The United Nations Specialised Agency for tourism has confirmed Ms. Al Nowais as its next Secretary-General following the 26th General Assembly in Riyadh. Her appointment, confirmed by the 160 Member States, is a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to lead the organisation in its 50-year history. Ms. Al Nowais will commence her five-year term at the start of 2026. She brings considerable private sector experience to the role, including her recent position as Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels. She also chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group. She outlined five core priorities for her mandate. These include responsible tourism, capacity building, technology for good, innovative financing, and smart governance.
Egypt has signed a significant investment partnership with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund arm, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. The deal will see the development of an integrated urban tourism project on the Mediterranean coast in the Alam El Roum area. The total investment is estimated at more than USD 29.7 billion. The project spans 4,900 acres and 7.2 kilometers of coastline, and aims to transform the area into a world-class destination. It will include high-end residential complexes, luxury resorts with over 4,500 hotel rooms, and a new marina. The agreement includes an initial cash payment of USD 3.5 billion to Egypt. Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly emphasised that the deal reflects the strong fraternal relations and investment cooperation between Egypt and Qatar.
Marriott International, Inc. has announced an agreement with Pacifica Hotels G.K. to introduce its midscale brand, City Express by Marriott, to Japan. The deal involves converting two existing hotels in Osaka, which are scheduled to reopen in 2026. The two properties will be named City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South and City Express by Marriott Osaka Shin-Imamiya. The collaboration with Pacifica Hotels and AB Capital aims to capitalise on rising hotel rates and strong demand for quality, value-driven accommodation in Osaka. The properties are strategically located near major transit hubs for seamless travel across the Kansai region.
The new Chedi Private Residences Downtown is the second branded residential tower to be developed in partnership with Al Seeb Real Estate Development. The decision to move ahead with the second project quickly followed the successful launch of the first project, The Chedi Private Residences Sheikh Zayed Road. This debut development sold 65% of its units within months of its market introduction earlier in the year. The latest signing confirms Chedi Hospitality’s rapid expansion in the luxury branded residences segment, a drive that includes the recently announced Chedi Residences Wadi Safar in Saudi Arabia.
Peregrine Hospitality has named Kristen Richter as its new Chief Commercial Officer, succeeding Kristie Goshow. Richter joins the company from Accor, where she was CCO for the Fairmont and Raffles brands, overseeing all commercial strategy elements, including sales, revenue, and distribution. Richter will now be responsible for Peregrine’s commercial strategy, revenue management, sales, and marketing across its portfolio. CEO Greg Kennealey praised Richter as an "exceptional commercial strategist" whose leadership will be crucial for optimising the company's revenue strategies. Richter sees the opportunity to refine how commercial strategy informs every business decision to drive sustained revenue growth.
Maersk has officially opened its largest contract logistics facility in Asia Pacific, the Maersk Mega Distribution Centre (DC), which substantially increases its warehouse capacity in Malaysia. The facility spans nearly 180,000 square metres and offers 100,000 pallet positions for multi-client use, handling commodities like consumer goods and apparel. The site features state-of-the-art automation systems, including Autonomous Mobile Robots and an Automated Storage and Retrieval System, to ensure fast, accurate order fulfilment. The development aligns with Malaysia’s Logistics and Trade Facilitation Masterplan, aiming to establish the nation as the ‘Logistics Gateway to Asia’.
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