Under the patronage of: The Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces Medical Services, K.S.A

Rashad Iskandrni

Taiba Investments, a leading hospitality company in Saudi Arabia, has announced the signing of an agreement with Salesforce, the global leader in AI-driven customer experience management solutions, to deploy Salesforce Customer 360 across its portfolio.

Hassan Ahdab, Chief Hospitality Operations Officer at Taiba Investments, commented, "This partnership with Salesforce underscores our unwavering commitment to driving operational excellence across all Taiba Investments properties. By leveraging best-in-class customer experience solutions, we aim to deliver seamless, personalized, and elevated hospitality experiences for our guests."

Salesforce Customer 360 empowers Taiba to deliver world-class guest services and engage customers across multiple traditional and digital touchpoints, significantly enhancing the customer journey while boosting operational efficiency across its properties.

Al Ahdab added, "The deployment of Salesforce Customer 360 marks a major milestone in Taiba Investments’ digital transformation journey, as we harness the power of cutting-edge AI solutions to offer a truly differentiated hospitality experience across our hotels and facilities Kingdom-wide."

Commenting on the partnership, Mohammed Al Khotani, SVP and Managing Director at Salesforce Middle East, stated, "We are proud to join forces with Taiba Investments, a leading Saudi hospitality brand, and look forward to supporting their leadership in leveraging AI tools to optimize operations and elevate guest experiences. With Salesforce Customer 360, we are confident Taiba will set new benchmarks in blending authenticity with technology to redefine hospitality in the region."

As part of the agreement, Taiba Investments will work alongside Horizontal Digital, a premier global digital agency and Salesforce Summit Partner, which has an established track record of delivering successful Salesforce implementations for top-tier Saudi organizations.

Notably, Taiba Investments boasts a robust portfolio of nearly 40 properties, including hotels, residential compounds, and commercial centers, and manages over 7,700 keys, with eight additional properties under development. The company maintains strategic partnerships with leading global hotel brands such as Marriott International, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn, underscoring its stature as a frontrunner in the Kingdom’s hospitality landscape.

Rashad Iskandrni

 Sommet Education, is a global leader in higher education for the hospitality and service industries providing world-class education through its prestigious institutions, including Les Roches, École Ducasse, and Glion Institute of Higher Education. Earlier today, on stage at the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia (FHS) taking place at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh this week, the winner of the 2025 FHS Future Leader Awards was announced.

This year’s Future Leader Award winner is Lama AlQawasmi, Co-Founder & COO of Hospitality talents, Vice President of Hospitality at Moqam Urban Development Co. Lama AlQawasmi stands as a remarkable example of young woman leadership in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality industry. 

The Future Leader Award is an initiative from FHS organizer The Bench, powered by the Sommet Education Foundation, the non-for-profit organization of Sommet Education aiming at fostering inclusivity in the Hospitality Education. 

The Future Leader Award was open to individuals aged 18 to 35 who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and impact in the hospitality field. The jury included leaders from renowned hospitality and education institutions such as Carlos Díez de la Lastra, Chief Executive Officer of Les Roches, Anouck Weiss, Chief Communication Officer of Sommet Education, Co-founder & Executive Vice President of Sommet Education Foundation; Luis Nicolas Barrios, Regional Manager of Innovation Education and Investment at UN Tourism, and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench.

“Saudi Arabia’s hospitality industry is undergoing a dynamic shift, and we believe the Future Leader Award is an important step in recognizing the young leaders who are driving that change. Through this award, we are proud to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by fostering talent and offering opportunities for growth and development to the next generation of hospitality leaders.” said Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches. 

Lama has led strategic initiatives across multiple organizations—including founding a consultancy division, championing sustainability and innovation, and mentoring young professionals in the sector. She has already held influential roles at Moqam Urban Development, and the Elaf Group, where she’s driven operational excellence and talent development. Lama’s focus on collaboration, education, and social impact makes her not just a rising star—but a guiding light for the next generation of hospitality leaders.

Lama shared: “Thank you so much I’m truly honoured to receive this award. This award isn’t just about me, it’s about the belief that talent exists everywhere and opportunities do as well. My mission is to fill this gap through hospitality, through education, and through purpose.”

“Lama AlQawasmi embodies the empowering, people-centric leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, and deep passion for hospitality that we strive to nurture at Sommet Education. She represents exactly the kind of leader the hospitality world needs - driven by purpose, committed to others, and unafraid to shape the future,” said Anouck Weiss, Chief Communication Officer of Sommet Education, and Co-founder & Executive Vice President of Sommet Education Foundation.

As part of Lama’s prize, she will get access to an exclusive scholarship opportunity within Sommet Education’s portfolio of Master’s, Executive Master’s or part-time education at Glion Institute of Higher Education or Les Roches Global Hospitality in the UK, Switzerland, and Spain as well as access to Sommet Education's alumni networks, internships, and job placement opportunities. 

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Rashad Iskandrni

The International Pediatric Science conference will be held 

tomorrow in Riyadh

In collaboration with Prince Sultan Military Medical City Continuing Professional Development Department, and participation of the Saudi Society of Pediatric Neurology

Riyadh is to host the International Pediatric Science conference from the 13th to the 15th of May, 2025, the leading event under the patronage of the Ministry of Defense, K.S.A, and the Armed Forces Medical Services, and in collaboration with Prince Sultan Military Medical City Continuing Professional Development Department, and participation of the Saudi Society of Pediatric Neurology. 

This conference is a multidisciplinary conference that brings together chief local and regional experts specializing in various pediatric specialties, including clinicians, doctors, researchers, and educators involved in pediatric and neonatal care. 

The event will provide an excellent platform to discover innovation in pediatric healthcare, discuss emerging trends and inventions, exchange ideas, expand horizons, network with colleagues, and learn from the leaders' new innovations the most critical issues in pediatrics including nutrition, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, immunology, neurology, pulmonolgy neonatal care and other Pediatric subspecialties . And is an educational meeting where scientists will present their latest research and innovation in the field for a better future for the young generation.

Conference chairman, Dr. Khalid Hundallah Consultant Said: “Over the past few years, advancements in Pediatric Science have been significant, driven by continuous research, technological innovation, and improved clinical practices. This has led to Early diagnosis and screening for disorders in children and tailoring treatment plans. The International Pediatric Science conference gathers chief local and regional experts to discuss the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders in children”. 

 Moreover, this leading event supports practitioners to discuss challenging or rare cases and seeks input and advice from colleagues with diverse experiences. This leads to better treatment strategies and outcomes for patients with complex conditions, and will inspire new research directions, promote innovation, and lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating pediatric conditions. Added, Dr. Khalid Hundallah.

The conference Chairman is Dr. Khalid Hundallah Consultant Pediatric Neurology, Chairman of Pediatric Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Vice President, Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society, KSA . And Chair of the of organizing committee is Dr. Khaled Baqais Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Consultant, Head of Pulmonary Medicine Division, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA . The organizing Committee includes Dr. Fahad Al-Abbas Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Consultant, Head of Pediatric Hematology Division, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Abdulrahman Asiri Head of Pediatric Rheumatology Division, Executive Director of Academic Affairs, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Faisal Al-Haffaf Pediatric Gastroenterology Consultant, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA, Dr. Faten Al-Mijmaj Pediatric Endocrinology consultant, Head of Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes division, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Majed Aloufi Pediatric Nephrology Consultant, Director of Pediatric Nephrology Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Mansour AlQwaiee Pediatric Pulmonary Consultant, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA, Ms. Reema Al-Zahrani Health Management Specialist, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA . 

And scientific committee includes : Prof. Fahad Bashiri Professor, Consultant Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, President, Saudi Pediatric Neurology Society, KSA , Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Odayani Pediatric Infectious Disease Consultant, Director of Infection Control Center of Excellence, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Associated Professor, Alfaisal University, KSA , Dr. Hassan Al-Ahmari Consultant General Pediatric Medicine, Head of General Pediatric Division, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Malak Al-Samnan Consultant Neonatologist,  Head of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. May Al-Barrak Consultant, Pediatrics Infectious Diseases, Head of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases Division and Patient Safety Division, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Mohammed Al-Shahrani Consultant Pediatric Hematology Oncology &BMT, Head unit of pediatric Bone Marrow transplant, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Prof. Sarar Mohamed Professor and consultant of Pediatric Genetic and Metabolic medicine Head of Pediatric Metabolic and Genetic Medicine Division, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA , Dr. Yasser Al-Saheel Consultant Pediatric Intensivist, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, KSA