Regional uncertainty and the push for profitable growth top the commercial agenda for hotels in the Middle East and Africa, say industry leaders ahead of the HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conference MEA 2026, taking place at Conrad Dubai on17-18 November.
How guests use AI to choose hotels, how to grow revenue when demand is uncertain and how to get teams using new tools are among the pressing topics at the HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conference MEA 2026 (CSC MEA 2026), held under the theme “Resilience. Agility. Results. The spirit that defines MEA”.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to strengthen the resilience of global Travel & Tourism and ensure its future growth delivers lasting benefits for destinations and local communities.
Addressing more than 50 tourism ministers and senior government representatives at the 20th anniversary of the WTM London Ministers’ Summit, under the theme Strengthening Tourism for a Resilient Future, WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara highlighted the importance of preparedness, leadership and coordinated action in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Lid’s Black Friday Event kicks off on Thursday (12 November), but we’re most excited about the inclusion of a budget-friendly heated throw.
It’s pretty cold right now, and if you don’t want to rely on your central heating to stay warm, choosing one of the best heated blankets or throws is a clever (and more affordable) way to stay toasty this winter.
Ideal Home’s Sleep Editor Amy Lockwood invested in the Dreamland Luxury Throw and swears by it for keeping warm during winter, whether that’s snuggled up on the sofa or wrapped around her when working. And since then, I’ve been looking to get my hands on a similar model.
The Silentnight Luxury Throw is on sale at Lidl, reduced from £44.99 to £24.99, making it one of the most affordable heated throws I’ve seen. This machine-washable throw offers a fast heat-up time and nine different heat settings. It’s incredibly soft to the touch and will heat up in minutes, too. As with all heated blankets, you should switch it off before you go to bed, but this blanket features an auto shut-off feature after two hours as a precaution.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Maxwell Attenborough)
Electric blankets and throws are cheap to run and effective at keeping you warm, and the Silentnight Luxury Heated Throw has thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon singing its praises, so you can trust that Lidl is offering more than just a low price with this deal.
‘Really comfortable heated throw and perfect for keeping warm on colder evenings. The fleece feels soft and cosy, and it heats up nicely without taking too long. Easy to use and a good size for relaxing on the sofa. Very happy with it,’ says one review.
‘Lovely and soft. Heats up well with a great range of temperatures. Perfect for snuggling on the sofa in winter and will help keep the heating bill down. Husband loved it so he bought his own! Definitely recommend,’ says another.
SILENTNIGHT
Hotel Collection Electric Blanket – Double
This electric blanket is also part of Lidl’s Black Friday Event. You’ll find it for £60 at Argos, making this another great deal! Reviews say it offers full bed coverage, quick heating, and soft comfort.
Dreamland
Dreamland Snuggle Up Heated Grey Throw – Large
With six temperature settings and a super-speedy five-minute heat-up time, this is the best heated throw we’ve tested at Ideal Home. It is velvet-soft and has a detachable socket, so you can use it as a normal throw, too.
GlamHaus
Glamhaus Electric Fleece Over Blanket Large 160 X 130cm – Toasted Almond
I love the stylish look of this throw. It has nine temperature controls and nine timer settings for optimum comfort. It’s also machine washable, and reviews praise its quality and effectiveness.
If you haven’t already invested in a heated throw, this Lidl offer is too good to miss.
For the longest time, I used a lightweight shoot-through umbrella as my flash and video light modifier. Unfortunately, a few months ago, my umbrella started falling apart and I needed a replacement. Today, I’ll tell you about its successor, the K&F Concept LK07 Octagonal Softbox, a Bowens-mount light modifier with a diameter of 60cm.
