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In a pivotal discussion, H.H. Princess Sara bint Salman Al‑Saudi Al‑Saud and Mr. AlHamdan outlined how Saudi Arabia is stepping into the global tourism spotlight by hosting the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh (7-11 November 2025) — coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the UN tourism body. They emphasised Saudi’s intent to leverage this milestone to showcase its transformation under Vision 2030, and to set a new course for the industry under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future.” The roundtable highlighted three core areas of focus: deepening international collaboration across 160+ member states; embedding artificial intelligence and sustainable innovation into the travel ecosystem; and using the event as a platform to accelerate Saudi’s role as a global tourism hub and model of responsible growth.

The Maldives is moving to expand its tourism model with proposed amendments to the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act. The changes create a new category of Sustainable Townships, designed for large-scale, integrated developments that combine hospitality, residential real estate, health, education, and renewable energy infrastructure.

The 16th edition of the Italian Cuisine World Summit, the longest-running event celebrating Italian gastronomy, restaurants, and authentic Italian-made food and beverages, returned to Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on November 3. The event paid tribute to Italy’s rich culinary heritage and vibrant dining scene, featuring chefs representing Michelin-star-awarded restaurants from across Italy.

Over the past forty years, I’ve been fortunate to check into some of the world’s most storied hotels. I’ve slept beneath the chandeliers of The Plaza in New York, been serenaded by cicadas at Amanpulo in the Philippines, sipped a Singapore Sling at Raffles, and watched the city wake from the Dorchester’s rooftop suite. I’ve stayed at the Burj Al Arab, where even the pillows come with a menu. But last night, thanks to my daughter’s TikTok, I decided to try something rather different, a night in a cocoon.