HVS | Hala Matar Choufany

Hala Matar Choufany, ISHC

President - HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai

[email protected]

+971 (4) 354-4771 (Work)

+971 (50) 459-7930 (Mobile)

English, French, Arabic

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Weighing Up the Options: Franchise, Management Agreement, or Third-Party Operator?

Choosing the right hotel operating model (franchise, management agreement, or third-party operator) depends on owner goals, market conditions, and property characteristics. Franchises offer brand support but require strict standards. Management agreements, common in the Middle East, balance risk and reward. Third-party operators provide flexibility and cost efficiency. Owners must evaluate options to maximize returns as market dynamics shift.

May 5, 2025 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Travel & Tourism , Hotel Companies , Hotel Management , Management Contracts , Middle East

Luxury Hotel Market’s Investment Opportunities

The Middle East's luxury hotel market is expanding, fueled by economic diversification and a growing population of high-net-worth individuals. Key destinations like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are experiencing significant development in luxury accommodations. However, potential oversupply in major cities could affect room rates and occupancy. The outlook remains positive, supported by continued investment in unique, high-end experiences.

January 21, 2025 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Hotel Operations , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Companies , Middle East

Navigating Hotel Transactions and Valuations in the GCC

The GCC region presents significant opportunities for hotel investment, driven by rapid supply growth and evolving market trends. However, challenges such as valuation mismatches, rising costs, and operational inefficiencies highlight the need for strategic approaches. Key considerations include aligning development costs with market realities, adopting modern valuation metrics, and leveraging diversified revenue streams to enhance profitability and sustain long-term growth.

January 6, 2025 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Valuations & Market Studies , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Companies , Middle East

Visitation Growth & Key Tourism Drivers in the MEA Region

Hala Matar Choufany shares her insights on Bloomberg Alsharq with Maya Hojeij, discussing key drivers behind the region's impressive visitation growth and tourism expansion.

October 30, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Hotel Operations , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Companies , Morocco , Egypt , Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates , Qatar , Middle East

Exploring HVS Middle East & Africa’s New Service Lines, Market Outlook, and Regional Trends with Hospitality News Middle East

In this interview, Hala Matar Choufany discusses with Hospitality News Middle East and Rita Ghantous the new service lines offered by HVS Middle East & Africa, along with insights into the market outlook, emerging trends, and regional sentiment impacting the hospitality industry.

October 30, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Companies , Middle East

The Future of Investments and Financing - Hospitality Sector Trends

The hospitality sector is experiencing major transformations influenced by several key factors. As the industry grows, investors will prioritize opportunities that balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility, ensuring a dynamic and forward-thinking hospitality industry.

September 10, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Technology , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Risk Management , Middle East , Global

Board Leadership Forum

Hala offers insights into how boards drive company profitability, their crucial role in defining vision and strategy, and perspectives on growth and profitability in the MEA region.

June 19, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Middle East , Africa

Brand Dilemma: Navigating the Pros and Cons of Launching New Brands – An Unbiased Perspective

Hala Matar Choufany contributes her insights on the “Brand Dilemma: Navigating the Pros and Cons of Launching New Brands – An Unbiased Perspective".

June 13, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Asset Management , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Brands , Hotel Management , Saudi Arabia , Middle East

The FHS Podcast: The Transformative Growth of Tourism in Saudi Arabia

The two leading women executives in hospitality discuss the critical Saudi traveller, the phenomenal growth of tourism in the region supported by data and how as the tourism industry booms in the region, it opens up a host of opportunities to set new benchmarks by challenging the status quo and bringing more women to the front.

June 4, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Travel & Tourism , Convention, Sports, Entertainment , Economic Trends and Cycles , Middle East , Saudi Arabia

Turkey's Positive Outlook

Located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Turkey’s hospitality industry continues to stand strong. Hala Matar Choufany, president for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia at HVS, tells us more.

April 16, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Operations , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Brands , Turkey

Hospitality in the Middle East

Hala's contribution as one of the leading world experts in the "Business and Management Collection" from Henry Stewart Talks on the topic of Hospitality in the Middle East

January 12, 2024 By Hala Matar Choufany

Asset Management , Sales & Marketing , Travel & Tourism , Hotel Management , COVID-19 , Middle East , United Arab Emirates , Dubai , Saudi Arabia , Abu Dhabi , Oman , Kuwait , Qatar

Africa on the Rise

While East Africa’s travel, tourism and hospitality sectors have faced various challenges in recent years, there are encouraging signs of growth, as Hala Matar Choufany, president - HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia, points out.

December 19, 2023 By Hala Matar Choufany

Valuations & Market Studies , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Africa , South Africa , Egypt , Morocco , Mauritius , Rwanda , Kenya , Seychelles , Nigeria , Addis Ababa , Kigali , Cape Town , Nairobi , Lagos , Sharm El-Sheikh , Dakar , Kampala

Building Hotels in a Challenging Environment | FHS 2023

Watch Hala Matar Choufany's discussion about the region's development of hotels, the existing challenges, and opportunities, at the 2023 Future Hospitality Summit

November 1, 2023 By Hala Matar Choufany

Hotel Investments & Ownership , Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Brokerage & Transactions , Economic Trends and Cycles , Middle East , United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Bahrain , Kuwait , Oman

Navigating the Investment Terrain: Trends in GCC Hotel Development Costs

Our team of experts has gathered invaluable insights, best practices, and case studies from the forefront of hotel development which forms the basis of our cost indication. Collectively, Hala Matar Choufany and Filippo Sona have advised on more than 10,000 hotel projects in the region, bringing tremendous experience, and unparalleled insights into hotel development costs and recent trends in the industry.

September 22, 2023 By Hala Matar Choufany

Development & Construction , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Middle East , United Arab Emirates , Oman , Saudi Arabia , Bahrain , Qatar

A new chapter in the region’s growth story

Strategic master plans and reforms point to a growing appetite for hospitality investment and development across the GCC, bringing opportunities to benefit from attractive returns and contribute to the growth and diversification of regional economies. Hala Matar Choufany, president, HVS Middle East, Africa and South Asia, maps out the openings and challenges, and crunches the numbers.

September 6, 2023 By Hala Matar Choufany

Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Middle East , Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates , Qatar

Hala Matar Choufany, ISHC

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