Fairmont & Almosafer Official WTM Spotlight Riyadh Partners
- Fairmont Ramla and Fairmont Riyadh named Official Hotel Partners of the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh; Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co. confirmed as Official Journey Partner
- Both strategic partnerships to underscore confidence in Saudi Arabia's newest focused B2B2C travel trade platform supporting long-term industry growth through meaningful business connections and collaboration
- Taking place from 8-10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), WTM Spotlight Riyadh will connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 10 August 2026: WTM Spotlight Riyadh has announced two major strategic partnerships ahead of its inaugural edition. Fairmont Ramla and Fairmont Riyadh have been appointed as the event’s Official Hotel Partners, while Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co. has been confirmed as its Official Journey Partner.
Taking place from 8–10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), WTM Spotlight Riyadh will connect the global travel industry with Saudi Arabia through a highly curated programme of business meetings, conference sessions and networking opportunities, supporting the Kingdom's ambition to become one of the world's leading tourism destinations.
The partnership announcement further strengthens the event's position as a leading B2B2C travel platform, bringing together internationally recognised hospitality and travel brands that are helping shape the Kingdom's rapidly evolving tourism landscape under Vision 2030.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market and WTM Spotlight Riyadh, said: “The announcement of Fairmont Ramla and Fairmont Riyadh as our Official Hotel Partners and Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co. as our Official Journey Partner reflects the calibre of organisations supporting the launch of WTM Spotlight Riyadh. Both brands have played an important role in Saudi Arabia's tourism development and share our commitment to delivering exceptional visitor experiences while strengthening the Kingdom's position on the global tourism map.
“As Saudi Arabia continues its transformation under Vision 2030, collaboration with trusted industry leaders is essential. These partnerships will help ensure that international exhibitors, buyers and visitors experience the very best of Saudi hospitality while building the partnerships that will help shape the next phase of tourism growth in the Kingdom.”
The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate its tourism transformation under Vision 2030, with tourism targeted to contribute 10% of national GDP by the end of the decade. WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to support these ambitions by connecting international travel businesses with Saudi stakeholders while showcasing the Kingdom's rapidly expanding tourism ecosystem to a global audience. The event reflects Saudi Arabia's growing importance as both a world-class destination and one of the world's most influential outbound travel markets.
As one of the world's most recognised luxury hospitality brands, Fairmont continues to expand its presence across Saudi Arabia, supporting the Kingdom's growing hospitality sector through a portfolio of landmark properties and new developments aligned with Vision 2030's tourism ambitions. As Official Hotel Partners, both Fairmont Ramla & Fairmont Riyadh will welcome international buyers, exhibitors, speakers and delegates attending the inaugural edition of WTM Spotlight Riyadh, showcasing the exceptional hospitality standards for which both the brand and Saudi Arabia are recognised.
Amine Bouhalba, General Manager, Fairmont Ramla, said: “WTM Spotlight Riyadh comes at a pivotal moment for the capital as it continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for business, leisure, and international tourism. In line with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, the event will enable valuable connections between Saudi Arabia and the global travel industry, supporting the Kingdom’s growth as a world-class tourism hub.
“Our strategic partnership reflects Fairmont’s long-term confidence in Riyadh’s dynamic hospitality sector and our commitment to contributing to the city’s continued transformation and sustainable growth. We are proud to support initiatives that elevate Riyadh’s global profile while creating exceptional opportunities for collaboration, investment, and tourism development.”
Muhieddine Zok, General Manager, Fairmont Riyadh, said: “WTM Riyadh comes at an important time for Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom continues to open its doors to the world and welcome more visitors to experience its rich culture, heritage and hospitality. Tourism has become an important part of Saudi Arabia’s development, with new destinations and experiences emerging across the Kingdom and Riyadh playing an increasingly prominent role in this growth.
“For us at Fairmont Riyadh, this is an opportunity to showcase what hospitality in Saudi Arabia is about. Riyadh offers visitors a distinctive combination of heritage, culture and a modern city experience, and we are proud to welcome guests from around the world and introduce them to the warmth and traditions of the Kingdom. WTM Spotlight Riyadh gives the travel industry an important platform to experience and share what Saudi Arabia has to offer.”
As Saudi Arabia's leading travel company, Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co. continues to play a pivotal role in the Kingdom's tourism ecosystem, connecting travellers with domestic and international experiences and supporting growth in both inbound and outbound tourism. Through its destination management expertise and extensive local network, the platform will play an important role in delivering seamless experiences for hosted buyers, exhibitors and international delegates attending WTM Spotlight Riyadh.
Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer Travel & Tourism Co., said: “As Saudi Arabia's leading travel company, we are delighted to collaborate with WTM Spotlight Riyadh as the event's Official Journey Partner. The launch of this event comes at an important moment for the Kingdom's tourism sector, creating new opportunities to connect international travel businesses with one of the world's fastest-growing markets.
“By combining our destination expertise with WTM Spotlight Riyadh's global reach, we look forward to delivering seamless experiences for hosted buyers, exhibitors and delegates while helping strengthen Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global tourism hub in line with Vision 2030.”
WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world, bringing together destinations, hospitality providers, airlines, travel technology companies, attractions and experience providers with Saudi buyers, international hosted buyers and consumers.
The inaugural edition will welcome more than 6,500 regional and international visitors, and 150 international hosted buyers, providing a focused platform for business development, investment and knowledge exchange. The conference programme will explore the themes shaping the future of tourism, including Saudi Arabia's tourism transformation under Vision 2030, hospitality and experiences, transport and mobility, and technology and innovation.
Visitor registration for WTM Spotlight Riyadh is now open, with travel professionals invited to secure their place at the inaugural event and engage directly with one of the world's fastest-growing tourism markets. For exhibitor enquiries, please click here.
ENDS
About WTM Spotlight Riyadh
WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia is the definitive launchpad for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions – a platform purpose-built to connect the Kingdom’s growing tourism sector with the global travel industry. The show promotes meaningful exchange between regional stakeholders and international players. It’s where global travel brands gain direct access to one of the most promising new markets, and where Saudi Arabia showcases its destinations, vision, and investment opportunities to the world. WTM Spotlight Riyadh plays a vital role in shaping the Kingdom’s journey as a rising force in global tourism.
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at https://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents.
The events are:
WTM Spotlight India is a refined, high-impact platform that brings the legacy of the globally renowned WTM portfolio to India – anchored by WTM London and spanning leading travel trade events including Arabian Travel Market, WTM Latin America, WTM Africa, and WTM Spotlight Riyadh.
Building on this heritage of excellence, innovation, and high-value connections, WTM Spotlight India will debut at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, from 2–4 March, 2027. Designed as a curated, business-first experience, it offers a premium platform for India's travel and tourism stakeholders to engage with global opportunities, foster strategic partnerships, and unlock growth in one of the world's most dynamic travel markets.
https://www.wtm.com/spotlight-india/en-gb.html
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now in its 33rd year, is held annually in Dubai – the gateway to global travel and tourism with unmatched connectivity – and is where the energy of opportunity comes to life.
More than just an event, ATM is a dynamic hub for industry communities, with forums, experiences, and networking that continue well beyond the show floor over the week. Now in a period of rapid expansion, ATM has grown by 16% year-on-year, attracting over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
Next event: 14-17 September 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
Next event: 3 - 5 November 2026 at ExCel London.
https://www.wtm.com/london/en-gb.html
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
Next event: 13-15 April 2027 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil.
https://www.wtm.com/latin-america/en-gb.html
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7,000 unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019, and welcomed more than 6,000 visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
Next event: 7-9 April 2027 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town
https://www.wtm.com/africa/en-gb.html
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim of keeping all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://www.wtm.com/portfolio/en-gb/blog.html
Media contact:
JAMES LAKIE
General Manager
Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 153 6544
E-mail: james.lakie@shamalcomms.com
Office 3208, Indigo Icon Tower
Cluster F, Jumeirah Lakes Towers
PO Box 502701 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Website: www.shamalcomms.com
Discover all WTM events
Looking for something else?