Looking back over the last 5-10 years, the hospitality industry throughout the Middle East region has undergone an exciting and eventful journey. 

Investment has poured into the region, attracted by the ever-increasing number of tourists, creation of the many free-zones attracting international business, relaxation of property ownership restrictions and a general opening up of the region.  The boom which started at the beginning of the last decade saw new hotel and resort developments being announced so fast, that it was hard to keep count.  For many countries, room rates and occupancy were at an all-time high and visitors had money to burn.

The end of the last decade brought an abrupt slow down, reduction of revenue and profit, cancelled developments, litigation between investors and developers, an oversupplied and stagnated property market, redundancy, and bankruptcy/corporate restructuring. If that wasn't enough, the turbulence emanating from the ‘Arab Spring' protests added fuel to the fire.  For the hotel business, this has benefitted some and caused suffering to others.