The hospitality sector in the GCC region is experiencing strong growth, with new data from STR indicating a 5.4% increase in Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) in 2024, compared to the previous year. This growth is largely driven by government initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s ‘We the UAE 2031’ campaign, which focus on diversifying the economy, improving infrastructure, and boosting tourism. Occupancy rates reached 69.5% in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
The luxury segment is a key driver of growth, with 19% of hotel rooms in the GCC now categorized as luxury, a rise from 16% ten years ago. More than 33,000 luxury hotel rooms are in development, with Saudi Arabia accounting for the majority. This luxury focus will be highlighted at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, where industry leaders like IHG and Four Seasons will share insights.
ATM 2025 will take place from April 28 to May 1, 2025, in Dubai, showcasing top hospitality brands and featuring discussions on the future of the industry, including a session by IHG’s Haitham Mattar on hospitality trends.
ATM takes place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.htmlArabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Start-Up Competition, Influencers’ Event, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. The event also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums.
