By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has held talks with investors, developers and hotel operators on upgrading the capital’s hospitality sector ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in August 2027.
The meeting, chaired by CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Sohail Ashraf at CDA headquarters, focused on improving hotel facilities and bringing hospitality services in line with international standards to accommodate foreign delegations and other visitors expected for the summit.
Participants included Ducommun Tim Paul, director of development for Asia at the Accor Group, and representatives of major hotel chains operating in Islamabad, including Marriott, Serena, Mövenpick, Best Western and Ramada, as well as investors and developers associated with the hospitality and real estate sectors. Paul appreciated the CDA’s efforts to make Islamabad more attractive to tourists and business visitors, according to a statement issued by the authority.
Sohail Ashraf said Islamabad offered significant opportunities for investment in the hospitality industry and modernisation of existing facilities. He said the capital’s growing potential as a tourism destination made it necessary to develop services that met international standards.
He said the CDA would facilitate investors and encourage private-sector participation in upgrading the hospitality sector, adding that available resources would be utilised to improve the capital’s capacity to host major international events.
The meeting also highlighted the need for coordination among the CDA, investors, hotel operators and international hospitality groups to improve arrangements for visiting delegations and strengthen Islamabad’s position as a diplomatic and tourism destination.
