals Strategy ME and Global Deals Real Estate Leader
PwC
Dubai will develop into a city that is on a par with other cities, other global megacities, other global destinations and gateway cities.
