The Global Restaurxant Investment Forum (GRIF) returns this year as it takes place at the Future Hospitality Summit 2022 this September. The event, which will see the hospitality industry’s leading pioneers have in depth discussions about a variety of topics, is set to take place between the 19^th and 21^st of September in Madinat Jumeirah Dubai. Since its inception in 2014, GRIF has been a well-respected platform that brings together the most ambitious and creative minds of the global restaurant community.

FHS is co-organised by The Bench and MEED, and will bring together government leaders, hotel & restaurant investors, owners, developers, and operators to discuss the growth of the hospitality industry in the region. GRIF will be heavily featured throughout the event, particularly on the first day as several speakers from various organisations will be discussing a range of topics such as ‘Hotel F&B: Thinking Beyond Concepts, Accelerating Entrepreneurial Brand Growth, Successfully Growing & Localising A Global Brand’ and much more.

GRIF will have a big focus on sustainability and how restaurant brands can be more sustainable and embrace the new generation of responsible consumers. On the program will also be a debate on whether food delivery really has a sustainable future given the added cost pressure for operators and the questionable business model of aggregators, which should prove to be an engaging and eye-opening discussion.

James Hacon, the Chief Marketing Officer of MAPAL Group, will open proceedings, followed by a plethora of talks ranging from 15 to 30 minutes long moderated by some of the top individuals in their fields. Moderating on the day will include the likes of Dan Clayton, Director of Strategy and Insights at KEANE, Irina Orlandini, Founder and CEO at Spaecial, Petra B. Spanko, Regional Director at Katch International, and many more revered professionals.

James Hacon, Chief Marketing Officer at MAPAL Group and Programme Director for GRIF at FHS commented, “It is fantastic to bring back the Global Restaurant Investment Forum community into a day of dedicated content within the Future Hospitality Summit programme. The agenda will have a big focus on innovation and future thinking and we are extremely looking forward to discussions on the progression of restaurants and the F&B industry in the aftermath of the pandemic.”

Other speakers during the day include Lloyd Carter, Director of Restaurant and Bar Design and Partnerships of IHG, Roaya Saleh, President & Founder of RS Management WLL, Annick Van Overstraeten, Chief Executive Officer of Le Pain Quotidien, Pauline Ibrahim, Chief Financial Officer of Blackspoon and others. Emma Banks, who is a frequent speaker at the region’s F&B forums, will also be taking part in the opening conversation, “Hotel F&B: Thinking Beyond Concepts,” where attendees will get insight into the future of F&B from a much-admired character in the industry.

Emma Banks, Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development, Hilton, EMEA, had this to say about the program, “Sustainability is at the top of consumers’ minds – and we now see people voting with their feet, leaning towards companies who operate with fact-based accountability, integrity, and transparency. The recent tech acceleration in the F&B space surrounding both responsible sourcing and food waste management means that operators can no longer ignore their environmental impact, but it also highlights the cost benefit potential of acting responsibly.”

For more information on all the work that GRIF does www.grif.com and to keep up to date on the agenda for the FHS visit www.futurehospitalitysummit.com.