DUBAI AND ABU DHABI BOAST A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE HOSPITALITY MARKET. WHAT KEY STRATEGIES IS RADISSON EMPLOYING TO DIFFERENTIATE ITS PROPERTIES AND MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN THIS LANDSCAPE? CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT ANY RECENT INNOVATIVE APPROACHES RADISSON HAS IMPLEMENTED IN THESE EMIRATES?
In highly competitive markets like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, standing out requires more than just great locations it requires meaningful innovation and a guest-first mindset. At Radisson Hotel Group, our strategy is centered around technology, personalization, and brand differentiation. Our app allows guests to manage their entire stay from booking to digital check-in, keyless room entry, and personalized offers all in one seamless platform. We’re also leveraging AI-driven solutions such as immersive hotel tours, AI-powered avatars for meetings, and dynamic room selection tools, allowing guests to visualize and choose rooms based on layout and preferences. Operationally, we’ve implemented smart hotel systems that streamline repetitive tasks, enabling our team members to focus entirely on guest engagement. From a branding standpoint, we ensure our hotels cater to evolving guest expectations with elevated F&B concepts, dynamic social spaces, and curated lifestyle offerings. Each of our brands from the upbeat lifestyle Radisson RED to the luxury-lifestyle Radisson Collection has a clear identity and purpose, designed to resonate with specific guest segments in these urban hubs.
THE CONCEPT OF “BLENDED TRAVEL” – WHERE LEISURE AND BUSINESS TRAVEL INTERTWINE – IS GAINING TRACTION. HOW ARE RADISSON PROPERTIES IN THE UAE CATERING TO THE NEEDS OF THESE BLENDED TRAVELERS, AND WHAT SPECIFIC AMENITIES OR SERVICES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO ACCOMMODATE THIS SHIFT?
Blended travel – what many now call “bleisure” – has shifted from being a trend to becoming the norm, especially in key destinations like the UAE. Our properties are thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of these travelers. We’ve introduced hybrid rooms that double as productive workspaces by day and restful sanctuaries by night. These rooms are equipped with video conferencing tools, ergonomic furniture, and high- speed connectivity to ensure seamless remote work experiences. We also offer flexible lobby concepts where guests can work, network, or relax without needing to purchase anything. We’ve combined traditional guest rooms with serviced apartments to cater to longer stays. The bleisure guest also seeks quality downtime, so we’ve elevated our wellness facilities, curated leisure experiences, and transformed our F&B offerings to reflect both global culinary trends and local flavors. By doing so, we offer the balance that today’s travelers crave professional efficiency and meaningful leisure.
TECHNOLOGY PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MODERN HOSPITALITY. CAN YOU DISCUSS ANY RECENT TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS RADISSON HAS IMPLEMENTED ACROSS ITS GCC AND EGYPT PROPERTIES TO ENHANCE GUEST EXPERIENCE, STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, OR DRIVE SUSTAINABILITY?
Technology is at the heart of our transformation strategy. Our Radisson Hotels App has redefined mobile guest journeys, offering everything from keyless room entry to personalized offers and loyalty point redemption. With over 1.9 million downloads, it has become a powerful touchpoint for guest engagement. We’ve also integrated AI into our operations through Smart Hotel Operations (SHO), enabling automation of repetitive tasks so our team can focus on what matters most: the guest experience. In the MICE segment, tools like the Radisson Meetings Dream Machine and Radisson Meetings Unbound use generative AI to help planners conceptualize and visualize their events, while our “Book It Easy” platform streamlines meeting bookings with real-time availability and immersive 3D content. On the sustainability front, innovations such as solar-powered hot water systems, like the one in Dubai Deira Creek, and in-house water bottling plants have been rolled out to reduce our environmental footprint. We view technology not just as a tool, but as an enabler of better, more responsible hospitality.
THE DEMAND FOR UNIQUE AND LOCALIZED EXPERIENCES IS GROWING. HOW DOES RADISSON ENSURE ITS PROPERTIES ACROSS THE GCC AND EGYPT OFFER AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES THAT REFLECT THE LOCAL CULTURE AND APPEAL TO BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC GUESTS?
Delivering a sense of place is essential in today’s hospitality landscape. At Radisson, we achieve this through thoughtfully curated experiences and personalized service. Technology allows us to understand guest preferences more precisely than ever before, enabling our hotels to tailor offers from room amenities to local dining options in real time. We train our teams to be local ambassadors, not just hotel staff. Many of our hotels feature locally sourced products, art, and cuisine. For example, our properties in Oman and Egypt often collaborate with local artisans and chefs to bring authentic traditions into the guest journey. Ultimately, it’s about enabling guests to connect meaningfully with the destination whether that’s through a curated walking tour, a local dish, or a personalized cultural experience.
LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT ARE RADISSON’S KEY PRIORITIES AND GROWTH STRATEGIES FOR THE GCC AND EGYPT MARKETS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC AREAS OF INNOVATION OR EXPANSION YOU ARE PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT?
Our strategy is rooted in thoughtful, sustainable 04 growth. The GCC and Egypt remain priority markets for Radisson Hotel Group, with strong momentum 05 and ambitious development plans. We’re expanding our portfolio across key destinations and entering new segments, including the launch of our lifestyle luxury brand art’otel in the region offering bold, design-forward experiences that resonate with the modern traveler. We’re also scaling our serviced apartments and resort offerings, driven by demand for longer stays and destination-led travel. Innovation will remain a core pillar from AI integration and immersive tech to smarter, greener operations. At the same time, we’ll continue strengthening our owner proposition through best-in-class GOP delivery, efficient systems, and the unmatched support of our commercial engine. We’re not just expanding our footprint we’re elevating the guest journey, empowering our teams, and futureproofing our operations for a more resilient, connected, and responsible hospitality future.
