Top Hotel March April 2016 Issue

MARCH/APRIL 2016 ISSUE 12

Essential reading for hotel operators, owners, developers and investors

TRAVEL AND THE

BUDGET

Private homes or hotel rooms?

Top hotel Undercover The W Doha

Event updates

GRIF and The Hotel Show KSA

F&B empires

Striking while its hot!

Top hotel Wellness A dedicated look at the regional wellness industry

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Top hotel Middle East is published in association with Signature Media LLC & Freizeit-Verlag Landsberg Gmbh.

The changing face of the hospitality business SIGNATURE MEDIA FZ LLE P. O. Box 49784, Dubai, UAE Tel: 04 3978847/3795678 Email: info@signaturemediame.com Exclusive Sales Agent Signature Media LLC P.O. Box 49784, Dubai, UAE Publisher: Jason Verhoven jason@signaturemediame.com Director: Deepak Chandiramani Deepak@signaturemediame.com Managing Editor: Munawar Shariff munawar@signaturemediame.com Art Director: B Raveendran ravi@signaturemediame.com Production Manager: Roy Varghese Roy@signaturemediame.com

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FREIZEIT-VERLAG LANDSBERG GMBH Johann-Arnold-Straße 32b+c, D-86899 Landsberg am Lech Postbox 101255, D-86882 Landsberg am Lech Telephone +49 (0)8191- 947 160 Fax +49 (0)8191- 947 16-66 www.tophotel.de Managing Directors: Thomas Karsch, Eckhard Lenz Contributor’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this handbook is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by them for errors or omissions, however caused.

Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Signature Media FZ LLE & SIGNATURE MEDIA LLC and cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Staying at hotels while travelling were the only options available till only a few years ago. With portals such as Airbnb, Roomorama, Tripping, Sabbaticalhomes, Homeaway, the increase in the number of private homes available for rent for visitors is monumental. And is obviously going to affect the traditional hospitality business. So while all countries try and invest in their tourism industries, in terms of tourism flows, London, Bangkok, Paris and Dubai lead the way by the number of overnight stays by international visitors while Istanbul, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Lisbon are the top four fastest growing European destinations. More positive hotel performances encourage new budget entrants into the European hotel market and the Middle East.

Consumers are spending more time online, with a growing share of lodging bookings made via smart phones; social media increasingly shapes consumer behaviour; OTA’s are ever more effective at bridging the gap between guests and small independent hotels; and millennial’s are set to value and experience more than a formal service. Collectively, these factors are telling the industry to embrace technology to make sales from the now generation, a consumer group that will make instant hotel decisions based purely on peer-to-peer reviews. (A detailed report on Pg 22).

Moving on to the restaurant business in the country and region, and owing to the consistent growth rate of the F&B market, and recognising its limitless potential in the region, The Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) has taken the initiative to provide a prolific platform on which to connect with investors, owners, franchisors and senior hospitality professionals to discuss industry trends and secure investment opportunities.

More on Pg 36.

See you in May!

Munawar Shariff Managing Editor munawar@signaturemediame.com

MARCH/APRIL 2016 3

CONTENTS

MARCH/APRIL 2016 ISSUE 12

32

22 06 TOP HOTEL UNDERCOVER 36 THE BUSINESS OF EATING Posh, cool and charming - The W Doha

Can’t get enough of the hip, trendy yet full of warmth W Hotel

10 NEWS

All the latest from hotels in the region

18 OPERATOR INTERVIEW

The best of bedouin hospitality A chat with Nehme Imad Darwiche, CEO, Jannah Hotels and Resorts

22 COVER

The emergence of a new preference

An increasing number of online options for guests to stay at when they travel is affecting and changing the way traditional hotel businesses operate

28ASHOWCASING TRENDS preview of what to expect at this

year’s The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia with MICE Arabia

32 GM INTERVIEW

At the centre of it all - The Address Dubai Mall

incent Mercurio, General Manager talks about how the property stays on top of its game

4 MARCH/APRIL 2016

OUT

Annual event Global Restaurant and Investment Forum (GRIF) returns this month

40Tariq CREATING A NICHE Khan, Chairman of Ginza

Fine Dining, tells TH what makes a restaurant stand apart, and how to keep customers coming back for more

36 60Last WELLNESS TRENDS 2016 year’s trends have a big hand in shaping the wellness trends of 2016

62Natura AT THE OSCARS Bisse at the Oscars ceremony 64 SPA PRODUCT REVIEWS Five star quality

Extremely luxurious and superior quality products

46 TOPHOTELPROJECTS.COM 68 COMMUNITY Focus on … Hotel investments worldwide

www.tophotelprojects.com rounds up the latest and most promising projects from around the globe

Have you herd?

Elephant Parade Bangkok raised a substantial amount of money that will be used to conserve the natural habitats of these magnificent creatures

50 RESTAURATEUR

EXTRAORDINAIRE

Tony Habre, CEO of AddMind, talks about the regional restaurant industry

54 RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL GLOBAL VENTURE FROM DUBAI

DTCM joined hands with The Economist to create a multimedia portal destinationinnovation.economist. com to support multinational companies

64

TOP HOTEL UNDERCOVER

About Top hotel Undercover Building on the legacy established by our big brother publication - Top hotel - in Germany, Top hotel Middle East sets out to highlight all that is great and good about the fivestar properties in the Middle East, as well as the things that such prestigious properties should really do better.

Top hotel has built its reputation on fair and balanced assessment of five-star hotels in Europe and beyond; we now pledge to carry on that tradition in the Middle East. We hope that by highlighting the good and the bad, we can help to raise standards across the region and recognise the properties that have clearly got it right.

Posh, cool and charming - The W Doha The W Doha situated in the West Bay area, opened in early 2009. This is Starwood (now Marriott’s) only W hotel in the region (this will change very soon). With three new proerties expected to open each consecutive year in the UAE starting from April, all we can ask is why has it taken so long for the UAE and region to have more Ws?

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TOP HOTEL UNDERCOVER

RESERVATION I reserved through the Starwood website.

Reservation confirmation was simple and immediate. The room rate was 1,084 Qatari Riyals including breakfast.

Evaluation: Excellent

CHECK-IN The hotel was busy, it was the weekend, it was definitely going to be busy. Plus, I arrived earlier than check-in at 3pm. I was there at 12.30pm. I went into reception, they pulled out my booking and told me my room was just being readied, the lady insisted on giving me a room on one of the higher floors as she wanted me to have a quiet and comfortable stay. She and her colleague also informed me that they would show me to my room as soon as it would be ready which was within an hour.

I was pleasantly surprised, I asked them for a suitable place to complete some work which was urgent. They guided me to their Living Room (another word for Lobby).

They took care of my bags and I was soon comfortably tapping away on my laptop as if I really was in my living room. The area was spacious yet private, buzzing yet had spots of coziness created by sheer curtains giving a sense of privacy yet being in the centre of all the activity area. I could see what was happening all around me yet was disconnected enough to comfortably finish my work without being disturbed.

Evaluation: Excellent

MARCH/APRIL 2016 7

TOP HOTEL UNDERCOVER

ROOM 1122 The room was beautiful and very spacious 420 sq foot in size. The way it was arranged was also unique. As you entered there was a passage that led into the room. Once you entered the room after the passage, on the left was the bathroom with a shower area, tub, wc and huge vanity. Amenities were from Bliss. Incidentally, the hotel even has a Bliss Spa. Once you’re out of the bathroom the study is on the left with the bed being the centrepiece of the room. A large round bed with the television in front of it and an large relaxing lounge area beyond the bed on the left by the floor to ceiling windows and on the right was a small yet well equipped mini bar.

Evaluation: Good

THE BATHROOM The bathroom was all white and sparkling clean. Again very expansive area. Although the vanity had a single wash basin, the area was quite big with a well-lit up mirror in front of it.

The additional feel good factor was the amenities included a face wash. Usually there isn’t one … 99 per cent of hotels do not carry a face wash. I felt it was an additional thoughtful touch.

Evaluation: Excellent

ROOM SERVICE After dinner, I ordered a chocolate fondant. It arrived on time however there was an additional 5 Qatari Riyal delivery charge included in the tariff. This was a surprise!

Evaluation: Good

BREAKFAST BUFFET AT MARKET BY JEAN-GEORGES The restaurant has many service stations serving a variety of breakfast options.

All the usual suspects - eggs to order, pancakes, waffles, cakes, croissants, Arabic, Continental, the works!

Considering it was a Friday morning, there were hardly any guests at the restaurant. I guess I was early as I had a flight to catch. Service was prompt and up to the mark. I was in and out in about 35 to 40 minutes.

Evaluation: Good

CHECK-OUT 11.25AM Smooth and swift as expected. . I was

8 MARCH/APRIL 2016

TOP HOTEL UNDERCOVER

warmly greeted asked about my stay and wished a pleasant journey home.

Evaluation: Good

SOME MORE FEEDBACK The thing about the W Doha is the fact that they sent me a mail before I arrived asking about a few of my favourite things while simultaneously introducing me to one of the staff at the property and her likes dislikes and preferences. This exercise definitely breaks a few barriers because when they already know a few things about you and they say that at check-in you kind of are taken aback by their attention to detail. You feel really taken care of! It’s a small thing, but stays in your head as it makes all the difference!

W hotel, Doha Reservation: Excellent

Top hotel ratings 0-20 - Un-satisfactory 21-40 - Poor 41-60 - Satisfactory 61-80 - Good 81-100 - Excellent

Check-in: Excellent Room 1122: Excellent Bath: Very Good Floor service: Good Landscaping: Good Breakfast buffet: Good

Top hotel Undercover opinion:

80-100 Excellent

Fitness: Good Corridors, elevators, stairs: Good

Total: 83%

Housekeeping: Good Check out: Excellent 0

20

40

60

80

100

MARCH/APRIL 2016 9

Challenges in GCC MICE and Luxury Travel Sectors ACCORDING TO A study conducted

by Strategy & in 2015, business tourists in the GCC comprise of one in three of all tourists in the region. This is a high number when compared with the worrying statistic that suggests only two per cent of global exhibitions take place in the Middle East, according to the same study.

The Meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) market has grown rapidly in the GCC and particularly in Dubai, which in 2015 held nearly 27 per cent market share of the USD 1.3 billion (AED 4775095000) MICE GCC market. Outbound travel from the Middle East, according to United Nations World Tourism Organisation

(UNWTO)’s 2015 Tourism Highlights, numbered approximately 37 million people for 2014, and accounted for 3.3 per cent of the global outbound market.

A study conducted by Frost & Sullivan and Insights Middle East for Amadeus in 2014, estimated the total value of outbound travellers from the GCC at USD 64 billion. The same study estimated the average spend in GCC countries for inter-regional travel at USD 4,980 and for international business travel at USD 9,920. These statistics clearly reflect the immense potential for business and MICE travel from the region.

When it comes to luxury travel, the challenges are more intense. Keeping in line with global changing tastes and

Sidh N C, Director, Projects Qna International

DUBAI LANDMARKS - Burj Khalifa

BUSINESS DESTINATION - Dubai International Financial Centre - The Gate 10 MARCH/APRIL 2016

attitudes, luxury travellers too are looking for more value for their money. While this does not necessarily mean cheaper, it does mean more benefits such as personalisation, simplification, and seamless services. Another challenge in luxury travel is the changing nature of group travel, where multigenerational travel is now becoming the norm.

Khalaf Al Habtoor receives Former South African President Thabo Mbeki KHALAF AHMAD Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, received Former South African President Thabo Mbeki at the Al Habtoor Group office on Al Wasl Road last month. His Excellency President Mbeki is best known as the two-term president of South Africa after Nelson Mandela, serving as the country’s

second leader from 1999 to 2008.

This is the first meeting between Al Habtoor and President Mbeki, who is in Dubai to raise awareness about the work of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation in Africa. The two gentlemen discussed the economic situation of South Africa and the opportunities that the United Arab Emirates offers.

Gloria Hotels and Resorts Officially Launches ‘3G: Go Green with Gloria’ Package at ITB 2016 MARKING THEIR PARTICIPATION at ITB 2016, an celebrating their recent Green Globe Certification (GGC), Gloria Hotel and Yassat Gloria Hotel and Apartments, launched an environmentally friendly promotional package called ‘3G: Go Green with Gloria’.

Guests booking the green two-night stay at Gloria Hotel or Yassat Gloria Hotel and Apartments will have a tree planted in their name, as well as receive a one-day NOL card allowing travel on Dubai’s Metro, trams and buses. Additionally, with each booking the hotel will make an AED 10 (USD 2.72) donation to a carbon offset programme. The package includes rates for two nights’ stay with breakfast, a themed dinner in the hotel’s La Terrasse Restaurant or The Avenue Restaurant, as well as 25 per cent discount on food and beverage and laundry items.

The Melting Pot Signs New Franchise Agreement L to R: Former South African President Thabo Mbeki; Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor

THE MELTING POT Restaurants, Inc, has announced plans to bring its unique fondue dining experience to Qatar for the first time through a new franchise agreement with Al Amthal Hospitality (AAH). Currently, The Melting Pot has five international locations, and 15 others in development across the globe.

Ali Taimour, managing partner of AAH, will develop one restaurant in Doha, which will open in the latter half of 2016. AAH is affiliated with Real Estate Services Group (RSG), a premium real estate service conglomerate, specialising in investments, asset and property management, and hospitality developments across Qatar. RSG owns the fourstar Safir Doha Hotel and Shoumoukh Towers, a corporate centre with retail shops and restaurants, which is where The Melting Pot will be developed.

Additionally, RSG is developing a five-star hotel, which will be managed by Langham Place.

The Melting Pot concept is known for offering an assortment of flavourful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées served with signature dipping sauces.

Group photo during the meeting

MARCH/APRIL 2016 11

Laura Vallati appointed Spa Director of ESPA Life at Corinthia CORINTHIA HOTEL LONDON has announced the appointment of Laura Vallati as the new Spa Director of the multi-award winning and flagship spa, ESPA Life at Corinthia. Moving from her role as General Manager at ESPA at Baha Mar, The Bahamas, Laura will oversee ESPA Life as it continues to excel amongst London’s destination spas.

In her new role, Laura will be responsible for guiding the operation and strategy of ESPA Life, ensuring that the spa embodies the five-star standards of Corinthia London.

Along with a creative flair and energetic personality, Laura brings over twenty years’ management experience in the luxury spa and leisure industries. Her notable achievements include successfully leading the pre-opening projects of six spas in the Caribbean, Singapore, Monaco, and beyond.

Lobby lounge Corinthia hotel London

Laura Vallaty Spa Director Corinthia

The Spa lounge ESPA Life at the Corinthia 12 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Burj Khalifa introduces ‘Dubai Collections’ to the city’s fashion scene BURJ KHALIFA IS launching ‘Dubai Collections’, a unique showcase of the latest collections from the region’s most established designers, defining Dubai as a global fashion capital and bringing the city together in a celebration of the latest style trends. Supported by Dubai Design and Fashion Council, the inaugural ‘Dubai Collections’ will be held on March 24 and 25, 2016 at The Annex - L11 of Burj Khalifa.

Open to fashion professionals and enthusiasts, ‘Dubai Collections’ supports Dubai Design and Fashion Council’s mission to strengthen Dubai’s global

credentials in the fashion industry while nurturing the next generation of talent in the region. Visitors can enjoy the collections presented by the designers across six catwalk shows, gain expert insight at two industry talks by international fashion influencers and experts, and shop at a number of innovative pop-up boutiques, housing some of the region’s leading and most creative accessory designers. ‘Dubai Collections’ will also put the spotlight on two emerging regional designers in standalone fashion presentations.

More than 47,000 hotel rooms under development in Saudi Arabia A RECORD 47,431 rooms and 124 hotel projects are currently under development in Saudi Arabia, according to a new report. The majority of projects are in the final construction and pre-opening stages, with 52 projects and almost 20,000 rooms set to open to the public throughout the Kingdom this year, says the new report by TOPHOTELPROJECTS commissioned by The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2016.

Hotels with a 2016 opening date include: The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah (March); Kempinski Al Othman Hotel in Al Khobar (May); and Nobu Hotel Riyadh, the first Nobu hotel in the Kingdom, reported to open in June. Hilton Worldwide has the largest hotel pipeline in Saudi Arabia with 28 properties set to be added to the market in the coming years, alongside the 10 hotels currently trading in the Kingdom across its multi-brand portfolio.

The beautiful new digital world of the Ritz-Carlton HYATT Hotels show continued commitment to GCC market with inaugral roadshow HYATT SALES FORCE GCC has completed its inaugural roadshow initiative across the GCC, an activation seen for the first time in the region, which bids to forge strong contacts between property General Managers and VIP clients. With twelve hotels currently operating in the region, and plans to open a further nine by 2017, Hyatt hosted a series of dinners in four cities, attended by key decision makers and high value clients across corporate and travel segments.

Hyatt Sales Force Dubai, Jeddah, and

Riyadh combined efforts in organising the event, with 16 Hyatt Hotels represented, including 14 from the GCC and two from Europe. Promoting investment towards the brand, nurturing key existing relationships and continuing its support of the regions hospitality market, eleven hotel leaders showcased each respective Hyatt property. Following the events success, Hyatt will now look to conduct the occasion on an annual basis, expanding such to include Hyatt Hotels outside of the region.

THROUGH THE EYES and lens of The Ritz-Carlton and its guests, a new Ritz-Carlton website brings a world of travel experiences to life by way of a fully immersive online experience. Digital explorers have a distinctive new hub on which to browse, crafted to simplify journey planning and inspire exploration through photos by fellow travellers.

One of the new special features on the website is ‘Ritz-Carlton Memories’, a homepage display of photos as they are being posted and hash-tagged on social media by visitors to 90 Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide.

This display is then localised to each hotel as you click on the destination you are browsing to view guest photos from that place.

Each digital touch point across a guest experience, pre-visit, during a visit and post-visit, is designed to provide valuable travel information, interesting content and engage guests at each stage of their journey.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 13

marhaba’s new lounge at Concourse D

PREMIUM MEET-AND-greetservice, marhaba, now offers passengers arriving and departing from Dubai more choice to spend their travel time in comfort, with the opening of a dedicated lounge at Dubai International’s new Concourse D facility. The flagship marhaba lounge at Terminal 1’s new Concourse D has a modern and contemporary design, with a capacity of 255 seats. Additionally, the lounge has introduced new features and services such as a mini theatre, bedrooms

14 MARCH/APRIL 2016

with double and single bed options, a special kid’s area, designated smoking zone, and a VIP room with 12 seats and a television which can be prebooked for groups.

The lounge also offers free Wi-Fi, food service with an enhanced buffet selection, and marhaba representatives to assist passengers as needed. Open 24-hours a day, the new marhaba lounge welcomes walkin customers or advance bookings from travellers expected to arrive in Concourse D.

Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Oman celebrates its 10 year anniversary LAST MONTH, on February 26th, 2016, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa celebrated its 10 year anniversary in Muscat, and marked the occasion with a number of fantastic offers to thank guests for their support over the past decade. As a result of the resort opening in 2006, after three years of construction, the 640 rooms doubled the total room inventory available in Muscat and was, and remains, the largest resort in terms of both size and facilities available. Since 2006 Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa has welcomed over 2,781,365 guests to the resort, from all over the world.

New Shangri-La in Doha THE HOTEL BRAND continues its growth in the region with the opening of Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, a gleaming 50-storey property located in the commercial district of West Bay. The property was opened in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, The Prime Minister and Minister of the Interiora for the

State of Qatar, local dignitaries and other city officials. A life-sized portrait of His Royal Highness the Emir and His Royal Highness the Father Emir was also unveiled.

The hotel, designed to resemble a falcon’s head in recognition of Qatari falconry – the country’s historic and elite pastime – is adorned with museum-quality art pieces

honouring the rich heritage of the Qatari peninsula which are on loan from the Sheikh Faisal Collection. Strategically located close to the business and diplomatic areas, Shangri-La Hotel, Doha offers a direct link to the City Centre Mall, the city’s largest mall, and is only five minutes from the waterfront promenade.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 15

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas Unveils the Baa Atoll’s Most Luxurious Retreat ANANTARA KIHAVAH MALDIVES Villas takes the challenge to top the extravagant experiences already available in the Maldives with the unveiling of its one-of-a-kind Three-Bedroom Beach Pool Residence. Secluded in a green cocoon of island lushness, the Residence was specially designed to host fantasy-filled holiday escapes in a private sanctuary for families and intimate groups. The villa has an impressive 1,050 square metres of luxurious space, taking a cue from the famous lines of the poet Kahlil Gibran:“Let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.”

By day, guests can luxuriate in Anantara Spa treatments, delivered in the privacy of the Residence’s spa sala, and a variety of imaginative indulgences. By night, guests are welcome to immerse themselves in the

pool, twinkling with fibre-optic lights to mirror the night sky of the Indian Ocean.

Set on one of the most picturesque Maldivian islands, Anantara Kihavah Villas features 79 private pool sanctuaries either poised over water with sweeping ocean views or nestled along a stretch of private beach.

Intercontinental® Hotels & Resorts launches Planet Trekkers app IHG® (InterContinental® Hotels Group) has announced the launch of the Planet Trekkers mobile app from InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, designed for children to learn about and explore their travel destination, before, during and after their holiday.

The app, aimed at six to 12-year-olds, has been created in partnership with National Geographic Kids.

The app is based on a treasure hunt style game and challenges for children to discover indigenous wildlife, take part in local adventures,

16 MARCH/APRIL 2016

and taste native dishes, to truly get them excited about their holiday. It allows children to learn more about exciting adventures to experience within four categories – Natural Discoveries; Active Pursuits; Local Culture and New Flavours. The Planet Trekkers app also allows children to upload photos

and details from their adventures.

The app is part of the Planet Trekkers family programme, a club of tailored services, cuisine and activities that are specifically created for families. The Planet Trekkers app is available to download free of charge from the iTunes App Store.

Kamal Naamani Promoted to Managing Director, Hospitality & Leisure Projects, UAE

IHG® Business Rewards Launches Double Play Promotion

THE AL HABTOOR Group announced today that Kamal Naamani has been promoted to Managing Director, Hospitality and Leisure Projects UAE. Naamani joined the Group in June 2015 as Group Director of Operations. He is responsible for overseeing the operations of the company’s growing portfolio of new developments, including the much-anticipated Al Habtoor City. In his expanded new leadership role, Naamani will oversee all owned and managed Habtoor Hotels in the UAE, as well as Habtoor Catering and Habtoor Laundry Operations.

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP (IHG®) has launched its new IHG® Business Rewards promotion, offering members the opportunity to earn twice as many points at participating IHG hotels worldwide. In support of the hard work carried out by business bookers, IHG is giving members the chance to earn double IHG® Rewards Club points (six points instead of three) for every USD one (AED 3.67) they spend when booking accommodation and meetings from now until April 30th, 2016 (for meetings and stays until July 31st, 2016).

IHG Business Rewards members must register for the promotion, which awards up to 120,000 double points in total. Members can register for the promotion by visiting: http://www.ihg.com/hotels/gb/en/global/offers/ businessrewards. Guests can sign up for IHG Business Rewards by visiting: http://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/ businessrewards/home.

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OPERATOR INTERVIEW

The best of bedouin

hospitality Nehme Imad Darwiche, CEO, Jannah Hotels and Resorts speaks to Munawar Shariff about, among other topics, the growth of halal tourism, and how their brand is already prepared to tackle this increasingly-gatheringmomentum guest requirement 18 MARCH/APRIL 2016

How has Jannah Hotels and Resorts evolved as a company since it began operations?

Jannah Hotels and Resorts have come a long way in a very short time. We began operating under the brand in 2013, establishing our first luxury property, Jannah Eastern Mangroves Suites that year. We have since opened four more properties, shared across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are scheduled to launch our exclusive Andalus Al Seef Resort and Spa in the capital early this year, and will be laying the first brick at our latest Dubai hotel site imminently.

As part of Jannah’s continuous growth, we are expanding outside of the region, and hope to announce two

properties in Uganda and one in Morocco in the near future.

What is the company’s vision, and how is that aligned with Abu Dhabi’s and the UAE’s tourism promotion strategies?

Our vision is to tap into the international market, and to expand Halal Tourism. As a brand that was born and inspired in Abu Dhabi, the objectives of the country and the Jannah brand complement each other’s growth.

Abu Dhabi is already on track to deliver international marketing initiatives with leading halal travel partners, and is poised to become the regional hub for the lucrative and growing halal travel

Jannah Eastern Mangroves Suites

MARCH/APRIL 2016 19

OPERATOR INTERVIEW

Jannah Burj Al Sarab

sector. In October 2015, the emirate hosted the first World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition (WHTS15), the largest showcase of Halal travel and tourism solutions, with support from Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, a division of TCA Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority).

How is Dubai’s hosting of Expo 2020 going to impact the hospitality industry in the country? What preparations are underway?

Expo 2020 being hosted in Dubai plays a big role in aiding the boost of the hospitality industry. Tourism is already a well-established market in the country, but with such a big event on the way, it makes more room for the growth of the sector.

Considering we are in a region that appeals to Halal Tourism, I believe this sector will grow rapidly, as there are limited family-friendly destinations.

Once Halal Tourism expands, hospitality operators will realise how lucrative this market is, but we are well ahead of that curve.

As an owner and operator, what are your biggest priorities when new 20 MARCH/APRIL 2016

As a brand that was born and inspired in Abu Dhabi, the objectives of the country and the Jannah brand complement each other’s growth

properties are being considered?

Whether that location will offer a longterm return on investment, while also providing a sustainable boost to the local economy and community through jobs, tourism and inward investment.

We are also committed to ensuring that all of our properties and initiatives are as environmentally friendly as possible.

What does Jannah Hotels bring to the table, when you are selected to operate or manage another property?

The aesthetics of the Jannah Hotels and Resorts is an integral part of the brand.

It’s important that the main concept of the Jannah brand blends seamlessly with the individual theme of each property. Providing our guests with a halalfriendly environment, with the best of noble bedouin hospitality, is definitely another of our strengths.

A unique aspect of the Jannah offering is our Karim service, which provides all our guests with their own personal genie. The service is available 24 hours a day to provide personalised attention to each guest without intrusion. Whether they need wake-up calls followed by tea or coffee, special medical pillows, help

navigating the city, or finding a suitable school for their children, our Karim will be on hand to help.

What are the benefits of being an owner and operator of hotels? How does this unique position enable you to enhance the guest experience?

It allows us to plan better and make informed, balanced decisions about the future of the company, our hotels and our talent (employees). By doing this, we can make sure we are always evolving and responding to our customers’ future needs, while also adopting new technology to improve the customer experience.

For example, we have a number of smart services at Jannah Burj Al Sarab, our five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, and the world’s fastest hotel Wi-Fi, according to hotelwifitest.com, which can improve the customer experience in various ways.

When you are assigned to manage a hotel from the development phase, what role does Jannah play in the development/design of the property?

OPERATOR INTERVIEW

Jannah Place Abu Dhabi

The design and development of our properties is key to everything we do.

Therefore, we lead on all aspects of this, and ensure we only partner with the best contractors and designers who have a similar work ethic and culture to Jannah.

What are your expansion plans for 2020?

After expanding within the local and regional market, we plan on entering into identified international markets, which will be aided by the growing percentage of Halal tourism seekers and business travellers that go beyond the Middle Eastern region. Operating internationally, we will provide the Halal Tourism seekers the option of a halal friendly environment for their convenience.

Tell us a little about any challenges you might have faced in terms of relationships with the owning company.

The hospitality industry is notoriously competitive and is extremely hard work for everyone involved. However, this is expected, and so far we have not faced any unexpected challenges.

It is sometimes quite challenging to

find the right firms to partner with, but we are very careful in how we select our partners, which has resulted in avoiding any serious relationship issues or concerns to date.

What are the current challenges / trends in the hotel investment landscape in UAE and the Middle East region?

Previously, there was a growing trend of five-star hotels opening in the region, but we are now starting to see more growth in the three- and four-star offerings, which we expect to continue into next year.

The growth of Airbnb in the region has been extremely impressive, and we would expect that to continue over the next two to three years. This is definitely a challenge for hotel groups, but we welcome the competition as it keeps us on our toes and ensures that the customers have a greater choice, which should result in greater levels of satisfaction.

We are very confident in our product at Jannah, and believe the level of customer satisfaction we will deliver will result in loyal customers and return business.

Providing our guests with a halalfriendly environment, with the best of noble bedouin hospitality, is definitely another of our strengths.

Jannah Creek Dubai MARCH/APRIL 2016 21

COVER STORY

22 MARCH/APRIL 2016

More stay options =

changing preferences The emergence of a number of online options for guests to stay at when they travel is affecting and changing the way traditional hotel businesses operate. Portals such as Airbnb are increasingly getting popular. Harry Douglass, Senior Associate, HVS, discusses the present and the future in this research article originally titled, The budget hotel sector’s position in the sharing economy

O

verall, there are signs that hotel markets across Europe and elsewhere have been buoyed by increasing business confidence and movement within the jobs market. Compared to strong markets like Germany and the UK, a backdrop of terrorism and political uncertainty has, however, lead to larger variations in some regions, postponing any widespread celebrations by hotel operators.

In terms of tourism flows, London, Bangkok, Paris and Dubai lead the way by the number of overnight stays by international visitors while Istanbul, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Lisbon are the top four fastest growing European destinations. More positive hotel performances have generally crystallised investment horizons and encourage new budget entrants into the European hotel market and elsewhere, including the Middle East.

Underlying all of these development fundamentals is an increasingly competitive budget hotels sector that now encompasses a commercialised private rental market. In the three weeks it has taken to produce this paper, the subject has gained widespread prominence in the media and this accelerated movement warrants an expansive approach to marketing and online distribution channel exposure that embraces the principles of the emerging sharing economy.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 23

COVER STORY

One & Only The Palm, Grand Palm Suite Terrace, supplied by WA Intl

The sharing economy The sharing economy is acknowledged as being a product of the four mega trends affecting today’s society. Around 30% of the world’s population lived in urban areas following the Second World War. However, today’s urbanisation rate is moving towards 60%, putting a strain on housing and resources.

At the same time, Western economies in particular are facing a profound demographic change as the over 65s is the fastest-growing age bracket in many countries, leading to concerns about how a shrinking number of the economically active can support this group in the long-term. Globally, the balance of economic power is perceived to be shifting from the west to the east; China and India has six times more Fortune 500 companies than they did in 2000. This economic power shift is partly attributable to the proliferation of the Internet and the digital revolution, which has contributed to a fivefold increase in international trade and entrepreneurialism since 1980.

These factors have accentuated supply and demand pressures leading to expanding section of society that are now familiar with decentralised peerto-peer technology platforms which increasingly prioritise access to rather than ownership of goods and services.

The now famous Tom Goodwin 24 MARCH/APRIL 2016

In terms of tourism flows, London, Bangkok, Paris and Dubai lead the way by the number of overnight stays by international visitors while Istanbul, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Lisbon are the top four fastest growing European destinations

quote (“Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles.

Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. Something interesting is happening.”) about Uber, Facebook, Ali Baba and Airbnb concisely articulates how the Internet has enabled the sharing economy and brought in a new range of multisided technology-based contributors to the hotel market such as Airbnb.

Airbnb’s impact in Austin, Texas In May 2015, researchers from Boston University revised a study first published in 2013 that set out to estimate the impact of Airbnb on the hotel market.

Focusing on Austin, Texas, and using a difference in differences empirical strategy that exploited the significant spatio-temporal variation in the patterns of Airbnb adoption across city level markets, the study made some important findings on matters that up to then were only largely anecdotally held.

The peer-to-peer platforms exponential growth since its formation in 2008 has been aided by the ability to scale supply in and near frictionless manner using existing residential inventory, and marketing of personalised experiential hotel substitute. Overall, the study found that a 10% increase in Airbnb supply resulted in a 0.37% decrease in hotel room revenue; luxury and upscale hotels were least affected by new Airbnb supply because of their price segmentation and amenities.

Airbnb’s impact was magnified going down the price scale, and branded hotels for more resilient than independent hotels because of their standardised products and services, larger marketing budgets and loyalty programmes.

Looking back at the 2014 international hotel investment forum, attendance at the Airbnb seminar was negligible. These and other findings suggest that future events discussing the impact of further commercialisation in this space may be a lot more popular when there is still room for the growth of smaller competing platforms.

The wider accommodation market With no equivalent to the Austin study having been undertaken in Europe that we are aware of, we looked into

COVER STORY

the implications of the convergence of the Internet and the private rental market in the hotel sector in a selection collecting eight representative jurisdictions, we set out to understand trends affecting the sector across Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK that may be of interest to conference delegates.

The following chart shows the percentage share of aggregate lodging sales by type: chain hotels, hostels, private rentals and self-catering. What is apparent is expansion of the private rental market, growing from about 8% of the market in 2008 to 10% in 2014, and this share is forecast to increase to around 12% by 2017.

The expansion is shown to capture market share from the chain hotels; however, is not yet at the expense of the postal market (although we acknowledge this is a less transparent sector to accurately quantify).

Self-catering accommodation is shown to maintain its market share, although this represents mainly managed holiday lets in seasonal locations across France and Italy, which we

expect to converge with the private rental market in due course and which already contains hostel type resort accommodation.

The growth in shared accommodation What or who is causing this growth in the private rental market that facilitates the sharing of accommodation, typically through independent rooms within the same house? We tried the same for component segments in the eight countries from 2009 to 2014, setting Euromonitor’s forecast increases (or decreases) against these. The following chart shows the size of the private rental market by volume of annual sales on the y-axis and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in private rental sales between 2009 in 2014 in the size of the bubbles.

The chart shows that France, the UK and Italy have the highest volume of private rental sales of the eight markets, with Ireland having the smallest, and Germany appearing to have a surprisingly undeveloped market.

What is significant, however, is the

More positive hotel performances have generally crystallised investment horizons and encourage new budget entrants into the European hotel market and elsewhere, including the Middle East

CAGR in sales in Germany of 28% alongside the Netherlands with an overwhelming 89%; Spain with 18% growth is also noteworthy.

The expansion of the Netherlands market have been attributed to the transport connectivity between the Gateway city of Amsterdam and its neighbours, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, all of which lie within proximity to one another. We forecast that a disproportionate share of this will be centred on Amsterdam, not least because of the reduction in luxury hotel development opportunities in the city centre following last years moratorium. Only Ireland recorded a compound annual decline in private rental sales.

In terms of revenue driven from hostels, Croatia recorded the highest CAGR (+26%) over the period under review, principally as a result of the increasing propensity of young people to visit the country on both specific holidays and backpacking.

Direct versus online sales Hyatt hotels recently purchased a

MARCH/APRIL 2016 25

COVER STORY

JW Marriott Absheron Baku - Guestroom and Lobby (down ) supplied by WA Intl

stake in Lifealike Ltd (onefinestay.com and unhotel.com), demonstrating the hotel industry is increasing acceptance of the necessity to take a position in the peer-to-peer distribution market. Is this strictly necessary?

The following chart demonstrates that total lodging sales for the eight countries in the analysis has increased year-on-year, although Euromonitor forecasts an overall decline in 2015, which we understand is due to weaker performance from continued economic volatility in the Eurozone. More importantly, off-line sales as a percentage of total sales are forecast to continue to decrease as both direct online sales and sales generated through online intermediaries are forecast to rise; sales through intermediaries are expected to capture a greater market share. This confirms the importance of an effective online presence.

The now generation Consumers are spending more time online, with a growing share of lodging bookings made via smart phones; social media increasingly shapes consumer behaviour; OTA’s are ever more effective at bridging the gap between guests and small independent hotels; and millennial’s are set to value and experience more than a formal service.

26 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Globally, the balance of economic power is perceived to be shifting from the west to the east; China and India has six times more Fortune 500 companies than they did in 2000

Collectively, these factors are telling the industry to embrace technology to make sales from the now generation, a consumer group that will make instant hotel decisions based purely on peerto-peer reviews and what is what will stop this attitude is increasingly prevalent among older aged service users who seek social environment through portals such as city socialiser.

In the past, we have forecast substantial consolidation in the industry, in which major hotel brands attempt to minimise the impact of online intermediaries by using their own distribution network through a range of brands that To the guest from the moment when they first make hotel purchasing decisions. Whilst the limited service hotel investment market has Been relatively quiet, the pace of technological change has not.

We now view the commissions payable to OTA’s as an unavoidable marketing expense for a service that is equally fragmenting the branded budget sector, and not marginalising sections of independent hotels as we previously thought. Larger hotel groups meantime have to accept the necessary necessity of being in this makes.

Whilst brands has proven to be more resilient to changes in the hotel

environment, we would argue that the strength of our hotels online presence meantime for hotel investors an alternative to the balance sheet security the larger multinational brands currently provide, with the backing of some big management vehicles coming from their ability to maximise online profiles through becoming less of a place to stay and more of a way to participate.

The future multiple supply and demand imbalances are symptoms of globalisation,. These factors have accentuated supply and demand pressures leading to an expanding section of society familiar with decentralised peer-to-peer platforms and Prioritising access to rather than ownership of goods and services.

Online sales of hotel accommodation through intermediaries are forecast to continue to increase, and there are now signs that rather than consolidating the larger hotel groups positions, this is fragmenting the market, which may benefit a large section of the limited service hotel market.

With a high number of posts and participants now in the market and the main brands expanding outside Europe, the consumer should see even greater value in time.

Harry Douglass, Senior Associate, HVS

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Showcasing

trends

ThME spoke to Christine Davidson, Group event director of dmg events hospitality portfolio, organisers of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2016 with MICE Arabia, about what participants and visitors can expect from the show, and the industry, this year.

28 MARCH/APRIL 2016

THE HOTEL SHOW SAUDI ARABIA - A PREVIEW

Saudi Arabia attracts millions of religious pilgrims each year, and as part of its economic growth plans the Government has focused on the hospitality and tourism industry.

Consequently, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia has enjoyed strong growth and has become the focus for those involved in the nation’s hospitality industry, investment and growth.

The 2016 event is in Jeddah, the country’s business and MICE capital, at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events, which has been the show’s location for the past four years.“To meet the needs of a growing audience, we have increased the size of the show in 2016 with more features, exhibitors and products on offer. So far, over 100 exhibitors are signed up to participate from the likes of LG Electronics, CMT Technologies, Onity, RAK Porcelain, Poly Products LLC (Raha), Zubair Furnishing LLC, Al Yacht Marketing, Hospitality Center, Silent Night, Soft

Dreams, and SALTO Systems,” says Christine Davidson, Group event director of the dmg events hospitality portfolio, organisers of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2016 with MICE Arabia.

This year, visitors will have the chance to see inside some of the new hotel completions in the region in what is called the ‘Hotel Showcase’.

A second annual Vision Conference is also taking place alongside the show, and will include a ‘Product Showcase’, where a variety of hospitality suppliers will reveal latest product developments and launches.

“The Vision Conference, Saudi Arabia returns in 2016 with an extended programme of sessions across the three days as it runs alongside The Hotel Show. Once again it has attracted experts from across the region and world who will share insights, trends and forecasts that will impact the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia,”

To meet the needs of a growing audience, we have increased the size of the show in 2016 with more features, exhibitors and products on offer

informs Davidson.

This provides an excellent networking opportunity for senior hospitality professionals, and it’s a source of essential information to keep them up to date and ahead of the competition.“Our speaker line-up this year includes experts from Deloitte, HOCHTIEF ViCon, Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), Ramada Hotels, HOK, among others. Each day of the conference will have a theme.

Day one will focus on ‘Trends, Projects and Opportunities’; day two on ‘Hospitality Technology’; and day three will focus on ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Design’,” she adds.

Conference subjects for 2016 include: ‘Boutique hotels - winning over tomorrow’s guests through customised experiences’. ‘Are Middle East hotels equipped to meet the demands of the next generation?’, and ‘Sustainable hospitality: How to turn an idea into reality’.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 29

THE HOTEL SHOW SAUDI ARABIA - A PREVIEW

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains the most travelled to country in the Middle East and Africa, and a Government focus on tourism is seeing significant infrastructure developments and record hotel construction.

As a result, there is increased interest from international suppliers from a more varied range of destinations at The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia.“Last year, we had exhibitors from 18 different countries showcasing products and services on the show floor. This year, we have over 20 countries being represented so far, including Turkey, UAE, Italy, China, Pakistan, France, USA, UK, India and new countries for 2016 - Japan, Greece, Sweden, Malaysia, Algeria and Austria.”

Another trend is a growth in the number of technology suppliers operating in the Kingdom and participating at The Hotel Show 2016. Providing online booking and free Wi-Fi is now hospitality industry standard, and automated room controls, digital concierge, and other hi-tech services are taking centre stage – making ho-

30 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Providing online booking and free Wi-Fi is now hospitality industry standard, and automated room controls, digital concierge, and other hitech services are taking centre stage

tels more tech-focused and enabling the guest more control over their experience than ever before.

LG Electronics with massive video walls and other impressive hotel technologies, and Onity, a leading provider of electronic locking and guest access systems, will feature amongst many others in The Hotel Show’s technology and security product sector this year.

“Hotels and restaurants globally are catering to the growing number of Generation Y travellers who expect lower costs, better service, and more autonomy. In-house perks including social or communal spaces, the ability to charge smartphones, and order room-service or meals via smart controls, for example, meet the needs of this type of customer, as they seek independence and new ways to customise and personalise their experiences,” muses Davidson, adding,“In Saudi specifically, with the increase in Gen Y travellers and tourists from Asia who are more pricesensitive, the hospitality landscape

is changing with an increase in the development of mid-range hotels.

Saudi has predominantly consisted of luxury hotels with four-star or above status. The world’s largest Holiday Inn is reportedly opening in Makkah this year, while Hilton’s mid-range brand, Hilton Garden Inn, is identified in a recent TOPHOTELPROJECTS report commissioned by The Hotel Show as the third most active brand developing in Saudi at present. An increase in casual dining restaurants is also a major trend for the F&B sector, with international brands including TGI Fridays and Chilis on the increase.”

The younger population of Saudi Arabia – where 69 per cent of inhabitants are reported to be under the age of 35 – and higher disposable incomes, is leading to an increased demand for ways to spend leisure time. Major leisure projects currently underway include seven new KidzMondo theme parks, and new facilities within the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) development, reported to include upon its

completion world-class water parks, amusement parks, ten new hotels and resorts, and much more.

“The Hotel Show is bringing a new ‘Leisure and Outdoor’ product section to the show floor this year. For the first time, hoteliers and other leisure attraction operators in the Kingdom will have the chance to source products and services to develop, build or enhance leisure offerings whether this be in the pool and spa, sports and fitness, outdoor furniture and lighting, or recreational fun and adventure sectors,” smiles Davidson.

Tech trends will be represented at The Hotel Show with a range of exhibitors including LG Electronics, CMT Technologies and Onity demonstrating what’s new on the market, both on the show floor and in the new ‘Product Showcase’. A tech-focused Vision Conference topic includes: ‘Using social and digital media to attract domestic travellers’.

To address the growth in the development of mid-range hotels, Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), a mid-range hotel developer currently expanding across Saudi Arabia, will discuss ‘Tapping into mid-market opportunities’ at the Vision Conference. At the conference, all other major trends including the growth of boutique hotels, for example, will be explored in some detail.

“Due to current economic challenges, which organisations across a variety of industries are facing, we have had to work to reinforce to our exhibitors the power of taking part in The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia. At times like this, exhibitions really come in to form as they bring the industry together and give companies the visibility that they need to provide their customers with confidence. Most companies recognise the importance of investing in exhibitions to remain visible in the market, and get the unique opportunity for face to face time with current and prospect clients. Listening to any business and marketing expert, they will tell you how important it is to still maintain marketing activities to see an impact on profits, and the power of exhibitions cannot be disputed with the

At times like this, exhibitions really come in to form as they bring the industry together and give companies the visibility that they need to provide their customers with confidence

right combination of - product, event, and people on a stand,” explains Davidson.

The Hotel Show is the ideal meeting place for hospitality professionals throughout the Kingdom, and provides suppliers with a chance to get face-to-face time with target markets, build long-term relationships, and more clearly defined new sales leads or ROI. The full conference programme can be accessed at: www. thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 31

GM INTERVIEW

At the centre of it all - The

Address Dubai Mall

32 MARCH/APRIL 2016

GM INTERVIEW

Being a part of the biggest retail destination in the country has its perks. The Address Dubai Mall is an iconic property attached to Dubai Mall. Vincent Mercurio, General Manager talks to Munawar Shariff about how the property stays on top of its game How have initiatives at The Address Dubai Mall managed to capture maximum business in the midst of a number of established brands?

The Address Dubai Mall has distinctive advantages that position it ahead of other brands. First and foremost, people appreciate the world class service standards that form part of the makeup of our brand. Second, its superb location in Downtown Dubai means it is linked directly to The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest retail and entertainment destination. The Address Dubai Mall is the first choice for guests visiting Dubai for some serious retail therapy, and we are extremely popular with guests from across the GCC on a short visit or extended stay.

The hotel’s central location in the heart of the city, near to commercial nerve centres such as the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai World Trade Centre, further positions it as a preferred destination for business visitors. We offer excellent meeting facilities for the business travellers, enabling them to meet with their partners and customers in utmost convenience, while making the most of our leisure amenities and the culinary options, if they have some down time.

What is the difference in the experience for a business guest or leisure guest at the hotel?

The experience and what they remember from it will be dependent on what they do within the hotel. Whatever their reason for staying with us, they MARCH/APRIL 2016 33

GM INTERVIEW

Na3Na3 Restaurant

ight hurrasco N Cabana C

Cabana - The Address Dubai Mall

will share a common experience in the friendliness and knowledge levels of our staff, the way they are made to feel from the moment they set foot in the hotel, the quality of the food they eat, the comfort of the beds they sleep in, and those special personal touches we pride ourselves on.

How much are your F&B outlets contributing to the overall revenues? What new initiatives are in place when it comes to promoting a different experience at the hotel, be it for business or otherwise?

We are a lifestyle brand, and as such, we need to stay ahead of the curve in anticipating what people are looking for. F&B outlets are clearly a major contributor to our revenues. In a market that has so much choice to offer the casual diner or the expert foodie, we make it our business to cater to the range of tastes. We also like to 34 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Na3Na3 Farmers Market Experience

It’s a special day, and we pride ourselves on having the right team through our Lifestyle Events division to create special moments for the couple

make a claim to some old favourites, such as the humble club sandwich or chips - we do believe we have the best in town! We are getting better at reinventing ourselves and packaging our services based on seasonality, diversity and special events.

Does the hotel promote itself as a destination for weddings as well?

Our annual The Address Hotels + Resorts Wedding Fair gives us the chance to promote our latest celebratory packages and amenities, from the dream wedding dress right down to the detailing and design of the venue.

Brides choose our venue because of the versatility of the space, the number of guests we can accommodate, which is up to 600. We are seeing a move towards more intimate celebrations with couples’ nearest and dearest. It’s a special day, and we pride ourselves on having the right team

through our Lifestyle Events division to create special moments that the couple, their families and friends will remember fondly.

Creating unforgettable memories are what we are known for, and we are passionate about promoting our wedding packages, which are tailored to each couple, giving them that perfect dream wedding.

Our Diamond Ballroom, for example, is one of the largest in Downtown Dubai, designed with high ceilings and a stylish appeal to fit all tastes. With luxurious theatre-style seating, it can also be divided into three individual sections for uniquely themed events.

How have occupancy rates in your hotel changed from the time the hotel opened till date?

With the ongoing support of our valued and loyal customers, we have

GM INTERVIEW

The Address Dubai Mall Premiere Room High Karat Detox Tea Afternoon

The Spa Rejuvenating Body Cleanse

consistently set occupancy rates at an average of 84 per cent, higher than industry standards in Dubai. As a business, like any other, we are always looking to grow, and that is where the hotel pool of serviced residences play an important role in providing our guests access to all the hotel services within a residences environment.

From our perspective, that means we can also maximise the opportunity at peak times of the year.

How have you managed to cut the fat in terms of spending without altering the guest experience from the time the property opened till date?

Optimising resource use is always a priority for us. We are dedicated to providing quality experiences for our guests through a selective process of choosing and training the right staff.

Our foremost commitment is to our

guests, and we do not compromise on any aspect that might affect the customer experience. Our team takes feedback into account, addresses the negative, and applauds the positive.

We have an outstanding team of experienced professionals who know what our guests expect and deliver it without fail.

Tell us a little about your team, and the challenges you might face when managing them.

My team is my strongest asset! With over 40 nationalities, we bring an extremely diverse set of talents together to serve our international visitors.

They are empowered, enthusiastic, and graciously attentive to our guests and residents. I am thankful for their amazing commitment every day.

How do you promote the hotel in other parts of the world? Which

As a business, like any other, we are always looking to grow, and that is where the hotel pool of serviced residences play an important role

international market, would you say, is the biggest target for your property?

By attending several hospitality exhibitions worldwide, we are always keen to showcase our offerings to future visitors. We also have several global channels, including a strong international network of sales agents, tour operators and partners that strongly supports all of the hotels under The Address Hotels + Resorts portfolio. In addition, we participate in roadshows, and our properties are regularly promoted through events organised by tourism entities. We also have strong partnerships with travel agencies in our source markets.

We have seen strong support from the GCC countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, as well as India, the United Kingdom and China. We also see positive growth from the European, Asian and American markets.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 35

F&B INDUSTRY EVENT - GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

The

business of

eating out

Annual event Global Restaurant and Investment Forum (GRIF) returns this month with a packed agenda and various new concepts. ThME spoke to Jennifer Pettinger, Director, Bench Events - organisers of GRIF - about this year’s event and the country and region’s F&B industry 36 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Jennifer Pettinger

F&B INDUSTRY EVENT - GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

A

s the surge in the upward-moving trajectory of the F&B industry in UAE continues, the existing tally of both home grown and overseas restaurant concepts is expected to surpass 1,600 by 2019. This burgeoning supply has so far exceeded consumer demand, and it is imperative that restaurateurs, as well as key investors, network with the right people and innovate continuously to maintain brand appeal.“F&B is currently at a very exciting stage, having moved into a period where more home grown concepts are starting to emerge,”says Jennifer Pettinger, Director, Bench Events.

Owing to the consistent growth rate of the F&B market, and recognising its limitless potential in the region, The Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) has taken the initiative to provide a prolific platform on which to connect with investors, owners, franchisors and senior hospitality professionals to discuss industry trends and secure investment opportunities.

The GRIF, to be held at the Address Hotel, Dubai Mall this month between the 14th and 16th, is a showcase of the hottest new restaurant concepts being introduced to market.“GRIF is assisting in profiling the region’s F&B offering to an international audience, who are bringing expertise as well as capital in some cases,”explains Pettinger.

With attendees from all over the world, The GRIF will culminate in the inaugural Global Restaurant Awards

Burj Al Arab

There, an expert panel of judges will assess the nominees, recognise outstanding successes and celebrate exciting new concepts

on March 16th at the prestigious Burj Al Arab, Dubai. There, an expert panel of judges will assess the nominees, recognise outstanding successes and celebrate exciting new concepts.“Grif is working in partnership with the internationally respected Michelin Guide, as well as working with The Caterer UK, to put on the Global Restaurant Awards, which is being hosted at the Burj al Arab by the Jumeirah Group,”she explained.

So what makes a good restaurant concept, and why would an investor invest? The KPMG Survey findings indicate that the tourist turnout in Dubai will keep increasing year-on-year, and based on the MARCH/APRIL 2016 37

F&B INDUSTRY EVENT - GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

average transaction spend, the ‘per plate’ price will reach its maximum of USD 13.85 (AED 50.87) in 2016.

The total number of industry transactions is expected to rise from USD 773 million (AED 2.84 billion) in 2013 to USD 956 million (AED 3.5 billion) in 2018.

Within this framework of a favourable market milieu, it is befitting that the GRIF panel of judges will take part in ‘Dragon’s Den’ style sessions, where they’ll evaluate a selection of industry concepts for investment, before explaining why they would or wouldn’t invest.

“There was a desire to have a greater focus on 38 MARCH/APRIL 2016

The Global Restaurant Awards will take place during the GRIF, and offer an opportunity for industry leaders to come together and celebrate those businesses that have shown innovation, vision and leadership in their concepts and operations

finance and real opportunities so we have more sessions focused on investment, as well as the concept showcase and GRIF Deal Den, which will give investors real businesses to sink their cash into,”she says.

In the meantime, the panel will shed some light on what they’ll look for. Hutton Collins, one of the key GRIF participants, invests in leading businesses across Europe. Their investment partners include private equity firms, leading entrepreneurs, as well as management, family and corporate shareholders. Eric Bellquist, a partner at Hutton Collins said,“The concept should have a differentiated offering, whether it’s the type of cuisine, the speed of the service or the uniqueness of the location. Its offer should be high in quality but affordable in price, and above all, it should have strong man-

agement and operational standards.”

Marc Blazer, the Chairman and CEO of Overture Investment Partners and a Chairman of the Board at Noma agreed. Reflecting the spirit of Overture, which is a prolific player in the business of backing great entrepreneurs and launching ideas to build disruptive, innovative companies in the consumer, hospitality and related sectors, he commented,“We would like to see a successful track record for a number of years, a brand that can be exploited outside the four walls of the restaurant, and a unique position in their market.”

Beyond the product itself, the panel emphasised the importance of strong consumer focus. Ron Pearson, a Partner at Bowmark Capital LLP, which is a leading private equity investment firm, specialising in UK growth companies

F&B INDUSTRY EVENT - GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

ABOUT GRIF

valued at up to GBP 150 million (AED 776 million), said,“An understanding of their core audience and a clear focus on the customer experience is vital to a successful restaurant. It’s the management team that obsesses over the details that really stands out.”

Naturally, costs also have an impact on an investor’s decision. Sami Daud, the Founder and Chairman of Gourmet Gulf Co LLC, one of the Middle East’s most successful conglomerates, managing a dynamic portfolio of world class investments in the Gulf, South Asia, and South East Asia, explained, “Before making a deal, an investor must carefully examine revenues, ratios and profit on an operating level, as well as the cost of opening a restaurant.

If the figures add up from the very beginning, the restaurant is in a strong position.”

The Global Restaurant Awards has been developed through partnership with Connecting Travel, whose sister business, The Caterer, is responsible for the renowned Cateys awards for UK hospitality. The Global Restaurant Awards will take place during the GRIF, and offer an opportunity for industry leaders to come together and celebrate those businesses that have shown innovation, vision and leadership in their concepts and operations.

They will recognise the brands that have best engaged with their consumers through social media, technology, design or sustainability. The Global Restaurant Awards will provide a platform to acknowledge the brands and concepts that have revolutionised the culinary landscape, bringing a new vibrancy to the industry, and above all, pushing boundaries to achieve perfection.

Launched in 2014, GRIF is an annual event for the restaurant and hospitality community. It is a forum that brings together industry leaders and professionals from the hospitality industry, F&B brands, investors, hoteliers, owners, lenders, franchisors, franchisees, suppliers and other key industry professionals from across the Middle East region. GRIF’s features include conferences, roundtable and panel discussions, culinary receptions, and other knowledge-sharing platforms, together with several senior - level networking opportunities spread over three days. The event is geared towards helping attendees gain valuable insights from industry leaders, build contacts, share best practices with the industry and gain confidence in the market.

It is organised by BenchEvents (www. benchevents.com), which is known for producing, alongside Questex Travel+Hospitality and MEED Events, several top-level hotel conferences around the world, including the International Hotel Investment Forum, Berlin, the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, Dubai, CATHIC, Istanbul, Russia and CIS Hotel Investment Conference, Moscow and Africa Hotel Investment Conference, Addis Ababa. For more information about GRIF, please visit: http://www.restaurant-invest. com. Nominations for the awards: http:// www.restaurant-invest.com/awards/ nominate-a-business and registration for GRIF: http://www.restaurant-invest.com/ GlobalRestaurantAwards.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 39

RESTAURANT BUSINESS

40 MARCH/APRIL 2016

RESTAURANT BUSINESS

Cr

g a n i t a e

Tariq Khan, Chairman of Ginza Fine Dining, tells TH what makes a restaurant stand apart, and how to keep customers coming back for more

niche T

he restaurant industry in the country, and the region, is getting more and more exciting as it continues to evolve.

This evolution has given the market far more choices in terms of cuisines.

And, as the choices increase, operators are forced to be a lot more quality and service conscious than they used to be.“I personally believe that the next five years will see a ‘correction’ in the restaurant business, whereby the weaker operators will fall to the way side, and the stronger operators will prevail,” states Tariq Khan, Chairman of Ginza Fine Dining (GFD).

The consumer today is a lot more price sensitive, and also has high expectations on service and quality of food. This will force operators to either live up to the consumers’ standard, or simply go out of business. The scene has changed dramatically in the last five years or so, where consumers now MARCH/APRIL 2016 41

RESTAURANT BUSINESS

have more choices than ever before.

Khan, who is well experienced in the restaurant business, says that operators have to proceed with caution.“Unless you get your food and service offering right, ambience and location will not be enough to sustain you,” he advises.

So when GFD conceptualises a restaurant, they start by first partnering

As the market has changed and become more competitive, we have decided to reduce the size of future locations, and by default, the number of covers

with a world class chef, who brings his or her own process and methodology, which is used to properly train the kitchen team.“As the market has changed and become more competitive, we have decided to reduce the size of future locations, and by default, the number of covers. So once we have the food and service in place, we work with designers who can create a location that is efficient (from a servicing and flow point of view) and, at the same time, warm and welcoming.

As neighbourhoods and communi-

JG dining

JG terrace 42 MARCH/APRIL 2016

JG kitchen

ties mature in the region, people are looking for destinations where there is a sense of family, familiarity and community,” says Khan.

The creative process is a mix of art and science. While, on one hand, you want to create dining destinations that have a unique personality and appeal, one also needs to remember that, at the end of the day, people want quality, service, and value.“So we always need to manage each location whereby our overheads and breakeven points are attainable and

RESTAURANT BUSINESS

realistic, yet, without compromising on the customer experience. This is challenging when you are in a region where you have more nationalities visiting than the United Nations has members, and each comes with their own tastes and needs! We also have to manage the fact that the cost of rent and ingredients is not necessarily the cheapest,” laments Khan.

As a group, of course, as Khan

said, GFD first identifies the chef they want to work with.“We then look for locations based on the chef’s cuisine expertise. Because of Dubai’s diversity, there is an appetite (no pun intended) for all types of cuisines. But what doesn’t make sense is to open your venue in close proximity to another that offers a similar cuisine,” explains Khan.

The process is helped along by the

No matter which of our restaurants you visit and no matter what the cuisine, hopefully, you will find the food amazing, the service spectacular, and the pricing attractive in relation to the ingredients used and the food served

Serafina

Serafina MARCH/APRIL 2016 43

RESTAURANT BUSINESS

availability of good suppliers. Khan believes that the suppliers in this market are world class, which is an important element in what makes a dining experience in Dubai just as good, if not better, than anywhere in the world.

As a diner, no matter how much you love a restaurant, you are not likely to eat there every day. So the best way to keep diners coming back for more is to offer variety.“Instead of a USP, we focus on having a variety of menu/cuisine offerings, but consistency in the experience. Meaning, no

44 MARCH/APRIL 2016

matter which of our restaurants you visit and no matter what the cuisine, hopefully, you will find the food amazing, the service spectacular, and the pricing attractive in relation to the ingredients used and the food served,” explains Khan.

The UAE is in the heart of a region wherein you have nearly one third of the world population living within a four-hour flying radius. This makes it a very attractive destination to visit.

“And with all the reasons for people to visit - shopping, hotels, restaurants, beaches, theme parks and more –

there is something for people of all ages. So when we conduct a market study for one of our venues, we always factor in the tourism statistics, and a good percentage of our customers are from outside the country,” he says.

Coming down to logistics, Khan also praises the Dubai and UAE government’s processes, which just keeps getting better and more efficient, allowing the set-up of a business to be easier than ever. With all the other benefits, this just adds to providing a more positive outlook for the future.

Under the Patronage of His Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Tourism Committee in Jeddah

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WWW.WWW.TOPHOTELPROJECTS.COM.COM

Focus on ‌ Hotel

www.tophotelprojects.com rounds up the latest and most promising projects from around the globe

investments worldwide

46 MARCH/APRIL 2016

WWW.WWW.TOPHOTELPROJECTS.COM.COM

London experiences tourism and hotel boom According to www.www.tophotelprojects.com.com, currently, 56 top hotels with more than 12,000 rooms are being built in London. The number of overnight stays continues to rise, after a slight slump following the Olympic year 2012. With nearly 17 million visitors annually, London as a European city destination, continues to be ahead of Paris, Rome, Prague and Berlin.

The InterContinental Hotels Group has invested in Heathrow with two properties by the brand - Holiday Inn (433 rooms) and Staybridge Suites (190 rooms) being developed as franchise operations. The opening is scheduled for 2018. Starwood Hotels, which now belongs to the Marriott group, is also prepping for the inauguration of another Aloft hotel also in 2018.

Recently, the InterContinental O2, a new top hotel with 453 rooms across 18 floors, opened close to the event arena bearing the same name.

It is considered to be a new highlight in the hotel market in London, as several rooms and the skyline bar offer panoramic views of the River Thames and the city’s skyline. A newly opened business hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton London Excel (260) in a trendy location near the city airport at the Royal Victoria Dock.

Chinese plan to conquer the hotel industry worldwide The Middle Kingdom is a mass market, in the truest sense of the word. With

a market volume of USD 229 billion (AED 841 billion), China’s tourism industry is world class by now. According to www.tophotelprojects.com, more than 700 new hotels with 205,800 rooms are currently in the pipeline in China. In addition, hotel chains such as Jin Jiang are increasing their investments abroad - after the Louvre Hotels Group acquisition, their stake in Europe’s leading hotel group Accor has been increased now to more than six per cent.

The world has to be prepared for more guests from China: last year 109 million travelled abroad, mostly to Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand - and to Europe. In the past four years, the number of Chinese guests increased by almost 100%.

In the race for faster growth, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is also trying to catch up with Marriott/ Starwood

Jin Jiang Shanghai Tower J Hotel, Shanghai

InterContinental O2, London

Hotel Construction Projects in the Middle East United Arab Emirates – 166 with 51,775 rooms

Qatar – 46 with 12,612 rooms

Oman – 30 with 5,854 rooms

Saudi Arabia – 124 with 47,679 rooms

Sheraton Hotel Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro

MARCH/APRIL 2016 47

WWW.WWW.TOPHOTELPROJECTS.COM.COM

In the top 10 Due to their size, Chinese groups become more important – five Chinese hotel groups rank in the top 20 of the largest hotel groups worldwide. With more than 715,000 hotel rooms, Hilton Worldwide remains the largest one, followed by Marriott International (714,000 rooms), and the InterContinental Hotels Group (approximately 710,000 rooms) in third place. After the hotel chains Wyndham, Choice and Accor, the Plateno Hotel Groups from Guangzhou in China ranks sixth, with about 442,000 rooms. Jin Jiang Hotels from Shanghai (352,000 rooms), which recently brought the European Louvre Hotels Group, is in ninth place.

Further, Chinese hotel groups in the top 20 are Homes Inns & Hotels, China Lodging Group and GreenTree Inns. In total, 32 Chinese hotel groups rank in the top 300 hotel groups. Even in terms of the world’s largest hotel brands, China is one step ahead: ‘7 Days Inn’ by the Plateno Hotels Group, with approximately 380,000 rooms, is significantly ahead of the previously top-ranked hotel brand Best Western.

Hotels in Rio de Janeiro gear up for Olympics The world is once again looking to Brazil. After the FIFA World Cup, this year’s Summer Olympics will also take place in the port city of Rio de Janeiro from August 5th to the 21st, which is again a huge image and PR push for the city hotels and beach resorts.

According to www.tophotelprojects. com, another 11 top hotels are in the pipeline.

Although the crime and waste problems in Rio are more than obvious, the city still counts as a dream destination, with its fine beaches on the Copacabana and the fun-loving parades at carnival time. Even after the sports double of the FIFA World Cup and Olympics, hotel investors expect higher guest numbers.

Starwood Hotels, whose integration has just started in the Marriott Group, is planning to open a new Sheraton hotel with 213 rooms early next year, which will be the tenth Sheraton 48 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Starwood Hotels, which now belongs to the Marriott group, has also prepared for the inauguration of another aloft hotel (2018)

Jumeirah Creekside Hotel

Major Projects in the Middle East (selection) In the Middle East, currently 522 top hotels with a total of 149,000 projects are in the pipeline.

NAME OF HOTEL

NUMBER OF ROOMS

CITY

Abraj Kudai Towers

10,000 rooms

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al Tayseer

3,512 rooms

Mahhak, Saudi Arabia

Oyster Resort Dubai

1,748 rooms

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Holiday inn Makkah Al Aziziah

1,238 rooms

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem

1,139 rooms

Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Marsa Zayed Aqaba

1,050 rooms

Aqaba, Jordan

The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences

1,050 rooms

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City

1,004 rooms

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Silver Pearl Hotel

1,000 rooms

Doha, Qatar

Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences

864 rooms

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

WWW.WWW.TOPHOTELPROJECTS.COM.COM

ABOUT

www.tophotelprojects.com Jumeirah Zabeel Saray - Deluxe double room

hotel in Brazil. Recently, the 292 room Sheraton Hotel Barra de Tijuca opened in Rio. Currently, Starwood operates 97 properties in Brazil.

Marriott, the new Starwood owners, also have new hotel projects in the pipeline in Rio, including a Courtyard and two AC Hotels. In the meantime, Europe’s leading hotel group Accor is investing in two new first-class Novotel hotels. Even Donald Trump is planning a new hotel in Rio; if, because of the business slump in the US (reason being political turmoil in the presidential election campaign) the project actually comes to fruition, still remains to be seen.

Size matters for hotel groups – IHG is growing to 5,000 hotels In the race for faster growth, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is also trying to catch up with Marriott/ Starwood. A milestone for IHG was the recent opening of the Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York, increasing

the number of opened hotels to 5,000 worldwide. More than 300 new properties are also in the pipeline.

Twelve years ago, IHG was operating 3,500 properties. With this latest milestone, innovative hotel concepts will be established: t &WFO )PUFM /FX :PSL o 5JNFT Square South (150 rooms) t )VBMVYF )BJLPV 4FBWJFX $IJOB

t )PMJEBZ *OO &YQSFTT /FX %FMIJ International Airport Terminal 3 (93 rooms) t *OUFS$POUJOFOUBM -POEPO o 5IF O2 (453 rooms) Due to the takeover of Starwood Hotels, Marriott International is now in a leading position, but IHG’s previous milestones are demonstrating the GPSDF XJUI XIJDI *)( XJMM GVSUIFS FYpand its portfolio: especially in China, the company is planning to increase its presence. About 200 houses are currently operational in the Middle Kingdom - among others, is the )VBMVYF CSBOE EFTJHOFE FTQFDJBMMZ GPS Chinese guests.

www.tophotelprojects.com.com is the leading data provider for hotel projects data worldwide. The databases contains more than 5,500 hotel construction projects with detail information and contact data for the supplying industry. The multi-lingual team of www.tophotelprojects.com gathers project data and detailed information from around the globe directly from developers, hotel operators, architects and interior designers. Learn more: www.www.tophotelprojects.com.com

In the meantime, Europe’s leading hotel group Accor is investing in two new firstclass Novotel hotels.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 49

F&B

50 MARCH/APRIL 2016

F&B

R xtraordinaire

e

estaurateur

Tony Habre, CEO of AddMind, talks about the regional restaurant industry of which he is a major contributor.

With multiple venues in the GCC and MENA area, he is the right person to talk about the industry

T

he food and beverage industry in Dubai and the UAE is busy, to say the least. With over 6,000 outlets in the Emirates today, and high growth rates expected for the next five years, competition has increased, as people now have more choices than ever. However, despite the market saturation and the fluctuating status of global financial market, the UAE is doing well. The recent opening of many well-known international restaurant brands is contributing to the increasingly cosmopolitan status of the UAE. One such contributor is AddMind, who has started successful ventures like Iris, White, INDIE Kitchen, etc.

“I like to be very hands-on in my approach to each venue, and try to work very closely with my team on every

detail, from concept creation, to venue scouting, venue layout and design, recruiting the right people for each concept, and everything that directly affects the operation. I am immersed in each project, before and after the opening, and like to ensure that it is running smoothly. In parallel, I am involved with the financial tasks on a daily basis with my internal financial team, as well as my partners and shareholders that put their trust in us as a group,” says Tony Habre, CEO of AddMind.

For the creative process, Tony uses a trial and error approach. Even if the idea doesn’t work out as originally planned, there is always something to be learned. It is important to research each market, especially with international brands such as WHITE, Iris and INDIE, as the venues should be MARCH/APRIL 2016 51

F&B

tailored to their location. Creative components and marketing campaigns are developed based on each brand and market.

“With many of our restaurant brands, the cuisine is one of the most important factors that we focus on.

Cuisine is decided during the concept development stage, and many tastings are done until the perfect menu is curated. With our international brands, such as INDIE, the concept, décor and menu have already been established in Lebanon, hence the biggest challenge is translating that into the UAE market.

The Dubai opening is an expansion of a successful formula, which is further tailored to suit the present market.

Similarly with Iris, the Lebanese venue was later opened in the UAE with adaptations to the concept based on the location and market preferences,” explains Tony.

At AddMind, Tony tries to find a gap in the market, and create something unique that people will have an appreciation for. It’s all about creating 52 MARCH/APRIL 2016

I am immersed in each project, before and after the opening, and like to ensure that it is running smoothly

F&B

an experience for each customer. Like for example, the recently-opened INDIE, an alternative concept in DIFC, provides a completely different atmosphere to other venues in the busy financial area. INDIE is designed with different memories in mind, inspired by several eras, to create one single space that is modern in principle, but ultimately timeless in essence.

From the carefully crafted walls to the uniquely vibrant furniture, each area has its own identity, littered with souvenirs, stories and new opportunities, providing visitors an escape from the hustle and bustle of DIFC by giving them a new experience every single night. Three specialised sections: the Sake bar, the main bar and the fresh fruit bar, allow expert mixologists to provide a broad and unique drinks menu, served alongside a specially crafted international menu of ‘food to drink with’.

“Having worked in multiple markets all over the world, there are pros and cons with each country when it comes to legal and Governmental processes.

I have found that the authorities in the UAE have been inviting and helpful to new businesses, and the overall process has been smooth,” he says.

In 2015, there were 14.26 international tourists in Dubai, which is an increase of over a million since 2014.

Dubai and the surrounding emirates are popular for tourists, whether the influx is coming from exhibitions, trade shows or vacations.“The UAE government investments in tourism initiatives are increasingly successful, and as a hospitality company, we certainly try to capitalise on this. We are preparing for the Expo 2020 in Dubai, and are looking forward to working in the UAE at such an exciting time,” he smiles.

The UAE government investments in tourism initiatives are increasingly successful, and as a hospitality company, we certainly try to capitalise on this

MARCH/APRIL 2016 53

DESTINATION INNOVATION

DUBAI PROMOTES FORWARD THINKING WITH DESTINATION INNOVATION:

WHERE

NEXT

54 MARCH/APRIL 2016

DESTINATION INNOVATION

Dubai Tourism has commissioned “Destination Innovation: Where Next?”- a dynamic multimedia hub featuring quarterly content to support multinational companies around the opportunities and challenges of running a global business

T

he hub, launched by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and supported by Dubai Chamber, is part of a move to further enhance the sharing of best practises and learning from around the world to further supplement corporations and business leaders’ decision making with in-depth research, case studies and insightful discussion.

The initiative also helps showcase Dubai’s status as a leading business destination, which is being further supported by the government’s commitment to continuously build on the emirate’s competitiveness through stimulated investments in infrastructure expansion, supporting innovative MARCH/APRIL 2016 55

DESTINATION INNOVATION

Jumeirah Emirates Towers

content creation and regulatory levers.

The content rich site, which can be found at destinationinnovation.economist.com, features short documentaries, infographics, in-depth feature analysis and visualisations.

Running for the next 12 months, it will be regularly updated with new content spanning the themes of innovation, geographical expansion, market access strategies and alternative energy. It will feature the views of business executives and experts, along with the EIU’s unrivalled insights.

Commenting on the partnership, H.E Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, said: “In an ever more global and interconnected world, businesses are in constant need to evolve how they operate to adapt and flourish in a highly fluid, dynamic and increasingly more competitive market place. Through this strategic initiative, and by drawing upon the vast experience, international reach and knowledge of The Economist, we want to drive forward the debate and create dialogue, whilst also being able to share the learnings that have allowed Dubai to get to where it is today.

“The initiative is another facet to 56 MARCH/APRIL 2016

support the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minster, Ruler of Dubai, as the emirate continues to pursue a leading economic diversification philosophy and further underlines our role as a strategic networking platform for international markets to expand across the region and to spur corporates and multinationals to choose the emirate as the place to do business for the wider region and beyond.”

According to H.E Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber: “The portal is in line with our strategy of supporting the development of business by providing market intelligence to help investors make informed business decisions. This initiative also demonstrates our support to Dubai Plan 2021 by reinforcing the emirate’s position as an international business hub and a global player in the fields of trade, logistics, finance and Islamic economy. For decisionmakers and business owners, this por-

Through this strategic initiative, and by drawing upon the vast experience, international reach and knowledge of The Economist, we want to drive forward the debate and create dialogue

DESTINATION INNOVATION

tal will be a one-stop-shop to access the latest information and insights about Dubai thereby promoting its favourable business environment and positioning the emirate as a gateway to the Middle East and Africa region.”

A number of key strategic features have gone live for the site’s launch, focussing on the theme of innovation clusters.

Innovation Clusters: Understanding Life Cycles is a briefing document that identifies the six success factors driving innovation clusters across five countries, namely the UK, India, USA, Estonia and Singapore. It explores how innovation clusters first emerged in these markets, what interplay of forces made them spring up in the first place and how they have changed over time. The report and case studies find that innovation clusters are sensitive to factors like migration policies, property prices and livability, all of which change over time, with knockon effects on the fortunes of entrepreneurs and companies.

The accompanying short documentary interviews experts at the London School of Economics, techUK, London Business School and Bocconi University about the role multinationals play in global innovation clusters The EIU also published ‘Where next?’ - a survey asking 150 executives what the selection criteria and process are for choosing new markets when expanding globally. While there is a long list of attributes that multinationals take into consideration, including infrastructure, skills and the business environment, what is less clear is how they weigh each factor in relation to the others. Is connectivity more important than skills? Can a stable regulatory environment for business compensate for weak infrastructure?

One of the key findings is that ‘cheap labour’ no longer appears to be an important factor for multinationals.

The availability of local talent is now much more important, as commercial value is increasingly derived from knowledge-based activities. A strong

local skillset was viewed by 56 per cent of respondents as the most important attribute, after ‘growth potential’, in guiding decisions about entering a new market. The presence of ‘low cost labour’, on the other hand, was a dominant factor for just 14 per cent of respondents.

Monica Woodley, EIU’s EMEA Editorial Director for Thought Leadership, said: “This hub is geared to serve the needs and interests of senior decision-makers at multinational companies, to be a place they can turn to for fresh ideas, useful case studies and expert insight on the issues most important to them. Finding new markets, managing a globally dispersed workforce, staying innovative as you grow and harnessing your resources efficiently are just a few of the challenges we’ll be exploring through the new multimedia platform”.

This initiative also demonstrates our support to Dubai Plan 2021 by reinforcing the emirate’s position as an international business hub and a global player

MARCH/APRIL 2016 57

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An eco-friendly paraben free range (certificates available), satisfying your VIP guests, adapted to all genders from all over the world, with special ingredients, reassuring gentle formulas for all skin types ensuring sensorial textures and experience.

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Contact: Myriam Redouane / 048128300 / 055a 710 4252/ Myriam.Redouane@mailmac.net / http://www.chalhoubgroup.com/

loccitane-me.com

Wellness Trends 2016

At the Oscars

Five Star Quality

TRENDS

W ellness Trends 2016 1. Parenting Well: Serious Spa & Wellness for Kids Parents are learning that to raise healthy children in the 21st century meaning more than just teaching them to eat their vegetables or look both ways before crossing the street. The poor diets, technological obsessions, and ubiquitous stressors that plague adult life offer no immunity to the young.

2. Well-Fests: Festivals Shift from Wasted to Wellness From Bonnaroo to Burning Man, Carnival to Coachella, the thriving festival circuit promises to fill any enthusiast’s calendar, with the only limiting factor being lack of funds or perhaps lack of sleep.

Dubai’s recently concluded XYoga Festival was a massive success with yoga and fitness enthusiasts converging at Downtown Dubai to practice yoga in the presence of celebrities and yoga masters who flew in from around the world to be a part of this.

3. On-Demand: Uber-izing Spa & Wellness With a smartphone in every pocket and more apps than stars in the sky, the world isn’t just at your fingertips - it’s racing toward your front door. GrubHub wants to bring your dinner, Instacart your groceries and Postmates is happy to fetch you everything in between. Long gone are the days when only Chinese food delivered. The beauty and wellness industries are not about to be left behind, and app-driven on-demand options are cropping up left and right, offering people access to healthy options wherever, whenever, and however they want.

60 MARCH/APRIL 2016

TRENDS

4. Skin Care Gets Seoul-ful: The Korean Beauty Explosion 2.0 Peach & Lilly, New York Two life-size cardboard cutouts of freshfaced and stylishly coiffed South Korean boy band stars welcome guests at the entrance of Nature Republic’s downtown Los Angeles store. But Nature Republic is not a music shop, or even a clothing brand. It’s a major South Korean skin care and cosmetics line, one of many that is grabbing the attention of global style-watchers because of its quality, affordability, and colorful pop sensibility.

5. Healthy Cruising:The Ship of Excess Has Set Sail Expect a tsunami of innovation that will eventually render the“regular”cruises of today into the“juice and transform”cruises of tomorrow. Cruise ship spas came on board in the early ’80s with operators like Cunard that brought the iconic Golden Door spa in Escondido, California, aboard its flagship, the QE2, to provide fitness, spa services, and programming, and the innovative company Steiner Leisure Limited heading up hair and beauty services.

6. Workplace Wellness Grows Up Creating a healthier work environment is far from a novel concept, its roots in Western corporate culture reaching back as far as Boeing’s pacesetting non-smoking-workplace policies of the 1980s, and the early-1970s craze for executive gyms and mandated annual physical fitness tests for upper management employees.

Excerpt from www.spafinder.com 2016 Trends report MARCH/APRIL 2016 61

BRAND FOCUS - NATURA BISSE

At the Oscars To hotel Middle East gets insights into Spanish luxury skincare brand Natura Bisse’s close, behind-the-scenesinvolvement with the biggest night of the movies - the Oscars ceremony - and all things Hollywood!

T

ill now we all could only assume about exactly what details Hollywood starlets go into preparing for the biggest night of the movie business - Oscar night. So, we’ve done some serious sleuthing and we have for you the exact method Spanish luxury skincare brand Natura Bisse uses to enable all the stars to look their best on Oscar night and show off that flawless skin in their movie closeups. Yes, you’re welcome!

Everything happens at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Los Angeles. Natura Bisse indulges top Hollywood celebrities with an elaborate and luxurious treatment The Ultimate Ritual - using its very effective portfolio of products. (See box for an exclusive review of The Ultimate Ritual).

Elena Serra, Director Corporate Communications, Natura Bisse Group says,“Our treatments start the Wednesday previous to the ceremony.

The busiest days are Friday and Saturday and sometimes we even do facials just before the makeup for the Gala.”

Stars book their treatments through their make up artists, or personal as62 MARCH/APRIL 2016

Viola Davis is a big fan of Natura Bisse

sistants.“We cannot reveal any names due to stars’ privacy,” says Serra.

The brand is a regular on movie sets having collaborated on The Martian, Mockingjay and Grand Hotel Budapest last year. In 2016, Natura Bisse is working with the production of High Rise, Atacama’s, Macbeth, The Light

between Oceans, Nobody Wants the Night and Julieta.

On movie sets, the makeup and skincare department use the products on the actors.“We provide a complete range for each make-up artist station and also a personal gift for all actors.”

Film productions usually last several

BRAND FOCUS - NATURA BISSE

The Ultimate Ritual at the Pearl Spa, Four Seasons Dubai

months, however, filming for The Martian lasted for two months.“In fact, Ridley Scott films are really fast in the market, they started filming at the end of September 2014 and the movie premiered on October 2015!

Extremely fast!” says Tina Earnshaw, Head Makeup Artist for the movie.

The products used on set included The Cure Sheer Cream, Diamond Drops, C+C Vitamin creams and several further masks, treatments, creams and oils utilising the brand’s natural free form amino acid technology. Earnshaw was also able to use the Essential Shock Intense Line which was newly launched at the time.

“It has been a truly amazing experience heading up the makeup team for The Martian. I have been lucky enough to use Natura Bisse as the main skincare brand on all actors and actresses on set and using such incredible beauty products has made my time on set infinitely better,” Earnshaw said.

Natura Bissé has also been present on the set of some of Spain’s most notable productions such as Nobody Wants the Night the latest work of acclaimed director Isabel Coixet.

Sylvie Imbert, who won a Goya in 2013 for her work on Snow White, used Natura Bissé products and treatments to care for the actors’ skin while filming under extreme weather conditions. The film was set in the North Pole.

Top hotel Middle East was one of the four privileged people who were invited to try out the treatment in Dubai.

The treatment began with the inhalation using the Diamond Lavender Aroma, to help me relax and unwind before the facial began. The therapist began with gentle pressures on the back using a warm towel.

Firstly, the skin was cleansed using the Diamond White Luxury Cleanser, this cleanser removes impurities and any traces of make-up whilst restoring softness and luminosity to the skin, followed by the Diamond White Toner which prevents dehydration, minimises pores and helps with evening the skin tone.

Next was the star product of the brand - the Glycolic Extreme Peel. This is an effective exfoliation using Alpha Hydroxy Acids to remove dead skin cells and encourage cellular regeneration. It is a safe and self-neutralising formula that leaves skin radiant and perfectly prepared for further treatment. (This product is also safe to use around the eye contour area and on the lips, twice a week for 6 weeks).

While the peel was on the skin, the therapist exfoliated both arms using the Diamond Rose exfoliator. (This is a dry exfoliation.)

Next was the application of Natura Bisse’s latest product - the Diamond Extreme Oil. This oil is not yet in the market and is being used just for this treatment currently. The therapist applied four drops on the skin and used a high definition massager to stimulate and penetrate the active ingredients of the oil into my skin.

Following on from this, the therapist used Natura Bisse’s newly launched eye product, the Diamond Life Infusion Retinol Eye Serum. She did this with a specific eye massage involving drainage techniques, lifting movements and pressure points to brighten and rejuvenate the eye contour.

Following this was the Myo-Lifting Facial massage which works specifically on the facial muscles. The therapist manipulated the facial muscles by lifting each specific muscle focusing on areas of concern. One side of the face is completed first, then compared to the other side, and the rest of the face is lifted accordingly.

The next product to be used on the face is the Inhibit Tensolift (alternative to botox, 71 per cent concentrated).

This is used on specific areas - the forehead, eyes, smile lines - along with a friction-like movement to stimulate the product into the skin until absorbed. The final step is the application of the Diamond Extreme Mask for 10 minutes. This has anti-aging properties along with vitamins which leaves skin velvety soft and hydrated. While the mask is on the skin, the therapist performed a hand and arm massage with the Diamond Rose Oil. Once the mask is removed with warm mitts, the skin is toned, and the treatment is over with the application of the Diamond Life Infusion Eye Serum and Diamond SPF 50.

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SPA PRODUCT REVIEWS

Five star

Quality ELEMIS NOURISHING OMEGARICH CLEANSING OIL, AED 250: Quite the perfect facial cleanser, removes the heaviest of make up or if used on clean skin, gives it a squeaky clean look sans that tight feeling. Maintains optimum pH.

BLISS LEMON + SAGE SUPERSHINE SHAMPOO, 200ML, AED 83: Light weight, smells of lemons and gives you the cleanest, shiniest hair. It’s mild and gentle and can be used daily. The only downside is it gets over in a jiffy!

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There are very high expectation from spa skin care products. These few ThME reviewed surpassed all our expectations. Extremely luxurious with thoroughly researched ingredients, the products below are of superior quality and give exceptional results. Totally worth it!

.DERMALOGICA SKIN HYDRATING MASQUE: One of the most effective hydrating masques, skin looks immediately soft, supple and moisturised. The Hyaluronic Acid in this mask is the hero ingredient. When you wash off the mask water droplets literally stay on your skin as if your skin has a layer of extra moisture on it! Whats even better is can be used around the eyes as well.

JUNE JACOBS RASPBERRY RECOVERY SERUM: Quite shockingly this serum on application removes all redness, soreness for example that follows right after an extraction, or in cases where skin is a little inflammed. When used on normal non-problematic skin, it provides a miraculous boost making skin look smooth and as if very well-rested.

CLARINS TONING LOTION WITH IRIS, 200ML. Perfect for oily and combination skin, this toner ensures all traces of cleanser is removed and makes skin less oily so it is prepared for any products that follow. Totally recommended.

SPA PRODUCT REVIEWS

ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN SUPER SERUM ELIXIR, AED 413, 15ML: This revolutionary serum is quite a potent formula for extremely dry and dehydrated skin, results are immediate. The super serum was never available in a bottle size it was always as a 1ml vial as a part of the 30-day Pro-Collagen Super system pack. This is a keeper.

MURAD CLEANSING SHAVE, 200ML, AED 135: This cleanser really prepares the skin to get the closest, cleanest, smoothest shave. The exfoliating properties of this cleanser removes surface debris to reveal the smallest of facial hair for the softest skin

GUERLAIN ABEILLE ROYALE SMILE LIFT: Lines around our lips creep in on us. The sooner you start using this heaven-sent product the better. The lips are is plumped, moisturised and the specific movements advised by Guerlain on application of this product lifts the entire lower facial area for longer term smoother and line free skin around the lips.

NATURA BISSE DIAMOND LIFE INFUSION RETINOL EYE SERUM, AED 1,010, 15ML: Quite an addictive product, like all other Natura Bisse products, once you’ve used this nothing else will measure up. The eye area looks as if it hasn’t seen a single late night. This product gives you the best rested face of your dreams. The eye area is line free, moisturised and non puffy.

Also you need very little for both eyes. So it’s a good investment.

JUNE JACOBS ANTI-AGING BLEMISH SPOT TREATMENT: This product from the anti-aging blemish range is a supremely effective spot treatment for pimples. Within a day the size and aggressiveness of pimples is greatly and visibly reduced. The ingredient list is impressive, salicyclic acid, arnica, chamomile and broccoli extracts. You need this in your life!

MARCH/APRIL 2016 65

SPA PRODUCT REVIEWS

Five star

Quality CLARINS MULTI-ACTIVE NIGHT CREAM, 50ML: Night creams should give you moisturised, well-rested, plumped and good looking skin the next morning, this cream ticks all the boxes. The rich texture of the cream translates into skin is glowing and looks healthy.

GUERLAIN ABEILLE ROYALE HONEY NECTAR LOTION, 150ML: This is a toner that adds essential nutrients to the skin soothing it and hydrating it to its optimal condition.

The texture is gel like which immediately becomes watery on application and is quickly absorbed into the skin. You will look forward to using this product every morning and evening.

CLARINS MULTI-ACTIVE DAY, 50ML: The day cream is thick, glides on and is quickly absorbed into the skin, smells divine, is wonderful under makeup. Keeps the make-up looking great all day!

BLISS VANILLA + BERGAMOT SOAPY SUDS AND BODY WASH, 473ML, AED 92: Can be used either as a hand wash, body wash or even as a bath soak. Is exceptionally good in all forms. Leaves skin clean and soft.

ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN MARINE CREAM FOR MEN, 30ML, AED 461: This is an essential moisturiser which shows immediate results. It returns elasticity to the skin making it supple and firm to touch. The testure ensures the skin looks shine free and is replenished. Works best after a shave.

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SPA PRODUCT REVIEWS

BLISS LEMON + SAGE CONDITIONING RINSE, 200ML, AED83: After using the fresh-smelling and lemony shampoo, this conditioner, smoothes, detangles and tames your hair adding lots of body and shine along the way.

CLARINS HYDRA QUENCH INTENSIVE SERUM, 30ML: Quite possibly one of the best serums out there right now for tirsty, dry, dehydrated skin. Skin drinks it up and the skin texture is converted to smooth and supple. Definitely a super potent product.

ELEMIS JASMINE AND ROSE MILK BATH, 400ML, AED354: The height of feeling luxurious when taking a bath, this creamy, milky emulsion can be poured into hot running water to soak in for the most soft and supple skin, alternatively you could layer it on the skin after a shower for skin that smells delicately of jasmine and rose.

LARINS SUPER RESTORATIVE REMODELLING SERUM, 30ML: Very effective in providing much needed moisture, replenishment and rejuvenation to mature skin. Is perfect for use in extra dry winters as well as on long haul flights! Highly recommended.

JUNE JACOBS GRAPEFRUIT PURIFYING SHOWER GEL: Fresh smelling and gentle, this shower gel energises while cleansing the body.

The exfoliating effect makes skin feel extremely smooth and clean.

MARCH/APRIL 2016 67

COMMUNITY

Have you herd?

Elephant Parade Bangkok, the capital’s largest outdoor exhibition, raised a substantial amount of money that will be used to conserve the natural habitats of these magnificent creatures. ThME reports

T

he colourful herd of almost one hundred 1.5 metre elephants delighted residents and tourists alike, as they travelled throughout the Thai capital for three months, starting with a launch at Siam Paragon in December 2015 to honour the 88th birthday of H M King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Bangkok’s premier night market, Asiatique, was the herd’s second stop, before finally ending in the more natural surroundings of Lumphini Park, allowing approximately one million visitors to get up, close and personal with the capital’s largest ever outdoor art exhibition.

Elephant Parade Bangkok officially ended recently with a glittering gala dinner and charity auction held at Anantara Siam Bangkok. The event, hosted by prestigious auction house Christies, raised over THB seven million (USD 200,000 / AED 734,630), which will be donated to various charities, to the benefit of wild and domestic elephants throughout the region.

All elephants showcased in Elephant Parade Bangkok have been available for the public to bid and own in an online auction, and twenty, selected by Christies, were auctioned off at the gala dinner. The total amount raised from both auctions has amounted to over THB 10 million (USD 300,000 / AED 1,101,945). Notable elephants auctioned off on the night included those painted by celebrities, like actor and martial artist Tony Jaa; supermodel and actress Sirinya Bishop; singer and musician Kong Saharat and architect Duangrit Bunnag.

The largest bid of the evening went to the elephant Utopia by artist Elizabeth Romhild for THB 600,000 (USD 17,000 / AED 62,443.55).

The final proceeds will be donated to The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, who, in turn, will select strategic partners to drive forward key conservation projects. These include building the first elephant clinic in Chiang Mai’s Mae Teang Valley, expanding a Positive Reinforcement Target Training Project to traditional mahouts throughout Thailand, helping protect 18,000 hectares of virgin rainforest in Cambodia, where wild elephants roam, and working closely with the national parks throughout Thailand to ensure the safety of wild elephants.

Other notable artists who participated in the world’s largest outdoor exhibition include: Designer Paul Smith, Moo Asava, ML Jirathorn Jiraprawat, Wisut Ponnimit, Nirut Sirichanya, Nancy Chandler, and world number one DJ Hardwell.

To help raise more awareness and funds for elephant welfare and conservation projects, during the event, Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas also gave Elephant Parade visitors the chance to win a seven day trip to Anantara’s resorts in the Maldives through an Instagram competition, with the main prize won by Evelyn Zheng.

The final proceeds will be donated to The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, who, in turn, will select strategic partners to drive forward key conservation projects

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