More than 160 international delegates attended the second annual Serviced Apartment Summit MEA in Dubai this week. 
Held at the Fairmont The Palm, the event attracted delegates from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, India, Indonesia, US, UK, Singapore, Russia, The Netherlands and Germany. Despite a turbulent year for the region’s economy, with oil prices having a significant effect on development activity, delegate numbers were slightly up on the the inaugural event in 2015.
The first day of the Summit included a 4×4 desert safari, followed by a drinks reception and speed business card swap in the grounds of the Fairmont The Palm
Day two kicked off with a welcome from host Piers Brown, then a serviced apartment 101 masterclass from Filippo Sona of Colliers. STR Global’s Philip Wooller then outlined the region’s pipeline and performance figures.
A full day’s agenda followed with panel sessions including many of the region’s industry leaders, and covering topics such as investment, digital marketing, operations, short-term reals and holiday homes, legal issues, and local and international demand.
Greg Perry, head of asset management at Gemstone Real Estate Development, said: “The Summit was fantastic. As the Middle East hospitality market continues to grow and mature, the Serviced Apartment Summit is becoming a required attendance for anyone seeking information on this vital sector.”
