TO THE TABLE MEA. Food and Beverage Professionals. Seminar programme for the next event.

Your seminar host:

Devina is an experienced hospitality moderator and chairs the sessions at TO THE TABLE MEA.

Devina Divecha Writer, Editor, MC and Media Consultant

Tuesday 18th November

9:00 - 10:00

Seminar Presentation: Crafting the Guest Experience with Creativity, Authenticity and Culinary Stories

Marc Antoni Ledesma Senior Director F&B Design and Development EMEA - Marriott International

Scott Valentine Vice President Food & Beverage – Rotana Hotels

Lloyd Carter Director of Restaurants & Bars, Design & Partnerships IMEA – IHG Hotels & Resorts

Culinary leaders join forces to discuss the latest trends influencing the MEA region, including how to personalise the guest experience to curate memorable dining moments and the best ways to incorporate immersive stories into the menu curation. 71% of Gen Z and 74% of Millennials now plan their trips around food – craving authenticity, local flavours and stories served on every plate, so how do we embrace this to deliver experiences that guests enjoy, remember and share.

Tuesday 18th November

13:50 - 14:50

Seminar Presentation: Hospitality Workforce for the Future – Finding and Investing in Your People

Debbie Simister Global Vice President Talent Management – Accor

Greg Wright Managing Partner - Food People

Elham Bolooki Senior Manager Experiential Learning – Dubai College of Tourism

With talent as the hospitality industry’s greatest asset, our leading experts will be discussing strategies that have led recruitment and training initiatives in the MEA region. As the hospitality industry continues to develop and expand, with huge mega projects and a pipeline of hotels, we will discuss the challenges involved in keeping up with demand in cities and remote locations, while focusing goals of motivation, retention, career paths and loyalty.

Wednesday 19th November

9:00 - 10:00

Seminar Presentation: Hospitality Developments that are Shaping the MEA Region

Brendan McCormack Vice President of Marketing – The First Group

Dor Win Tan Director of Development – ROSHN, a PIF Company

Miguel Silva Corporate F&B Director, Hospitality Management – Azizi Developments

Our development experts will be focused on upcoming projects in the MEA region that are creating headlines, highlighting some of the key projects in the pipeline and how they will impact the hospitality industry as a whole. We will be looking their unique aspects, their individual wow factors, looking at the key challenges, evolving trends and how luxury hospitality is being defined and implemented in the MEA region.