‘Hospitality and retail lead growth in ME’:

‘Hospitality and retail lead growth in ME’

Hospitality and retail will be two of the Middle East’s faster-growing sectors for technology, as tourists from the GCC are set to spend more than €60 billion over the next five years, according to InfoComm International.

By 2019, tourists from the GCC are set to spend €55 billion, according to Dinar Standard. Thanks to the rising tourism demand for events such as World Expo 2020 in Dubai and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, the region’s hospitality and retail sectors are set to adopt AV technology such as digital signage, guest room control and wayfinding.

As a result, the Middle East and Africa’s AV market for hospitality and retail combined is set to reach €685 million by 2016, a 65% growth from €415 million in 2012, according to a report by InfoComm International. The organisation’s subsidiary InfoCommAsia Pte is organising InfoComm MEA 2015.

In the UAE, hospitality will be the country’s fastest-growing AV segment, at a CAGR of 17% to 2016. Dubai is forecast to see strong growth, with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing projecting 25 million visitors for World Expo 2020.

Jozef Dusenka, CEO of LED manufacturer Leyard EMEA, said: “Hotel complexes and malls are the centre for social life in the Middle East. Integrating LED seamless display walls with big data analytics can enhance the guest experience by capturing shoppers’ attention with mall-wide entertainment, trying on clothes virtually, and supporting advertising innovation."

Digital signage in particular is rapidly-advancing, with 4K UHD LED walls opening up new retail opportunities, according to InfoComm International. Robust audio systems can also enhance the guest ambience - whether setting the mood in a restaurant, providing an immersive concert-going experience, or unique shopping experience. For Middle East hotels and malls to implement the AV solutions, they need integrated back-end control and automation systems to centrally monitor, manage, and control lighting, temperature, security, digital signage, and audio and video.

“AV systems can no longer work in separate silos - rather control and automation systems bring together data from various AV technologies to analyse venue and mobile device usage, run remote diagnostics, and schedule maintenance – ensuring the top-line guest experience,” said Robin van Meeuwen, CEO of Crestron EMEA.

AV solutions in hospitality and retail will be a key focus for the more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers from 30 countries who are set to attend InfoComm MEA 2015. The 5th InfoComm MEA will run under the theme of “Digital Interconnect for Peak Performance,” co-located with GITEX Technology Week 2015 from 19-21 October 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. For more information and to register for free, visit the webpage.

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