Exclusive interview with Chris Newman, Executive Director, NEOM Hotel Development
With 95% of the land protected for nature, NEOM offers incredible biodiversity
The world is changing fast, and moving into a new era of hospitality. NEOM will move at the same pace with its hotel developments. This will enable NEOM lead the way in business innovation, enhanced livability, and environmental sustainability.
Ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023, taking place from 25-27 September at Hilton Yas Island Abu Dhabi, we caught up with Chris Newman, Executive Director, NEOM Hotel Development. Organized by The Bench, FHS brings together the Middle East and Africa’s industry leaders for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors. The region’s flagship hospitality investment platform will feature three days of dealmaking and impactful industry discussions under the theme ‘Focus on Investment’.
Chris Newman has over 35 years of global hospitality experience, overseeing hotel strategies, introducing pioneering concepts, and developing high-performance teams. He aims to place NEOM at the forefront of the hospitality revolution. The following is an exclusive interview with Chris that Economy Middle East held recently.
Could you provide an overview of NEOM’s vision and objectives in the realm of hotel development and hospitality?
Our vision is to establish ourselves as pioneers of a new future of hospitality. Free from legacy infrastructure, we have a blank canvas to work from. It is an incredible position to be in – we have an opportunity to fully harness advances in technology and consider concepts that may not be possible in other environments, allowing us to develop properties that push the boundaries of design and innovation, while our service philosophy will be carefully tailored to match individual tastes and preferences. Our aim is to be a global leader and catalyst for change in a new era for our industry, while firmly contributing to both NEOM and the Kingdom’s ambitions.
NEOM aims to be a model for sustainable development. How is this sustainability ethos integrated into the design and operation of the hotels in NEOM?
Powered by 100% renewable energy and working in harmony with nature, our properties will respect the principles of environmental responsibility, with sustainable and regenerative practices guiding how we both build and operate the hotel ecosystem. With 95% of the land protected for nature, NEOM offers incredible biodiversity and unique nature-based experiences. We are at a critical moment in time as the world faces up to the challenges of climate change and we have a unique opportunity to redesign how we think about contributing to this global goal. We put this responsibility at the forefront of our daily decision-making as we work towards realizing NEOM’s sustainability targets.
