Travel/Tourism
14th Arabian Hotel Investment Conference Holds April 17
By Dipo Olowookere
All is now set for the 2018 edition of Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, which holds from April 17 to 19 at the purpose-built AHIC Village in the grounds of the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
AHIC provides unique insights into modern leadership, forward-thinking investment and new operating models via a stellar line-up of speakers confirmed for the annual gathering for the Middle East’s hospitality investment community.
This year’s event, the 14th, will will attract 700 hotel investors, major developers, leading financiers, and C-level hotel executives to attend three days of content, networking and events, including live-on-stage interviews with some of the world’s most respected businessmen and hotel leaders and the first AHIC Global Project Showcase, featuring hospitality investment opportunities from around the world.
It will give stakeholders the platform to address the critical issues of innovation, leadership, destination development and industry disruptors amid the macroeconomic outlook from the investors’ perspective.
Held in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), AHIC 2018 will be inaugurated by Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
He will give a keynote opening speech and reveal further insights into the strategy for Ras Al Khaimah, one of the world’s fastest growing tourism destinations, and share anecdotes that will inspire fellow leaders at AHIC.
CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Haitham Mattar, said, “We are looking forward to showcasing Al Marjan Island at AHIC 2018 and to taking part in the dynamic conference programme.
“Tourism is one of Ras Al Khaimah’s most important economic sectors and is considered a key engine for continued GDP growth and job creation. Our decision to support AHIC 2018 comes at a pivotal time in our three-year Destination 2019 Tourism Strategy, which aims to attract one million visitors by the end of 2018.
“To accommodate this growth in visitors, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is providing potential investors with a range of innovative opportunities to develop stand-out properties across the emirate. We have considerable opportunities within several development projects, including Al Marjan Island, which has been earmarked for an additional 16 hotels by 2025.”
His Highness’ welcome will be followed by a keynote interview with one of the Middle East’s most respected businessmen, Mohamed Alabbar, Founder & Chairman, Emaar Properties, who has not only played a critical role in establishing Dubai’s reputation as a tourism hotspot but is also renowned for his entrepreneurial outlook and passion for digital disruption.
Alabbar commented that, “With its natural setting, diverse attractions and a fast-evolving hospitality infrastructure, Ras Al Khaimah is setting new milestones in the industry, and evolving as one of the popular tourism hubs in the region. AHIC 2018 will put the spotlight on the emirate and drive inward investments, and underline the diversity of tourism offerings that our nation presents to the world. Through the Conference, which discusses future trends, we can collectively contribute to strengthening the prospects of the tourism and hospitality sectors, and unlock their true potential.”
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events and Co-Founder of AHIC, said: “We are delighted and proud to open AHIC 2018 with insights from two such respected business leaders. I’ve no doubt the contributions from His Highness Sheikh Saud and His Excellency Mohamed Alabbar will set the scene for highly relevant debate and discussion around the all-important topics of leadership and innovation as they impact the global hospitality investment industry.”
AHIC 2018 will also bring some of the world’s leading hotel CEOs to Dubai for a ‘Global CEO in the Hot Seat’ series; Keith Barr, Chief Executive Officer, IHG; and Pierre-Frédéric Roulot, CEO, Groupe du Louvre.
Ahead of his session at AHIC, Keith Barr said: “This will be my first time at AHIC and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be on stage to talk about our industry and IHG’s role within it. I’m going to be talking about a range of things, but will be focusing on the way that digital and technological evolution has transformed the way in which we can deliver a truly personalized experience for our guests.
“The hospitality industry has experienced a great deal of change in recent years, not least in terms of the constantly evolving consumer environment and the rapidly changing digital and technological landscape. I don’t necessarily see any one element challenging the industry more than it has done in previous years, but it’s a case of the industry needing to continuously adapt, evolve and innovate during 2018. This isn’t an industry where you can sit still for one moment; it’s highly competitive and it’s vital that we are as nimble and agile as possible.”
Commenting on what he forecasts to be the biggest disruptor to the hospitality industry in 2018, Federico J. González, President & CEO, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “There’s no single aspect or issue that I see as being unique. The trend of disruptions and other macro and micro economic challenges will continue. As a leading hotel company, we need to be ahead of the curve and focus on delivering memorable moments. We need to be able to respond faster and better to customer needs. At Radisson, we want all of us to be obsessed with customer. That’s the ultimate essence of hospitality and our business.
“We need to have relevant and meaningful innovation at all levels of business. We need to support and enhance a customer journey from A to Z, which makes sense to the customers directly. Brand, Product, Commercial & Marketing activities, Communication and Operations, all need to be aligned to serve one purpose – 100% Guest Satisfaction.”
The CEOs behind some of the industry’s hottest new brands will also take to the stage, including Christoph Hoffmann, Chief Executive Officer, 25hours Hotel Company, Amar Lalvani, CEO & Managing Partner, Standard International; and Michael Bisordi, Owner – Tungsten Partners and Partner – Ace Group International.
Christoph Hoffmann, who recently entered into a strategic partnership with global hotel giant Accor to further develop his brand, 25hours, said he forecast more mergers in the industry.
“In most markets, the number of hotel rooms is increasing and we still see mergers and new brands – especially in the lifestyle segment – arising. A CEO nowadays must be open for structural changes and not so much focus on the mere product to succeed,” said Hoffmann.
Commenting on the skills a hotel industry CEO needs to success in 2018, Amar Lalvani said: “Stop thinking like a hotel company CEO. It’s a very insular industry with insular thinking. Think more creatively and move more quickly. Watch other sectors. Alternative accommodations, shared office, ride sharing. Understand how the next generation lives, stays and plays in order not to become a dinosaur.”
Michael Bisordi, who launched the Ace Hotel chain in US, said that he believes investors should “focus inward” and look at an asset on a local level, rather than as a brand.
“Our intent primarily is to create within the four walls of the building an ‘instant classic’,” said Bisordi.
“In a way we feel this actually transcends the concept of a brand. We feel that the development of the property to be the draw, more so than any brand, is where the industry is going. Customisation is an increasing trend and is a reaction against the wave of expansion of relatively homogeneous hotels in the latter half of the 20th century,” added Bisordi.
Meanwhile, the investor’s perspective will be represented by the Middle East’s leading hotel owners including Alain Debare, Chief Executive Officer, Action Hotels; Samih Sawiris, Chairman, ORASCOM Development; Jalil Mekouar, Chief Executive Officer – Hotels, Majid Al Futtaim; Sanjeev Agarwala, Chief Operating Officer – Hospitality and Investment, Al Habtoor Group; and Dr Badr Al Badr, Chief Executive Officer, Dur Hospitality.
Commenting on how he sees the current operating environment, Alain Debare said: “Taking a wide lens, the hotel sector we have grown to know, is in a shift. A big shift. In recent months, we have witnessed a flurry of multi-billion dollar M&A activity. The reality is, this has taken Top Team attention away from core brand operations.”
Travel/Tourism
Digital Integration in the 2026 Global Travel Sector
The manner in which international travel and digital entertainment intersect has experienced a massive transformation in the current year. As the volume of international travel continues to rise to unprecedented levels, the technological potential to access a 1xbet giriş from any point in the world has become the benchmark by which the efficacy of a given system or network should be judged. In 2026, more than 65% of international travel hubs have completely integrated standalone 5G connectivity, providing the environment that is required to enable high-stakes sports viewing. This means that regardless of the position that the sports aficionado finds themselves in, at the top of a mountain or at the coast, the nature of the information that flows will remain the same. The modern-day traveler expects nothing but the best, and that includes the manner in which they will be able to engage with the digital hobbies that they have been able to cultivate during the course of the year.
The way in which the experience is felt has also been improved through the efficiency of the software that is used to power the mobile experience. If the user has opted to install the 1xbet apk file on the 2026 flagship device, the user is able to experience the new “Travel-Adaptive” coding that reduces the background data usage by 30% when traveling internationally. This is an important aspect of the experience because the user may find themselves in transit for an extended period of time without the ability to plug in and charge the device. As the statistics show for the first half of the year, the user of the mobile The application is able to experience a 25% reduction in data usage when traveling compared to the user who makes use of the mobile web browser in order to experience the sports entertainment the user has grown accustomed to. It is a more relaxed experience where the main aspect is the thrill of the game.
The Role of Mobile Betting in Modern Tourism
It should be noted that the modern betting process concerning sports is considered to be one of the most effective ways to get entertained during a long flight or when staying at the airport. Mobile betting is considered to be a unique opportunity for a tourist not just to view a sporting event, but also to become an active participant of that sporting event that is taking place on the other side of the world. Thanks to the speed of modern applications, it is possible for a tourist to react immediately to the changes in the score and adjust the predictions accordingly during an excursion or when staying by the pool. Such an event is considered to be an adventure in bright colors.
Apart from the entertainment that such modern platforms offer, they also present a great number of analytical data that allows the tourist to get engaged in the process. One of the main purposes of such tourism is to get satisfaction from the accuracy of one’s prediction, as well as competition. Such platforms pay great attention to the safety issues, reminding the tourist that “betting should be an additional positive experience of your trip.”
Network Benchmarks for the Connected Traveler
The sports enthusiast who is always on the go would find that the line which separates an enjoyable experience from an unenjoyable experience of sports betting is measured in mere milliseconds. In fact, the world average of mobile latency for tourist destinations has been reduced to mere 16ms in 2026, which is an important consideration for sports enthusiasts who enjoy sports betting for games such as tennis and basketball.
The table below shows the current standards for mobile network performance for the most prominent tourist destinations around the world:
| Network Metric | Global Average 2026 | Satisfaction Rate | Primary Use Case |
| Download Speed | 195.6 Mbps | 88 percent | High-definition streaming |
| Signal Latency (5G) | 16 ms | 92 percent | Real-time Live updates |
| Roaming Cost | 1.15 USD / GB | 74 percent | Continuous background sync |
| App Load Time | 1.8 seconds | 85 percent | Rapid market entry |
| Connection Stability | 99.8 percent | 91 percent | Uninterrupted viewing |
As per the latest research findings on the subject by the research company named Statista, it has been identified that the need for high-speed mobile data for the tourists is rising by an increase of 40%. This is mainly because the tourist would like to experience a form of ‘multi-layered’ entertainment. The definition of ‘multi-layered’ implies that the sports enthusiast would like to view a live streaming event, access his or her social media account, and place a friendly bet on the event simultaneously. Therefore, as long as this infrastructure is in place, this would thrive.
The Evolution of Mobile Betting as Travel Leisure
In the year 2026, mobile betting for sports would be considered a fun way of spicing up the entire travel experience. This is because it would be able to provide a new dimension to a sporting event that an individual is witnessing while traveling in a pub or a train. It would be able to provide individuals with a way of having a personal stake in a world event. Thus, the hours that an individual spends in a train or an airport would be able to pass quickly with a fun way of gamification of sports viewing.
In the year 2026, modern mobile betting has turned out to be a full-fledged way of socializing for travelers. This is because many individuals use the co-watching features of the application and group betting features of the application in order to compete with their friends back home or connect with other sports fans of the sport that they are watching while visiting pubs around the world. It is because it would be able to provide individuals with a new dimension of traveling. It is no longer just about traveling to a new destination; it is about becoming part of a new world community where talking about the probabilities of winning or forward performance of a team is considered to be the universal language of communication. It is no longer just about betting; it is about getting the rhythm of the world of sports wherever an individual is located—from the cozy European roads to the futuristic cities of Asia.
Popular Mobile Sports Activities for People on the Move
Individuals who travel in 2026 have managed to come up with their own ways of having fun through sports without missing out on their sightseeing targets. There has been a new trend of “micro-betting,” which refers to betting on a game that will happen in the near future.
The following is a list that points out the best mobile sports-related activities for traveling individuals for the current year:
- Predicting the total points scored in one quarter of the basketball game while in short transit stops.
- Tracking the sports player that is most likely to score the next goal in the football game while in a cafe.
- Determining the total number of games in one set in the tennis game while in downtime at a resort.
- Viewing the percentage of ball possession for a particular team through the use of graphical overlays.
- Predicting the exact number of free throws scored in a game while in downtime at a hotel.
The activities will be perfect for the downtime in the traveling schedule as they will provide the individual with a dose of excitement without making the individual glued to his/her screens for hours. This way, the individual will be able to appreciate the digital world as well as the beauty of the world he/she is in.
Security and Responsible Habits Abroad
However, with the introduction of mobile transactions during travel, the factor of security has been regarded as a major factor. In fact, in the current scenario, 94% of the total mobile sports platforms provide multi-factor biometric authentication. This means that the security of your account is ensured even when you are accessing the internet through a public source of internet connectivity, such as Wi-Fi. Moreover, the majority of the platforms provide “Smart Limits” that are location and time zone-based. In this way, an individual can develop a habit when they are traveling. All of this has been done in a way that the overall experience remains a positive one. This is because betting is something that an individual chooses for his or her entertainment.
The innovations in the field of technology, such as the introduction of technology through eSIM, allow an individual to remain connected. This means that an individual does not face “bill shock” when they are using roaming.
Travel/Tourism
FG Adopts Hybrid Access Gate Payment System at Airports
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The federal government has directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to adopt a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.
This system is to be used until the introduction of a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at the airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, disclosed that these decisions were reached after reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed.
FAAN had earlier commenced an electronic payment system last week, but it was suspended by President Bola Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created.
Yesterday, the Aviation Minister met with officials of FAAN and senior officials of the Ministry, and it was agreed to engage concessionaires for the introduction of a fully automated or electronic system.
Mr Keyamo, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Tunde Moshood, said motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.
It was also resolved that other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available, while members of the public and road users were encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the organisation continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.
Travel/Tourism
Tinubu Suspends Cashless Airport Toll Gate Payment System
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The cashless airport toll gate payment system introduced by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
At the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, Mr Tinubu directed the agency to immediately return to the status quo, pending the development of a more efficient system.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who announced the suspension after the FEC meeting today, said the action followed gridlock that trailed the new system, which caused passengers to miss their flights.
FAAN had commenced the cashless payment system for airport toll gates across the country in a bid to block revenue leakages and adopt an electronic payment system instead of cash.
But this policy caused traffic gridlock at several airports, especially those in Lagos and Abuja.
“Mr President was very concerned about the welfare of Nigerians and the fact that most Nigerians were losing their flights, missing their flights.
“So, Mr President, out of empathy, directed today that we should suspend the present system because it creates a lot of gridlock, and Nigerians are suffering as a result of it,” Mr Keyamo informed newsmen.
“The major reason why Mr President took this decision is to eliminate the present gridlock that we are experiencing, especially at both the Lagos and Abuja toll gates leading to the airport.
“That’s the major reason, not that the President is happy with the cash system,” he added.
The Minister further said the President directed stakeholders to “go back and, if possible, even engage the private sector to ensure that we establish an electronic system by which we can collect these revenues for the federal government at the gates, to the extent that it will not create the gridlock that we are having right now.”
“We are going to do a hybrid system whereby we can collect cash temporarily and, of course, use the cards that they have collected temporarily for now,” Mr Keyamo added.
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