“And this is why I think now hospitality is fun. In the last seven to eight years, we've seen much more creativity, because doing business has become also more expensive. The risks are elevated. Which in many ways is great, because we're being pushed now to think out of the box.” What’s the secret of Dubai’s extraordinary growth as a travel destination? Where should hospitality be directing its efforts to develop tomorrow’s talents? Are women fairly represented in the industry’s upper echelons? And what’s the future looking like for Africa’s hoteliers? Insider Podcast host Martin Green had the questions; Hala Matar Choufany had the answers. And what answers they were – drawn from two decades at the sharp end of hospitality consulting, in which Hala has advised on more than 5,000 hospitality and mixed-use projects across the world. Recently presented with the FHS Excellence Award 2025, Hala’s star is shining brightly, and we are genuinely thrilled to have such a globally respected figure as a special guest on our podcast.