SEEN & HEARD SHIC 2020 brings together hundreds of hospitality leaders

The annual hospitality event followed a milestone year for Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry, after the launch of new visas which attracted 55,000 visitors in just one month

The third annual edition of the Saudi Arabia Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC), was held from 21-22 January 2020 at Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel in Riyadh, bringing together more than 350 dignitaries, developers, investors, hotel owners and operators to discuss the future of the Kingdom’s ever-growing hotel market in light of the event's theme, ‘Transform Tomorrow’.

Hosted by Dur Hospitality, organized by Semark and co-organized by Bench Events and MEED, SHIC 2020 featured more than 90 high-profile speakers from companies paving the way in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality investment industry, including the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Al Hokair Group, AMAALA, The Red Sea Development Company and Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA).

The SHIC programme addressed various topics impacting the future growth of the hospitality sector, from asset management and franchising to sustainable luxury and artificial intelligence, case studies on mega projects, leadership panels, roundtables and a Three-minute Pitch to Owners, during which leading brands presented their latest lodging products and loyalty programs. ahic.com/shic