The second annual Vision Conference, a key feature of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, will see a line-up of industry experts exploring the kingdom’s booming hospitality sector with topics ranging from mega-projects to technology trends.

Ramzi R. Solh, CEO of Commercial Development at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), is the latest addition to the conference line-up.

Solh will discuss “Mega-projects – an inside view” with a behind-the-scenes look at the development of KAEC, the world’s largest privately funded city.

“We are very excited by the government’s support of the tourism sector as outlined in Vison 2030 and by the sector’s potential to generate both jobs and memorable family experiences,” said Solh. “KAEC’s tourism strategy is intended to position the city as Saudi Arabia's must-visit tourism destination, creating growth opportunities across the nation’s wider hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.”

KAEC is an emerging west-coast leisure and residential destination as well as a regional logistics and manufacturing gateway. The city, 100 km north of Jeddah, has a total planned investment of $100 billion and a residential capacity of 2 million people on completion in 2035.

KAEC is expected to attract more than 3 million tourists per year by 2025. The city is already a local destination for weekend getaways, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors in 2015. It currently has 38 tourism and leisure projects in the pipeline including hotels, resorts and family entertainment attractions.

Also adding to the Vision Conference line up for 2016 is Deloitte, Iconsulthotels, Hilton Worldwide, Ramada Hotels, AlKamal International, Figjam, and Hochtief Vicon, among others.

Other topics to be covered at the conference include: “Market performance, trends and projects in Jeddah and Makkah”; “Boutique hotels - winning over tomorrow’s guests through customised experiences”; “Time for transformation: Learning and development opportunities for Saudi nationals by Hilton Worldwide”; “Using social and digital media to attract domestic travellers”; and “Sustainability in hotel design”.

The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and its Vision Conference, which will take place from May 17 to 19 at Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events, are the leading forums for hospitality industry professionals to source products, network and learn in the kingdom. - TradeArabia News Service