JEDDAH: The travel and tourism business in the Arab world has stabilized since the upheaval unleashed by the Arab Spring, according to a leading player in the world hospitality industry.
“Initially things were tumultuous... Our Egyptian business was impacted more than any other place. Today, however, business has stabilized,” Chris Nassetta, CEO and president of Hilton Inc., told Arab News during an exclusive interview at the Jeddah Hilton, the group’s flagship property in the Kingdom.
He sees tremendous growth coming to Saudi Arabia in the next two to three years in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry.
“Our biggest presence (in the region) is in Saudi Arabia, where we have 11 operating hotels. We have 33 hotels in the pipeline. We’re very optimistic about what’s going on in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Nassetta, who graduated from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce with a degree in finance, said his group is looking forward to being involved in Vision 2030.
“The Saudi government is making travel and tourism one of the vision’s main components. We’re big players in travel and tourism, and we can bring a lot to the table. We can help with marketing Saudi Arabia as a destination, and obviously continuing to build our presence in the Kingdom to better serve customers from around the world.”
He said he has read a lot about Vision 2030. “It would be hard to argue the underlying fundamentals of diversifying the economy. It makes a lot of sense. We’re incredibly supportive of it. Vision 2030 is about creating opportunities for growth and employment. I’m sure we can play an important role in helping attain its goals. Saudi Arabia is on a tremendously positive path. Vision 2030 is the beginning of a long path.”
The chief of the global hospitality giant explained how Saudi Arabia can benefit from Hilton’s massive reach.
“We have a massive global footprint... We’re connected to nearly 5,000 hotels in 104 countries, serving 100-million-plus customers a year. We’re constantly connecting our customers with different opportunities for travel around the world. We have a big megaphone,” he said.
“In the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) alone, we have 16,000 rooms under construction, which is more than any other major global operator.”
According to him, travel and tourism are a huge economic driver, with the industry comprising one in 10 jobs in the world and 10 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
“I believe that the goal for Vision 2030 is to have it close to 20 percent of economic activity in Saudi Arabia. In order to do that, and in order for travel and tourism to play that kind of role, you need to have the right people and have them trained in the right way,” he said.
He advised young people to start at the bottom in their bid to scale new heights, citing his own example.
“My first job in the hotel business was plunging toilets in a Holiday Inn in Washington, because I told my father I was interested in getting into business. He said I had to start at the bottom, so I did. Now I run one of the largest companies in the world,” he said.
“My own experience shows the tremendous opportunity and growth there is in the industry, as well as how much upward mobility there is.”
He lamented that few young people are aware of the growth opportunities the industry offers. “You’d be surprised how many young people don’t really understand this, so part of our job is making sure they’re aware of the opportunities. The second part is preparing them with the basic skills. In some cases, they don’t have the skills needed to become contributing team members,” he said.
“This is why the Passport to Success (PTS) program has been so instrumental in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. We use it as a basic way to get young people to prepare to work for us, and ultimately we employ many of them. We’re not perfect, but we do a wonderful job in developing people and giving them opportunities for growth. That’s why people stick with us.
“We’re opening, on average, one hotel a day in the world. That means opportunities for young Saudis and other young people. We need people who are motivated and inspired to serve other people.”
He said employing women is “really important” for Hilton. “We’re in business to serve our customer base. That base is large and diverse, and a large component of it is female. For us to succeed in serving that part of our customer base, we have to have a team that illustrates gender diversity. Around the world, nearly half of our team member base is female.”
He said Saudi Arabia has all the ingredients of an ideal tourist destination. “The key to being successful in travel and tourism is to make sure you have a safe environment. People generally don’t travel to places where they don’t feel safe, and Saudi Arabia has done a good job in making them feel safe,” he said.
“The next thing is making sure you have, and can protect, destinations that people want to see and visit. Saudi Arabia has the destinations, so the next thing is marketing. This is where we can help as a result of having some much-needed infrastructure.”
Nassetta repeatedly spoke of the role his parents, especially his father, played in his success and in inculcating core values in him.
“My father is a wonderful man. He is 85 years old, and I had dinner with him the night before I came here. He has been an inspiration to me and many other people. He has given me and my family wonderful values. His experience was in many different businesses, not only hospitality.
“I think there are two things you always look to your parents for: Love and mentors. They can give you a foundation, and that foundation is values. For all of our team, there must be something burning inside that will take you where you want to go. My father and mother gave me great gifts, and what I took from them was a basic value system. I try to use those gifts to make a positive impact.”
Business has stabilized in the Arab world: Hilton CEO
Business has stabilized in the Arab world: Hilton CEO
KSrelief provides food aid in Syria and Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency KSrelief has distributed food aid in several parts of Syria and Yemen.
KSrelief has recently handed out 724 food packages and 724 hygiene kits in Syria’s Sarmada and Idlib, assisting 4,344 people. The distribution is part of the second phase of a project providing aid to those affected by the earthquake in northern Syria.
The project aims to distribute 134,950 food parcels and 134,950 hygiene kits in Idlib, Aleppo, the northern countryside of Raqqa and the northwestern countryside of Hasakah, benefiting 809,700 people from displaced families affected by the earthquake.
Last week, KSrelief distributed 450 food packages in Al-Mansoura District of Yemen’s Aden Governorate, reaching 3,150 people.
In Lebanon, KSrelief also continued providing healthcare services in Arsal, throughout November, supporting both Syrian refugees and the host community.
The Saudi agency treated 10,815 patients, offering 20,691 services, including clinic visits, pharmacy services, laboratory tests, nursing care and mental-health support.
Saudi Arabia condemns Magdeburg attack, expresses condolences to victims
- Saudi Arabia also reiterated its firm stance against all forms of violence
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned the attack on a bustling Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg, Germany, where a car plowed into the crowd on Friday evening and killing at least two people and injuring over 60 others.
The driver was arrested at the scene shortly after the incident.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Saturday, expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the government, wishing those injured a swift recovery.
Saudi Arabia also reiterated its firm stance against all forms of violence.
How sustainable food producers are shaping the future of agriculture in Saudi Arabia
- Topian, a NEOM subsidiary, plans to transform food production and consumption with sustainable and innovative solutions
- KAUST’s Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security aims to address challenges in resource efficiency, crop improvement, and biosystems
RIYADH: Achieving food security and sustainability is a top priority for Saudi Arabia as it works toward building a more inclusive economy. The Kingdom aims to accomplish this by boosting domestic production and investing in international supply chains to secure key commodities that are unavailable locally.
Strategic transformations as well as enhanced international cooperation are both essential in efforts to address global food insecurity, Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Saudi Arabia’s minister of environment, water and agriculture, said at the recent meeting of G20 agriculture ministers in Brazil.
“There is a pressing need to adopt a long-term transformation for food security and nutrition,” he told decision-makers on the second day of the conference.
“This underscores the need to intensify our efforts and strengthen collaboration to develop pragmatic solutions for building sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems.”
The G20 agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture ministers met on Sept. 12-13 in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil, to discuss strengthening the resilience and sustainability of food systems across economic, social and environmental dimensions. These sectors are key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Increased efforts to boost Saudi Arabia’s food production resulted in the country announcing in September 2023 that it had achieved self-sufficiency in fresh dairy products and eggs, with surpluses available for export.
In addition, the Kingdom has significantly increased domestic production of various crops, including potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and onions, as well as red meat.
This progress comes from increased efforts to boost domestic food production by involving all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society. One notable company is Topian, which was launched by NEOM in 2023.
Topian aims to redefine food production, distribution, and consumption by creating sustainable, innovative solutions in five key areas: climate-proof agriculture, regenerative aquaculture, novel foods, personalized nutrition, and sustainable food supply and environmental, social and governance.
Founded with the support of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Topian aligns with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification. The company is leading efforts to ensure food security, combat climate change, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
“As a wholly owned subsidiary of NEOM, Topian is fully aligned with NEOM’s commitment to providing high-quality food products to the market, and promoting food security and sustainability, while contributing to the Kingdom’s self-sufficiency objectives and long-term economic goals,” said Juan Carlos Motamayor, the company’s CEO.
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“Topian is leading the food-security conversation to create a resilient food supply in line with the Saudi Green Initiative and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are not only committing to shaping a transformative global food system, but also to setting a global benchmark by pioneering new technologies and innovative solutions to overcome food-related challenges and create a more secure, sustainable and prosperous future for all.”
Topian has formed several local and international strategic partnerships with organizations committed to reshaping the future of food.
These agreements include collaborations with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Tabuk University, Tabuk Fish Company, BlueNalu, Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects, and Cargill.
Through these partnerships, it aims to drive research and development, leveraging expertise to create innovative and sustainable food-production methods.
The company is also committed to the NEOM CARE partnership, which focuses on educational initiatives to promote local sustainable gastronomy and develop Saudi talent through training opportunities and chef camps.
Another key Saudi initiative aimed at achieving food security is the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security.
Founded by KAUST in 2024, the center focuses on the advancement of technology-driven solutions to help enhance sustainable food production, particularly in arid environments. Its primary goal is to translate research into practical applications that minimize the environmental impact of food systems.
The center is led by Mark Tester, an expert in plant science and agriculture in arid environments, and co-chaired by Brande Wulff, a leader in crop genetics, and Peiying Hong, an expert in environmental microbiology and wastewater treatment.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Food systems are responsible for at least 21 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, 80 percent of deforestation, and 45 percent of groundwater use, making them the top cause of land biodiversity loss.
• Saudi Arabia is targeting a 75 percent reduction in food waste by 2050, encouraging plant-based diets and sustainably-sourced seafood.
• The Kingdom aims to reduce degraded land by 50 percent by 2050 and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.
It aims to address key challenges in resource efficiency, crop improvement, and sustainable biosystems, with the goal of enhancing food security in Saudi Arabia and beyond while minimizing environmental impacts.
“To deliver food to our plates, we need to prepare the land, improve our crops, harvest, process and distribute,” Tester told Arab News.
“Together, these activities are arguably the most environmentally impactful of all human activities, using half of all the land and three-quarters of all the water we use, and the food sector is probably the second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.
“All steps in the process need to be improved to increase sustainability, from fertilizer production and the deployment of technologies to increasing our ability to grow fresh fruits and vegetables locally, through to education to improve nutrition and reduce waste.”
The center uses advanced technologies to boost sustainability in the food sector, including artificial intelligence-machine learning, Internet of Things sensors, and computer vision and robotics, all key components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
It also employs nanotechnology, such as heat-absorbing nanoparticles that reduce heat load in greenhouses, and biotechnologies such as genomics, gene editing and modifications to enhance crops in ways previously not possible.
Tester said the center has also introduced the Sustainable Food Security Edible Education Program, which is designed to “help reconnect young people with the sources of their food — ultimately plants — and to do this in a way that is fun and engaging, and in a way that kids can immediately relate to; i.e., through food.”
He added: “We all get hungry, several times a day, and if we are growing at least some of our food that we then eat, it reminds us of how our meals end up on our plates. In the Edible Education Program, we help children and their teachers grow plants in the schoolyard and use these for some of their school lunches. It is immediate, direct and fun.”
Saudi Arabia has actively promoted domestic and foreign investments in agriculture, Al-Fadley, the environment, water and agriculture minister, said during the G20 meeting in Brazil. Over the past four years, agricultural loans have surged, contributing to growth of 35 percent in the Kingdom’s agricultural gross domestic product.
Alkhobar offers a visual feast with 56 works exploring new realities
- Artists from Saudi Arabia and the world are screening creations
- Kingdom’s Lina Saeed Qattan showing ‘Lena and the Magic Carpet’
ALKHOBAR: The sixth International Video Art Forum launched this week at the Cinema Society headquarters in Alkhobar, offering a visual feast for afficionados.
Organized by the Saudi Society for Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the Cinema Society, the event runs for 10 days and will feature groundbreaking video art from around the globe.
A jury of experts selected 56 artworks, narrowed down from 127. And the space showcases work from 29 countries, narrowed down from 41.
“There is no particular theme this year — aside from it being within the realm of ‘imagination embodied, reality transformed,’” Yousif Al-Harbi, director of SASCA’s Dammam branch and general supervisor of the forum, told Arab News.
“This year’s works continue to express the transformation of imaginative ideas and perceptions into tangible works of art that can have an impact on the reality that we live in.”
The videos can be watched in the upstairs space, which is covered with a black cloth door. Only three people can watch the short films as they play on a loop.
This year’s works continue to express the transformation of imaginative ideas and perceptions into tangible works of art that can have an impact on the reality that we live in.
Yousif Al-Harbi, Saudi Society for Culture and Arts director
The longest video is 7 minutes and the shortest under a minute.
A notable video is the 3-minute “Choreography of Space and Time” by German-based Egyptian artist Ehab Aziz that blends abstract imagery and dynamic movement.
In addition, Saudi Arabia’s Lina Saeed Qattan’s minute-long “Lena and the Magic Carpet,” uses artificial intelligence to showcase vibrant colors as Lena travels through the desert.
Arab News spoke with the 21-year-old Yemeni director, Yousef Ahmed, who has lived his entire life in the Eastern Province, about his short film, “Dose.”
“The film is about a depressed person who replaces his medication with sweets after reading a newspaper article,” he explained.
“It explores his journey of shifting perspectives — rising out of his sadness, only to sometimes fall back into it. We’ve all had days like this, and that’s completely normal.”
The film, under a minute long, was shot and edited entirely on a mobile phone over a month, specifically for the forum. “The phone is always available and accessible,” he said.
He added that finding the right music and fitting it into a larger format such as a TV screen was a challenge.
Workshops dedicated to AI and painting with light, were also part of the programming, as well as panel discussions with filmmakers and artists.
The forum has become one of the region’s top international platforms for video art, having featured more than 823 artworks from over 70 countries.
It has also hosted 31 lectures and workshops, offering artists a unique opportunity to connect and share their work with a global audience.
The winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
1,500 influencers participate in Riyadh’s ImpaQ event
- The signing ceremony was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary, who emphasized the significance of such initiatives in supporting the media and digital sectors
RIYADH: The Impact Makers Forum, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media, drew over 1,500 influencers and specialists from around the world, including more than 30,000 visitors.
ImpaQ, the first and largest event of its kind in the Kingdom, was hosted at the Mayadeen Hall in Diriyah, Riyadh, under the slogan “Inspiration Beyond Numbers.”
The two-day event, which ended on Thursday, provided a new platform for influencers to focus on creativity and innovation.
During the forum, a series of strategic agreements and partnerships were signed to promote and enhance creativity and innovation in the Kingdom’s media and marketing sectors.
The signing ceremony was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary, who emphasized the significance of such initiatives in supporting the media and digital sectors.
