RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's first food, hotel and hospitality event takes place today (Friday) in the capital with Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) chairman Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy as keynote speaker.
Food, Hotel, & Hospitality Arabia (FHHA) takes place at the Riyadh International Convention Center and runs until Sept. 13. It is organized by Alagat Montogomery.
"Saudi Arabia is a strong market. Its potential cannot be denied. It has a strong economy and has the biggest population in the Middle East and currently developing six new economic cities expected to create investment opportunities worth more than $100 billion," Bechara M. Nacouzi, chief executive officer of Alagat Montgomery, told Arab News on Tuesday.
The Kingdom's economy is also booming. In the Saudi capital alone, high-rise buildings are being constructed. "This means an expanding market for the companies participating in the exhibition," Nacouzi said.
Nacouzi said FHHA was Saudi Arabia's only business-to-business exhibition dedicated to the hotel, hospitality and catering sector and represented a unique opportunity for those in the industry to sell their products and services in the strongest and fastest growing economy in the Gulf.
Over 50 products and services will be on display during the exhibition, from food and drink, catering equipment, tabletop displays, interiors and design, information technology and services such as premises management.
"The exhibition will introduce a highly-targeted 'Meet-the-Buyer' program to help local hoteliers and restaurateurs identify the right products to help develop their growing businesses," Nacouzi said, adding that the buyers attending the show include leading hotels in the Kingdom.
The exhibition will be held under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Christopher Newton, chairman of London-based Montgomery Exhibitions that is co-organizing the event, said Saudi Arabia has one of the world's fastest growing hospitality sectors.
According to figures released by the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA), there has been a 172 percent increase in the number of hotels in the Kingdom, with demand due to increase over the next 10 years.
Newton added Alagat Montgomery is also planning exhibitions in the Kingdom in the security and jewelry fields in October and November respectively.
"We are also looking into the possibility of holding an exhibition in the fields of mining and sustainable building," he said.
© Arab News 2011
