Dubai Lodging Outlook 2021

On November 9, 2020, Cornell Hotel Society, MENA Chapter, hosted the 6th Annual Dubai Lodging Outlook 2021 Seminar virtually in collaboration with STR.  The seminar started off with a macroeconomic overview and forecast presentation by Mohamed Abu Basha, Director, Head of Macroeconomic Analysis, at EFG Hermes, a prominent investment bank in the region.  Abu Basha’s presentation was followed by a presentation by Sarah Duignan, Director of Client Relationships, and Philip Wooller, Area Director, Middle East & Africa at STR.  Sarah and Philip highlighted the region’s key lodging trends in addition to STR’s 2021 forecast of key metrics for Dubai and the GCC.  The seminar was concluded by Emeritus Professor Sheryl Kimes who presented the results of her latest survey addressing the challenges and lessons learned by hoteliers in the region from the COVID 19 pandemic.

Attendance at the event increased by 30% y-o-y, totaling 420 attendees (important to note that over 700 individuals registered for the event).