Innovation Lab for the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM) in Dubai is one of the world’s leading hospitality management schools and an integral part of the global luxury hotel brand Jumeirah Group.

Although the hospitality industry is often seen as very traditional, it increasingly focuses on innovation. Playroom and EAHM have recognized this trend and formed a joint industrial-academic partnership. As part of this collaboration, an Innovation Hub has been established. It serves as a co-creation space and Design Thinking laboratory, where agile frameworks, methods, and systems are utilized. The Innovation Hub is equipped with a series of dedicated screens and cameras that enable hybrid co-creation and training sessions.

Innovation Hub

The Innovation Hub serves two main purposes. Firstly, it provides an opportunity for students and young professionals to gain an educational experience of the future. They will learn how to use the latest innovation management methods to tackle challenges in the hospitality sector. Secondly, the Innovation Hub is aimed at companies seeking collaboration with the academic community. The objective is to break down sectoral, institutional, and cognitive barriers.

Next Steps

The next steps include the joint development of innovation frameworks for the hospitality and service industries.