Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s largest hotel franchising companies, welcomed senior representatives from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, and leading hospitality and real estate organisations to a cocktail reception held ahead of FHS World Dubai 2026.
Hosted at TRYP by Wyndham Dubai on 28 September, the evening brought together government and tourism stakeholders, hotel owners, developers and consultants to connect and exchange perspectives on the continued development of the UAE’s hospitality sector.
Khalid Al Awar, Director – Business Stakeholders and Government Relations at DET, shared his perspective on Dubai’s hospitality outlook, while Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director of Tourism Development at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, discussed the outlook for the country’s wider tourism sector.
Dimitris Manikis, President, Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, welcomed guests and provided an update on Wyndham’s growth and development in the UAE.
The reception was also attended by Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, International Operations – Vacation Ownership at Travel + Leisure Co.; Rob Burns, Chief Executive Officer of The First Group; and Alison Grinnell, Group Chief Operating Officer of Marjan and Chief Executive Officer of Marjan Hospitality.
Featuring cocktails and live violin music, the evening offered an informal setting for members of Wyndham’s Middle East and Africa team to engage directly with public- and private-sector leaders. By bringing together government entities, tourism stakeholders, hotel operators, owners and developers ahead of FHS World Dubai 2026, the reception reinforced the importance of continued industry collaboration in supporting the UAE’s evolving hospitality landscape.
