Organisers of the inaugural EMEA CHRIE 2026 Conference have confirmed the full line-up of speakers ahead of the main conference sessions, which begins November 10, at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai.
Hosted by Dubai
College of Tourism (DCT), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
(DET), in partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library
Foundation, the conference opened today with a pre-conference programme at
Dubai College of Tourism.
The main sessions will
run from November 10 to 12,under the theme, “Beyond the Map: Defining the
Future of Tourism.”
The event will bring
together educators, researchers and industry leaders from across Europe, the
Middle East and Africa to explore the future of tourism and hospitality
education, strengthen regional and international collaboration, and address the
skills and talent needed to support the sector's continued growth.
The conference also
marks the evolution of EuroCHRIE, the European federation of the International
Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE), into EMEA
CHRIE, reflecting the growing significance of the Europe, Middle East and Africa
region in tourism and hospitality education.
The four-day programme
will feature keynote presentations, practical workshops, research marathons and
majlis-style discussions, bringing together prominent voices from across
tourism, hospitality, technology and education.
Confirmed speakers
include His Excellency Mohammed El Murr, Chairman of the Dubai Historical
District Development Committee and Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Library Foundation; Hoor Al Khaja, Senior Vice President, International
Operations at Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM); and
Marjan Faraidooni, Chief HR Officer and Chief of Education and Culture at Expo
City Dubai.
The industry line-up
also features Arva Ahmed, Co-Founder of Frying Pan Adventures; Joyce Abou
Jaoude, Industry Head, Travel and Tourism at Google Middle East and North
Africa; Jan Tissera, President of International Amadeus Hospitality; Georges
Fenergi, Senior Vice President at Amadeus; Akrem Aloui, Vice President,
Strategic Airlines – META Region at Amadeus; and Alfonso Sasselli, Director,
Industry Alliances at Amadeus.
Other speakers include
Frauke Aoun, General Manager of Affini, Marriott International; Jeremy Jauncey,
Founder and CEO of Beautiful Destinations; and Radhika Arapally, Founder of
Sustainability Kiosk.
The programme will
examine how technology, innovation and public-private partnerships are
transforming the visitor experience, while addressing emerging tourism trends
and the evolving capabilities required by the next generation of hospitality
and tourism professionals.
Keynote discussions
will explore Dubai's diversified tourism strategy, the changing traveller
journey and the technology enabling more seamless travel experiences.
Other sessions will
focus on building a tourism-oriented city, strengthening Dubai's global
connectivity, and the role of women in shaping destinations and driving
industry change.
Amadeus, a global
travel technology company, will also lead a series of discussions examining the
future of travel and Dubai's continued development as an international tourism
hub.
The conference takes
place as Dubai's tourism sector maintains strong momentum, highlighting the
growing demand for skilled professionals and innovative approaches to
destination development.
The event also
supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to
strengthen the emirate's position as a leading global destination for business,
tourism and investment.
With the main
conference programme commencing on 10 November, registration remains open until
November 10.
Educators, researchers, students and tourism and hospitality professionals are encouraged to register ahead of the deadline to participate in the inaugural EMEA CHRIE gathering. -TradeArabia News Service
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