Hotel News ME - January 2017 by Hotel & Catering

JANUARY 2017 | WWW.HOTELNEWSME.COM

Country Report

Face to Face

A breakdown of the UAEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism and hospitality potential

Getting to grips with Four Seasons

Find your niche 2017

Emerging markets

to look out for in

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because we give a fork..!â&#x20AC;?

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www.1765gemini.com marketing@1765gemini.com Tel: (+971) 4 388 4773

Contents

08 News Roundup A summary of regional and global news 16 Face to Face Simon P. Casson, president, hotel operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

CEO Wissam Younane Wissam@bncpublishing.net

20 Country Report An update on the UAE’s tourism and hospitality industry 24 Cover Story Emerging markets to look out for in 2017 30 Chain Focus Millennium and Copthorne Hotels 32 Interview Philip Fitzgerald Jones, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach Hotel

42 Supplier Focus The tableware suppliers you should know

Director Rabih Najm Rabih@bncpublishing.net Group Publishing Director Diarmuid O'Malley dom@bncpublishing.net Senior Sales Manager Nick Clowes Nick@bncpublishing.net

Editor Sophia Soltani Sophia@bncpublishing.net Art Director Aaron Sutton Aaron@bncpublishing.net

Marketing Executive Mark Anthony Monzon Mark@bncpublishing.net

c o n t ribu t o rs Gemma Greenwood

Photography Hayder Al Zuhairi

SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196

36 First Look In pictures: The Avenue Doha 38 Take 10 Focusing on Fujairah

Managing Director Walid Zok Walid@bncpublishing.net

For all commercial enquiries related to Hotel News ME contact dom@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 55 97339

All rights reserved © 2014. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors. Hotel News ME and all subsidiary publications in the MENA region are officially licensed exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by Hotel News ME. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. Printed by Raidy Emirates Printing Group LLC www.raidy.com

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

On the web Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.hotelnewsme.com

2017: A new chapter

As we head into the new year, full of reflection and new resolutions, change is coming for both the hospitality industry and Hotel News ME alike

2 Sophia Soltani Editor

@iamsoltani

Cover evolution

016 bore witness to incredible things, both across the hospitality industry in the Middle East and in the wider world. It’s no secret that change is coming in every aspect of not only our bustling industry but on a global scale, too. Take BREXIT and the election of Donald Trump as two of the biggest twists seen in 2016. These events left many of us on the brink of anxiety, not knowing how the hospitality industry in the Middle East would fare with these extremely significant shifts in economy and geopolitics. Brexit, for example, is likely to have influenced the UAE’s drop in visitor numbers from the UK. The decline is certainly due to the weaker pound, essentially leaving British holidaymakers on the lookout for more affordable options. That being said, in true Middle Eastern style, nothing seems to be able to keep the Gulf down as the UAE in particular has seen an increase in Chinese visitors, with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTC) revealing that it is preparing to welcome 600,000 Chinese visitors to the emirate by

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

2021 demonstrating the UAE’s resilience and ‘bounce-back’ capabilities. In line with the many changes that 2016 brought to the hospitality industry, and as I am sure 2017 will continue to bring many more unexpected, positive changes, it is with bittersweet emotion that I announce my own BREXIT from Hotel News ME. I am heading home to London! On a personal and professional level, I have met and worked with so many incredible people, and words fail to convey my gratitude to those that I have learnt so much from. As one of the founding editors at BNC Publishing, I have been lucky enough to see Hotel News ME develop into a real market player, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the industry taking us under its wing and believing in us. As change is good, I no doubt believe that you will embrace our new editor, and welcome the next phase of this magazine. Wishing you all the best for 2017 and beyond.

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NEWS

WHO SAID THAT?

“Jumeirah is all about the culture of inclusion and one of the biggest tasks for the senior leadership team is taking a diverse group of colleagues and fostering this culture of inclusion into their daily roles.”

Middle East hotels see performance slump

ccording to the latest report from STR, hotels in the Middle East reported negative results in October 2016, while hotels in Africa posted mixed results in the three key performance metrics. Compared with October 2015, the Middle East reported a 4.4% decrease in occupancy to 64%, a 9% drop in average daily rates (ADR) to $174.19 representing a 13% decline in RevPAR to $111.48. The report also indicated that Africa experienced a 5.1% drop in occupancy to 58.5%, but an 8.2% rise in ADR to $105.71 which pushed RevPAR up 2.8% to $61.82. Additional information revealed that Jordan recorded an increase in occupancy from 3.9% to 60.6% – RevPar indicators also increased by 2.4% to JOD60.66.

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Despite the increase in occupancy, ADR in the country decreased by 1.5% to JOD100.11. Rates in the country have been consistently cheaper compared to the same period last year, down by 4.3% year to date, while demand has trended upward, reaching 6.9% growth through the first 10 months of 2016. STR analysts revealed that “the demand upswing has come while tourist arrivals have fallen year to date -1.3% according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.” Nigeria posted increases across the three key performance metrics. Occupancy rose 4.2% to 48.3%, ADR was up 13.3% to an all-time high for the country NGN49,251.44 and RevPAR grew 18.0% to NGN23,795.19. STR analysts attribute the spike in rate

to inflation in the country, while occupancy has been helped by slowing supply growth during the recession. The UAE reported decreases in each of the three metrics. Occupancy dipped 2.9% to 75.6%, and ADR dropped 9.6% to AED668.05, the lowest for an October since 2005. As a result, RevPAR declined 12.3% to AED505.34. October was the 22nd consecutive month of yearover-year ADR decreases in the UAE, due in part to consistent and significant supply growth (+5.1% year to date). At the same time, demand has remained strong, up 5.0%. Saudi Arabia has suffered with the drop in oil prices, and coupled with significant supply growth (+8.9% year to date).

Richard Alexander, general manager, Jumeirah Al Naseem

GO FIGURE The Middle East recorded a

3.1% increase in

occupancy to

71.3%

in November 2016 However, a

7.7% $182.60 4.8% drop in ADR to

pulled RevPAR down

to $130.27

(SOURCE: STR)

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NEWS

“The serviced apartment, branded residences and extended stay sector is taking off in the GCC due to a number of contributing factors. Firstly, the continued fast pace growth of the UAE’s hospitality market is paving the way for diversification, increasing investor opportunities in sectors like serviced residences.” Mohammed Almarzooqi, managing director, Cheval Property Management and Cheval Residences

WHO SAID THAT?

GO FIGURE Africa experienced a

1.2% 59.9% 18.6% 20.0% increase in occupancy to

in November 2016

That coupled with an

“Al Bait Hotel is an extremely important project for both Sharjah and the UAE. It marks the first heritage development of its type in the region, especially that it’s located in the centre of the Heart of Sharjah – a place that first hosted our forefathers 6,000 years ago.” Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, COO of Shurooq

spike in ADR to $118.59 pushed RevPAR up

to $71.01

(SOURCE STR)

“The expansion of the Four Points brand in Riyadh will help meet the needs of today’s modern traveller looking for timeless design and stylish comfort. This deal reinforces our commitment to Saudi Arabia where we continue to see a strong demand for our brands across the country with over 30 hotels and nearly 10,000 rooms in our development pipeline.” Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International

IMG World of Adventures plans for new mega-project in Dubai

MG Worlds, the Dubai-based owner and operator of IMG World of Adventures has revealed plans to build a new, two million sqft theme park – IMG Worlds of Legends. The all new IMG Worlds of Legends, will feature nine zones which is set to bring together globally celebrated entertainment brands, including Ubisoft, Mattel, Nickelodeon, Saban Brands, Pokémon, Cartoon Network, Toei Animation and TV TOKYO. The park will also feature two of IMG Worlds proprietary brands: Legends of Arabia and Lost Valley – Dinosaur Adventure alongside a 104,000 sqft food and beverage space plus 102,000 sqft of retail space. Commenting on the announcement, Mustafa Galadari, owner of the Il-

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

yas and Mustafa Galadari Group, said: “We are building on the success of IMG Worlds of Adventure with the next phase of growth – IMG Worlds of Legends. We are committed to bringing the boldest, most dynamic attractions to Dubai, combining innovative rides with value entertainment

for the whole family. We are encouraged to look to the future as Dubai races towards fulfilling the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to attract 20 million visitors to the emirate by 2020. We

are fast becoming the family entertainment capital of the Middle East with high growth prospects that permit us to plan for the long term. We look forward to welcoming residents as well as visitors from the region and abroad to enjoy a unique theme park adventure like no other.”

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NEWS

Who Said That “Rove Hotels has created a new identity with our focus on delivering highly engaging cultural experiences. With today’s travellers seeking more value from their hotel stays, the midscale proposition that we deliver is ideally suited for the new generation. Rove Hotels not only supports Dubai Tourism Vision 2020 by offering a novel, home-grown hotel concept in the midscale sector

AccorHotels eyes aggressive expansion plans for Egypt

ccorHotels has signed four new hotel management agreements with ARCO for new developments in Egypt’s North Coast – all which are slated to open by 2022. The projects include the Fairmont Fuka Bay, Swissôtel Fuka Bay, Novotel Al Alamein City, and ibis Styles Al Alamein City. The addition of these hotel projects increases AccorHotels’ operational and development pipeline to 31 hotels in Egypt. Francois Baudin, senior vice president, development, luxury hotels, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, AccorHotels, said: “Following the recent union of AccorHotels and FRHI, we are excited to announce four new ho-

tel projects in Egypt, ranging from economy and midscale options to luxury and upper upscale brands.” He further added, “This announcement further underscores the Group’s commitment to the destination and its envisioned potential, evident since opening the first Accor hotel over 35 years ago to today with 17 hotels in

operation and a robust pipeline of 14 new hotels coming online within the next five years.” AccorHotels currently operates 17 hotels in Egypt with 14 hotels in the pipeline, encompassing a combined total of 10,352 rooms and residences across luxury, upscale, midscale and economy segments.

but will also meet the expected demand from international guests during Expo 2020 Dubai.”

Chris Newman, COO, Emaar Hospitality Group

GO FIGURE Saudi Arabia reported

24,090 rooms in

Mövenpick finalises deal for Al Marjan Island property

övenpick Hotels and Resorts has finalised a deal to operate the hospitality firm’s first property in Ras Al Khaimah – the 550-key Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island. The new property is slated to open in 2019 and will boast a prime beachfront location, offering guests unrivalled views of the Arabian Gulf and the picturesque Ras Al Khaimah coastline. Al Marjan Island is Ras Al Khaimah’s first man-made project, built at a cost of $1.8 billion features a cluster of coralshaped islands, creating a destination that is fast emerging as a top Middle East holiday hotspot. Visitor numbers to Ras Al Khaimah are expected to rise 11% to reach more than 820,000 in 2016, according to the

projects

in construction in October 2016 (source: STR)

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, which has set a target of one million arrivals by the end of 2018. “Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah is a valuable addition to our portfolio and will provide leisure travellers with another compelling reason to visit one of the UAE’s most stunning holiday destinations,” said Andreas Mattmüller, COO, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and South Asia. Al Marjan Island is close to RAK International Airport, served by scheduled carriers such as Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Air India Express, as well as numerous European and Russian charter airlines, while the world’s busiest airport, Dubai International, is just 45 minutes by road.

Rixos the Palm reports 12% increase in occupancy throughout 2016 Rixos The Palm Dubai has revealed that it experienced a 12% increase in occupancy rates over 2016 with average occupancy across the hotel sitting at 90%. The influx of tourists in the UAE has led to the expansion of Rixos Hotels with additional hotels set to open across the region over the next 2 months. “While the market is dropping by 10-12 percent, we have a 20% increase compared to the current market. These statistics look promising and we are eager to end the year on a positive note. Next year, we are targeting a 91% year-round occupancy as the first quarter of 2017 displays great potential, a consistency we would like to maintain.” Said Erkan Yildirim, senior vice president of operations.

NEWS

Langham Hospitality Group inks deal for Jeddah hotel

GO FIGURE Qatar reported a

1.2%

angham Hospitality Group has inked a deal with the Advanced Hotels Company to manage The Langham, Jeddah – a luxury urban hotel in Saudi Arabia. The new hotel is located within the downtown core directly across a new shopping complex and is slated to open in the summer of 2018. The agreement was signed in the presence of H.E. Mohammed A. Al-Amri, GM, Jeddah, Makkah Province for the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage. “We are delighted to introduce the Langham brand to Jeddah as we have been searching for the ideal location in the Kingdom to add to our portfolio. Said Robert Warman, chief executive officer of Langham Hospitality Group. “The creative design of the hotel’s façade and interiors along with the luxury facilities of The Langham, Jeddah, underlined by our legendary award-winning service, will provide an exceptional destination for our guests.” Mohammed Yousef Al Hasan, chairman and founder of Advanced Hotels Company added: “We are proud to partner with Langham Hospitality Group to bring the impeccable service standards and unrivalled heritage from Europe’s first grand hotel to the city of Jeddah.” Led by David T’Kint and his team at the Dubai office

decline in occupancy to

69.1% 6.8% and a

decrease in ADR to

of the multiple award-winning interior design firm HBA, The Langham, Jeddah will feature classic yet elegantly contemporary furnishings – a stylistic homage to the brand’s heritage as one of the premier grand hotels in Europe. Each of the 238 well-appointed rooms and 39 suites are equipped with the Langham signature Blissful bed, motorised drapes and separate large-format rain showers. Guests who prefer to live the high life may choose to stay in the opulent two-bedroom Royal Suite spanning 295 square metres with separate sitting, dining and cooking areas that allow for private entertaining.

QAR469.75 leading to an

8.0%

drop in RevPAR to

QAR324.38 in November 2016 (SOURCE: STR)

Meliá Hotels International reveals 2017 MEA pipeline

eliá Hotels International (MHI) has revealed its upcoming pipeline for the next 12 months, including 18 scheduled openings plus MHI’s first state-of-the-art sustainable hotel, Meliá Serengeti Lodge. Founded in 1956, MHI has grown from one hotel in Mallorca to an international company boasting more than 375 properties in 42 countries worldwide.

INNSIDE Doha, Qatar – opening in Q3 2017

Meliá Cartagena de Indias, Colombia – opening in spring 2017

The hotel will boast 95 private villas and 100 rooms, three restaurants, a bar and café, spa facilities, sports centre and several shops.

Meliá Cartagena de Indias is an adults-only resort and will consist of 154 rooms and suites, a destination à la carte restaurant, buffet dining, bar, YHI spa, beach club, as well as meetings and events facilities. 14

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

The hotel will have 192 rooms, a signature restaurant, lobby lounge, business centre, fitness suite with a spa, a rooftop terrace with a pool deck area and a club food and beverage concept on the 13th floor.

Gran Meliá Ghoo in Iran

Gran Meliá Huravee, Maldives – opening Q4 2017

ME Dubai, Dubai – opening early 2018

ME Dubai was Zaha Hadid’s first project in which she

designed all of the interiors and exteriors to showcase her vision of interconnectedness. The hotel will boast 100 guest rooms and suites, exclusive international F&B outlets, serviced apartments, a rooftop bar and wellness centre.

Meliá Serengeti Lodge, Tanzania, opening Q3 2017

The hotel will have 50 rooms, communal lounge areas and restaurants with views of the infinity pool and Serengeti National Park.

News

R Hotels inks deal for first UAE Wyndham Garden Inn

Hotels and Wyndham Hotel Group have announced an agreement to open Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, the first property under the Wyndham Garden brand in the UAE. Scheduled to open by the fourth quarter of 2017, the AED200 million (USD54.5 million) 17-story, four-star hotel will feature 179 guest rooms, including 138 standard rooms and 41 suites. The hotel’s facilities include an executive lounge, two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, gym and spa, female and male health clubs and a kids’ play area. Sumair Tariq, R Hotels’ managing director, commented: “The group is fully on track of its development and expansion plan, with the opening of our seventh property. “The country’s hospitality sector continues to grow and our group set sights on capitalising on these developments and increasing our portfolio. The franchise deal cements our long-standing partnership with Wyndham Hotel Group and R Hotels is

“The country’s hospitality sector continues to grow and our group set sights on capitalising on these developments and increasing our portfolio” honoured to pioneer and set the standards for the Wyndham Garden brand in the UAE.” Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche marks the fifth collaboration between R Hotels and Wyndham Hotel Group in the United Arab Emirates, and the third in Ajman.

R Hotels owns two Wyndhambranded hotels in the emirate: Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman. Ignace Bauwens, regional vice president Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group said: “Ajman has one of the most vibrant and thriving business and

leisure tourism economies in the UAE, with visitor numbers continuously growing at a rapid pace. “R Hotels is an incredibly important and strategic partner for Wyndham Hotel Group in the Middle East. Through our collaboration, we have been able to grow our brands across Ajman, offering visitors even more flexibility and choice in selecting the perfect accommodation to meet their needs.” Iftikhar Hamdani, cluster general manager of the two Ramada hotels in Ajman, is spearheading the pre-opening of the Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche. He commented: “This hotel is geared to accommodate the influx of guests as Ajman continues to attract more bookings, both from tourists and UAE residents, year after year. “With the additional room inventory under our group, we will boost our position as the leading hotels in the Emirates in terms of occupancy. We are already working on partnerships in various markets, including North and East Europe, to market our new hotel.”

Meraas Launches destination dining concept

UAE theme parks to welcome over 19m visitors by 2020

Meraas has launched Dubai Gourmet, a destination dining concept offering international culinary experiences across the emirate. Drawing inspiration from the world’s cuisines, cultures and traditions, each experience will feature a themed setting, entertainment and authentic gastronomy. Dubai Gourmet concepts will be in standalone venues and existing and upcoming Meraas destinations throughout Dubai. The first concept, Qasr Al Sultan is due to open in January 2017 near The Outlet Village and Dubai Parks and Resorts in Jebel Ali. Located in the desert, Qasr Al Sultan will allow visitors to explore the life of a sultan with history and traditions of the region, performances, a grand food bazaar, live cooking stations, and an authentic souk.

The UAE’s existing and new generation theme parks will attract more than 19 million admissions a year by 2020 according to data released by Colliers International in their Theme Park Tourism Report ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2017. The prediction is made using existing admissions and arrivals data for Yas Island’s Ferrari World and Waterworld and Dubai’s Aquaventure and Wild Wadi as well as a sample of new and upcoming parks. All four parks have experienced a strong correlation between the rising number of visitors to the UAE and its admissions, with their combined admissions predicted to reach 19 million visitors annually. Similar patterns are expected to be seen for IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Parks and Resorts, which opened this year in Dubai. Both parks have ambitions to draw in millions of visitors in their first year of operations, with IMG expecting to attract 4.5 million people and Dubai Parks and Resorts predicting 6.7 million ticketed visitors. January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Face to face

When duty calls Simon P. Casson, president, hotel operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts tells Sophia Soltani about his remarkable rise through the ranks of the hospitality industry– earning his stripes as a 13-year-old dishwasher to the dutiful president of an enormous portfolio of world class hotels You’ve had a remarkable journey throughout your career – from pot-washer to night porter to president, can you elaborate on some of your earliest moments in the hospitality industry? From dishwasher to president! I started washing dishes in a local restaurant when I was 13 years 16

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

old and something in those early moments of youthful endeavors spoke to me, planted a seed and set my future path. Average in academics, I went to a local technical college to learn the basics and then at 17 left home and set out into my career. I was a management trainee within a group of country house hotels in southern England doing jobs such as commis chef, cocktail barman and night porter. Winning

their best trainee of the year accolade took me to The Castle at Taunton as assistant manager and there began my first real experiences of luxury, gastronomy and service. Starting with Four Seasons in London in 1989 was a clear inflection point in my journey; joining an international luxury hotel company with a defining culture that would shape how I thought about leadership and become a leader

Face to face

myself. My Four Seasons journey has taken me through rooms and F&B, in several hotels from Europe to America and the Middle East. Before taking on the role as president for EMEA I was regional vice president and general manager for Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, opening this and our two other UAE hotels as well as looking after our Russian properties. In my current role, I oversee our impressive 36 hotel portfolio - with another 15 under active development, operating in 23 countries and with around 12,000 staff members. From a personal perspective, what would you consider to be the greatest achievement in your career and why? Being appointed president for EMEA has given me pause for thought on my career journey and the path that led me here. To answer the question succinctly, it is quite simply ‘people and humanity’ that I consider to be my greatest achievement and all that can and has been achieved through and with this. My own human development, growth, learning and personal evolution is a

“My own human development, growth, learning and personal evolution is a never-ending part of the journey. It is perhaps easier to be static, and so true personal and professional growth is the road less travelled” never-ending part of the journey. It is perhaps easier to be static and so true personal and professional growth is the road less travelled. Growing takes real self-reflection, an honest analysis and one must be prepared to confront issues and so the process of self-growth can be painful but is of course essential to success, both professionally and

personally. I also take great pride in the development of others, and the part I might have played in this. To see people who I have hired, guided, mentored and coached is a source of enormous satisfaction. Hospitality is a people business and while many factors combine to make a good hotel, location, architecture, physical product and so on – the only thing that takes the experience from good to great is the people. To have been able to put teams together, often incredibly diverse, and then provide the leadership that equips and inspires them to deliver world class, above market, memorable service experiences is a wonderful achievement that I will always be proud of. Looking back at your career, what would you say are some of the essential skills required to succeed in the hospitality industry? Find your passion, what you love, enjoy and are totally in to. Starting from this will set you on the right path. I was fortunate to decide very early on that I would have a career in hospitality and to this day I truly enjoy what I do and

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January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Face to face

continue to be inspired by the industry and people within. Next, do not underestimate the value of hard work and dedication. Early in anyone’s career there will be a lot of people doing the same job as you. To stand out in the hope of advancement you must be prepared to work that bit harder and want the next step that bit more. Hospitality is not for the work shy! And then, never stop learning. Whether this is within an educational establishment or on the job, within a book or through human observation. Education is all around you and it is your own responsibility to avail yourself of this to grow and develop. Finally, be curious, always wondering how you can be better, what are you missing, who is progressing better than you and why? This discontent within, wondering and questioning, is a powerful element of forward momentum that will lead to success. What tips would you give to the next generation of hospitality professionals looking to pursue a career within the industry? Firstly, make sure your motivation is correctly placed. Too often I see young people going into hospitality because of family pressure or a misguided sense of what it will take. It is a hard business, particularly in the early years with modest pay, hard graft and long hours. If you are not totally solid in your motivation and conviction to become a hotelier, then it may be a struggle. I have spoken of education and if you can attend a great hotel school then you will benefit from a tremendous foundational knowledge set that will support your growth. But be sure to combine this with practical experience, working in a hotel or restaurant, as it will validate your choice of career and give you a head start once you work full time. Finally, join a company that is aligned with your values and aspirations. Worry less about location, pay or job title. Planting the seeds of your career in the right environment, where you can grow and flourish, is the best early investment in you, that you can make. Given your experience in the industry, what are your thoughts on how the landscape of the hospitality sector has changed, and what future developments do you foresee in the coming years? Although there has been vast change in hospitality over my 35-year career, and mostly in the 18

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Penrose - Four Seasons DIFC

Casson’s career highlights • At Four Seasons: Joined the company in 1989, as an assistant manager at what is now Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. After further assignments in London as well as Washington, he returned to the same hotel as hotel manager in 2000. In 2005, he opened Four Seasons Hotel Doha, and was promoted to regional vice president in 2011 before moving to Dubai for the brand’s first opening in UAE in 2014. During this time he also led the company’s Global Spa Task Force. Casson was promoted to his current position in 2016, and is based in Dubai. • On the side: A lifelong love of learning led to involvement in and an honourary degree from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, and Casson is a founding board member of the Enderun Hospitality Management school in the Philippines. • Education: Barry College of Catering and Hotel Administration, Wales; General Manager Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

form of combinations and technology, it is remarkable how the fundamentals have stayed timelessly constant. The concept of hospitality, the innkeeper and what we do goes back a thousand years. I’m a great believer in the concept that true luxury is rooted in getting the basics consistently right. Hot coffee, a clean room, timely service, delivering on all the service promises every day - only if you can achieve this can you meet the expectations of the discerning, international traveller and then it is experiential

moments delivered by people who make it human and real that elevate it to memorable level. How we do all this has not changed all that much. The change of course that has been revolutionary is the internet and all related areas of technology, and I am sure that this will only continue to grow. Today’s guests will book online, check in via our mobile app using in limo wireless, order room service from the in-room iPad, check out via the TV and then let us know their feedback via a web link. It is in and around this area of technology that I think we will see continued change and, as long as it is aligned with the essence of service delivery and is enhancing it, then I am all for it! What are the main factors driving revenue at Four Season properties across the Middle East and how do you strategise for continued success? With no apologies for banging on the same drum, revenue is driven by being the best in class, providing great experiences, creating a reputation for excellence and re-earning that reputation every day and with every guest. All of this, in the hotel business, is driven by people and so the main strategy is to find, retain, develop and inspire the team in a hotel to be passionate deliverers of exceptional experiences! The hardware that supports this is of course the physical product and in revenue management, it is the technology that drives strategy, analytics and forecasting allowing for dynamic pricing and yield management to maximize revenue potential.

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Ras Al Khaimah

Sharjah

Umm Al Quwain 20

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Country report

Subdued oil prices prompted a trimmed federal budget for 2016 as the UAE, like other countries in the region, tightened its belt in response to falling hydrocarbons revenues. Hotel News ME reveals how a sustained focus on economic diversification and targeted investment across the seven emirate’s in recent years has placed the UAE in good stead to weather the storm

ith the performance of the UAE’s hospitality sector weakened by a surge in new supply, macroeconomic factors have put pressure on room rates and occupancy levels and recent reports from the likes of STR, Colliers International and Knight Frank also highlight a decline in RevPar and ADR due to the knock-on effect the Russian Ruble, weakened oil prices and political instability in neighbouring countries. But all is not lost, with tourism in the UAE growing rapidly, benefiting from an expanding range of regional and global air travel connections and improved accessibility for foreign visitors. The 2016 Q1 Tourism Report from BMI states tourism arrivals are expected to show healthy growth throughout the forecasted period until 2019, providing a valuable boost to other key markets. Unlike many of its neighbours, the UAE

boasts a stable political and economic environment with no shortage of international and domestic investor interest, and the hospitality sector continues to strive supported by extensive government investment in transport infrastructure, construction incentives and other tourism related infrastructures. Abu Dhabi has become increasingly competitive as a regional and international destination in recent years. Guest numbers for 2015 were in line with growth targets, a trend that has continued over from 2014. In 2015 arrivals surpassed 4.1m, equaling an 18% increase over 2014, when 3.5m people visited. Indeed there is a growing recognition that the emirate is home to a “visitor economy” – one where master planned development is approached considering the overall quality of experience from the visitor’s point of view. Of interest

is the emirate’s expanding museum offering with five major museums due to open in the coming years, while Abu Dhabi’s numerous sporting mega-events, such as the Formula 1 (F1) Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, are bringing significant economic benefits to the emirate. Subdued oil prices prompted a trimmed federal budget for 2016 as the UAE, like other countries in the region, tightened its belt in response to falling hydrocarbons revenues. However, a sustained focus on economic diversification and targeted investment in Abu Dhabi’s key non-oil sectors in recent years means the emirate is well positioned to weather the storm. Looking forward, plans for future development are mapped out in Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, a comprehensive economic policy document that aims to reduce dependence on

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Country report

A Competitive Market Dubai and Abu Dhabi are undoubtedly the two most developed areas in terms of international tourism and hotel developments in the UAE, but overall the country is looking to expand the success of these two leading emirates into other areas, such as Sharjah and Ajman, in order for the whole country to benefit. Both international and domestic hotel groups have invested significantly in the country over the past few years, and we have seen the entry of a number of major brands such as Hyatt and Carlson Rezidor to the market, attracted by both the potential performance of the country and government incentives such as the decision in 2013 to waive the 10% municipality fee for new 3- and 4-star properties in Dubai, whose construction will complete in 2017. Abu Dhabi in particular is set to enjoy a prosperous few years as the city has started to broaden its hotel base in the same manner as the rest of the country. 22

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Travel & Tourism's Contribution to GDP: Business vs Leisure 250

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Investment in business infrastructure, such as the Abu Dhabi World Trade Centre and the National Exhibition Centre, is aimed at attracting further business tourism, and numerous museums have been developed to attract cultural visitors. Sporting events are also being actively encouraged such as Formula 1, and overall the city is in a promising place for growth. One of the major trends being seen in the UAE in terms of hotel development is the expansion of the rather neglected budget and midrange sectors. Accor opened the largest budget hotel in the Middle East in Q1 2016, the ibis One Central in the Dubai World Trade Centre District, aimed at business and leisure travellers, which signals a change in things to come. Historically seen as a luxury destination, the introduction of more affordable hotels has opened up the UAE tourism industry to a much wider demographic and this has gone hand in hand with the development of family-friendly activities such as theme and water parks, which helps to draw in a target audience not previously focused on by the country. This diversification has not come at the cost of the luxury sector, which is still very much important to the country, but has helped the industry expand to become a truly global and welldiversified holiday destination. The expansion of this sector has also brought additional benefits to the UAE, including the mid-market hotel sector which is less seasonal than the luxury sector, boosting the hotel market and the wider tourism industry throughout the year. It has also allowed the country to attract a younger target audience than previously eluded it.

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Reports indicate that hotel expansion is set to consolidate by 2016 end, with little growth expected until 2019 according to STR, but the total number of overnight stays will however continue to increase as visitor numbers rise. The UAE is also expected to see a slight improvement in the average length of stay - though for many visitors the region will remain a shortbreak destination, either on its own or as part of transit to further destinations according to Knight Frank’s 2015 overview report. Eyes on Ajman As Ajman is perhaps classed as one of the less prominent emirates, recent figures released by Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) revealed that total tourism revenues for 2015 reached AED359 million, an increase of 19% compared to 2014. The report highlights that total guests in Ajman in 2015 reached 509,658 while total guest nights reached 1,392,406 with the majority of the guests booking their stay in a hotel or hotel apartments indicating a rise in average occupancy for hotels in Ajman. Last year the emirate reported an average room rate of AED514, while hotel apartments recorded average occupancy of 68%. Figures also reveal that guests from the UAE remain the strongest contributor with 132,455 guests in 2015 followed by GCC nationals, Asians and Africans coming in third place with 89,113. Other nationalities who visited the emirate came from Europe, America, Russia, CIS countries, New Zealand, Australia and other Arab countries; showing not just domestic appeal but international interest too.

(Source: WTTC)

oil and gas, thereby creating a more sustainable knowledge-based economy for the emirate and its inhabitants. Aided by hydrocarbons reserves that are among the world’s largest and substantial financial resources, Abu Dhabi has built up a strong foundation to become a regional leader and an increasingly important global player in a wide variety of sectors, including oil and gas, financial services, health care, aviation and renewable energy. Financial services in particular is one non-oil area where Dubai is starting to pull ahead, with recent growth in the Islamic financial services segment fuelling the emirate’s ambition of becoming the knowledge-based capital of the Islamic economy in the future. Meanwhile, Dubai’s real estate and construction sectors, which were badly affected by the 2008 financial meltdown, are once again thriving as the legacies of the global crisis recede, and the debts incurred from that time are repaid and restructured. Indeed Dubai is now firmly focused on the future, with preparations for Dubai Expo 2020 in particular helping nourish its economic recovery, development and growth in recent years. The event is expected to attract 25m visitors over a six-month period and the build-up is driving development across several sectors. The preparations, which include major infrastructure upgrades, widespread ICT developments and significant expansions to the emirate’s tourism facilities, all form part of the continued drive towards the type of economic diversity that has been the hallmark of Dubai’s economic growth in recent decades.

COUNTRY REPORT

Sharjah bound After a testing time in 2015, Sharjah’s hospitality market is set to bounce back after the number of hotel and hotel apartment guests fell in 2015, according to Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). SCTDA released data in early January detailing that the emirate expects the number of guests in to grow by 3.5% in 2016 from the 1.79 million seen in 2015, as a result of the authority’s focus on attracting tourists from the GCC and growing tourism source markets such as China, India and Europe through promotional campaigns. As Sharjah’s guest numbers fell last year due to the weaker Ruble against the US Dollar, which the UAE dirham is pegged to, it made a holiday in the country more expensive for Russian visitors, and the slump in the Euro made Europe a cheaper and more attractive holiday destination for travellers from the GCC, but despite the slump, the SCTDA is still promoting the emirate to visitors from Russia and CIS countries, as the Authority believes that the reduction in numbers is “temporary.” “The number of guests in Sharjah fell 13% last year from 2.06 million in 2014”, explains Gurdish Singh Bassi, project director at GRMC Advisory Services. “The number of visitors from Russia declined 75% but hotel and hotel apartment revenues reached AED670 million last year. I expect the market to start turning positive by the fourth quarter of 2016 as the appreciation of the US Dollar subsides and the oil prices start picking up,” adds Bassi. Also anticipating the return of Russian visitors to start returning to Sharjah by the end of this year, he adds: “I don’t expect the Russian tourists to contribute as much as they did. They contributed over 25% of visitors five years ago and now they contribute only 9%.” Sharjah announced its tourism vision last year to nearly double the number of

Travel & Tourism's Contribution to GDP: Business vs Leisure 20.9 Leisure travel spending (inbound and domestic) generated 79.1% of direct Travel & Tourism GDP in 2014 (AED93.4bn) compared with 20.9% for business travel spending (AED24.7bn). 79.1

Leisure spending

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Travel & Tourism's Contribution to GDP: Domestic vs Foreign

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73.1

Foreign visitor spending

Domestic travel spending generated 26.9% of direct Travel & Tourism GDP in 2014 compared with 73.1% for visitor exports (ie foreign visitor spending or international tourism receipts).

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Breakdown of Travel & Tourism's Total Contribution to GDP

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The Travel & Tourism industry contributes to GDP and employment in many ways. The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP is twice as large as its direct contribution.

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Induced

Indirect (Indirect is the sum of: (a) Supply chain - 33.3%, (b) Investment - 0.1%, (c) Government collective - 2.9%)

tourists in the next five years from 5.6 million in 2014 to 10 million and there are 53 hotels and 52 hotel apartments currently in Sharjah. RAK on the map Ras Al Khaimah could arguably have the most ambitious plans amongst the emirates having announced its Vision for 2018 in aiming to attract one million visitors by the end of 2018. The 2018 Vision is set to provide a strategic roadmap for Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sector, encouraging growth and diversification across the accommodation portfolio, its tourism offering for both business and leisure travellers, the events sector and supporting infrastructure as well as the investment into destination marketing campaigns. Other targets include increasing the average length of stay from 3.1 days to 3.6 days and encouraging repeat visits. With three key areas of the 2018 vision, Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development

(Source: WTTC)

In 2015, Ajman saw five new establishments added onto the inventory, bringing the total number of hotels to 36, equating to 3,354 hotel rooms. With a promising outlook, HE Faisal Al Nuaimi, general manager of ATDD says: “The report is extremely encouraging knowing that the tourism industry in the UAE has been affected by the drop in the influx of holidaymakers from key markets coupled with low oil prices, currency fluctuations and regional unrest. We anticipate continued growth this year after the launch of Ajman’s new destination brand which will help position the emirate as a leisure and investment destination.”

Authority says: “Ras Al Khaimah has already been recognised as the fastest growing emirate in terms of tourism. Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the emirate has seen impressive growth in visitor numbers across all of our top source markets, and we have laid out the Vision for 2018 to further build on this success.” RAK has historically been a hub for trade in the gulf region, with the emirate’s chief exports traditionally consisting of pearls and copper. Today, RAK’s position on the Strait of Hormuz continues to present a significant strategic advantage, with the emirate boasting five commercial port facilities, one of which – Port Saqr – will be linked up to the GCC-wide rail network under development. Furthermore, the emirate’s network of free trade zones is amongst the fastest growing globally, with FTZs attracting billions of incoming investment in recent years. January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Cover Story

Find your niche Emerging markets to look out for in 2017 By Gemma Greenwood

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Cover Story

he Gulf ’s major tourism destinations have come a long way over the past two decades. When their respective governments first made economic diversification a top priority and earmarked tourism as a key growth sector, they were yet to define what would make their destination offering different to that of their GCC neighbours. The remit was to grow the aviation and tourism sectors quickly and then refine the offering later. But over the past five years, tourism development strategies have become highly focused, with each destination targeting specific markets. Dubai has set out perhaps the most diverse blueprint for tourism growth, with family tourism and business events both identified as key growth sectors. Elsewhere in the UAE, Abu Dhabi has emerged as a cultural and entertainment hub, with two islands – Saadiyat and Yas – established as trailblazers for both, while Sharjah is carving a niche in heritage- and eco-tourism. Ras Al Khaimah, meanwhile, is setting its sights on adventure tourists. Oman’s niches span eco-, adventure- and cultural-tourism too, while Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure cannot grow quickly enough to cope with the boom in pilgrims visiting to perform Hajj and Umrah. Qatar is focused on MICE business and sports-related tourism, and Bahrain is back on track with its tourism development strategy, with several major infrastructure projects underway that will create brand new destinations. The kingdom is honing in on sporting events, conferences and cultural experiences to entice more visitors to its shores. At the same time, some pan-regional tourism trends are emerging that in the not-toodistant future will be upgraded from niche to mainstream status if their current growth trajectory is anything to go by. Top of this list is the halal tourism movement, which is fast emerging as one of the biggest growth opportunities for the Middle East, from both an inbound and outbound perspective. Other up-and-coming sectors the region is targeting include cruise, medical and shopping tourism, to name a few. Each of these niches provide the Gulf ’s hotel sector with new lucrative source markets and should be taken seriously given the competitiveness of the current marketplace

One to Watch Cruise

Nikola Kosutic, research manager, UAE Euromonitor International

Chris Nader, vice president – development – Shaza Hotels where temporary over-supply, combined with softened demand from some major markets is dampening hotel performance. Family focus Family tourism has become a key focus for the UAE, particularly with a raft of brand new theme parks opening their doors in 2016 and more planned over the next few years. IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai Parks and Resorts, plus attractions on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld, will take total theme park visitation in the UAE to an estimated 16 million in 2016 according to Nikola Kosutic, research manager UAE at Euromonitor International. “The number of visitors to theme parks is expected to increase by 62% during 2017. As the government of UAE works to reach its target of 22 million visitors to the country by

Cruise passengers made more than one million visits to GCC countries during the 2015-2016 season, and significant growth is anticipated during the current 2016-2017 season as many major cruise lines make maiden calls or homeport in the region for the first time. This presents opportunities for hotels to capitalise on pre- or post-cruise stays, working in conjunction with the region’s leading DMCs. Norwegian Cruise Line and the UK’s Thomson Cruises are two international cruise lines set to make their regional debut this season. So too are individual ships such as Celebrity Constellation. They will both make stops in Dubai, which anticipates more than 600,000 cruise tourists between October 2016 and April 2017 as the number of cruise ship calls jumps 18% year on year to hit a record 157 during the period. Last month witnessed the launch of a purpose-built cruise facility on Sir Bani Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi. Already home to three hotels operated by Anantara, the island’s new port has 39 calls already confirmed for this season. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are on track to welcome one million and 500,000 cruise passengers respectively by 2020, a growth trajectory fast-tracked by the recent introduction of a multi-entry UAE visa, as well as its continued investment in cruise and tourism infrastructure. Elsewhere in the region, Qatar has streamlined visa processes for cruise passengers too. About 32 ships carrying more than 50,000 passengers are likely to arrive in the state this cruise season, while Oman looks set to break the 200,000-passenger mark. The Sultanate recently redeveloped its former container port in Khasab into a cruise port, and with the hotel industry still in its infancy in this destination, opportunities to develop new hospitality concepts have arisen.

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Cover story

2020, the development of key attractions and theme parks will support this.” Kosutic says family tourism will be the fastest-growing sector for the UAE in 2017 and the hotel industry is in “an ideal position to leverage its offering for family tourists by offering bundle packages for families in terms of rooms or accompanying packages for leisure activities”. “Developing room infrastructure to better meet the needs of larger group travellers, such as increasing number of beds, complimentary meals for kids and enhancing in-room services to meet family needs is imperative,” he says. “Partnering with destination management companies and tour operators can enable hotels to win greater percentage of guests.” Dubai Tourism’s 2015 Annual Visitor Report reveals Dubai is well on track to reaching its target of becoming the world’s leading family destination, with families now representing more than half of all travellers visiting the city. Those visiting friends and families/or relatives (VFR) represented 13.9% of all visitors in 2015, underlining the importance of the residing population being advocates for the city and goodwill ambassadors for Dubai through word-of-mouth endorsement. The average length of stay at 7.2 days was primarily led by families travelling on leisure visits and hotels and hotel apartments made up nearly three quarters of all accommodation choices for visitors in 2015, meaning Dubai “continues to ensure its supply pipeline delivers quality, capacity, diversity and value to appeal to an expanding visitor demographic while maintaining its premium destination offering across budgets”, according to Dubai Tourism. Chris Nader, vice president – development, at Shaza Hotels, observes that the family market is “accounting for a large share of such intra-regional demand”. “While historically this segment was particularly attracted by shopping, its needs are now shifting to include as well meaningful experiences and adventures with their children. We are seeing a great push from Dubai to position the emirate as a global leader in theme parks and family-friendly entertainment, and we can already see investors and hoteliers focusing on this market opportunity,” he notes. Like Kosutic he stresses the need for more budget and mid-range family-friendly hotels, noting the hotel market in the GCC “can no 26

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Shaza, to fill the gap in the market. “We are opening our first Mysk hotel in Muscat next year and are already in negotiation for projects in Dubai, Jeddah, and Doha,” he reveals.

Ali Manzoor, associate partner, Knight Frank

Faeez Fadhlillah, cofounder and CEO, Salam Standard and Tripfez

Haitham Mattar, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority longer rely solely on the upscale and luxury segment”. Shaza has been monitoring this trend for the past three years and recently launched its new family-friendly four-star brand, Mysk by

Honing in on halal Shaza Hotels was created to primarily appeal to the needs of families who require a hotel experience that offers them respectful entertainment, culturally-connected experiences, and a children-friendly environment. It’s one of a handful of hotel operators catering to the fast-growing halal tourism sector, which in 2015 was worth $145 billion, or 11% of total international tourism spend, according to Thomson Reuters. More than one fifth of the world’s 7.4 billion citizens are Muslim and with many Islamic communities living in key growth regions such as the Middle East and Asia, it’s driving a growth in travel spend that is projected to hit $233 billion by 2020. The biggest Muslim travel spenders are in the Middle East – the region accounts for 60% of all outbound Muslim tourism expenditure, worth some $60 billion annually, the Global Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism report by Salam Standard has revealed. The study, released last month, also found the Middle East nations accrue the largest share of their tourism GDP from Muslim travellers (28%). Salam Standard co-founder and CEO, Faeez Fadhlillah, will be one of the Muslim travel experts speaking at this year’s inaugural Global Halal Tourism Summit at Arabian Travel Market (April 24-27). The half-day event will take place on Wednesday 26 April and will discuss how the Middle East travel, tourism and hospitality industry can best leverage the sector’s huge growth potential. ATM’s senior exhibition director Simon Press says 80% of the show’s panellists predict a “signification increase in the percentage of inbound halal business over the next five years”. “Launching this summit therefore presents a timely opportunity for the industry to come together to discuss opportunities, share success stories and create awareness”, he says. Getting your Muslim offering right Some of the region’s leading industry analysts agree that hoteliers need to look at the halal

Cover Story

tourism sector more closely to identify how they can adapt their products, services and marketing to appeal to this fast-growing sector. Scott Booth, senior research director – head of travel, tourism and leisure research, YouGov ME, says “it is clear that halal tourism – although still poorly defined – is growing rapidly”. Most hotels in the region offer the basics - Qibla in the room, prayer facilities, no pork (or clearly-labelled pork items), clearly delineated alcohol availability, if any – but could perhaps look to creating more experiences or packages to meet halal traveller needs, he says. Ali Manzoor, associate partner at Knight Frank, says Sharia-compliant hospitality has gained traction over the past decade, but it does fall under a wide spectrum of definitions and needs to be better refined. “At one end there are properties that are strictly sharia compliant, in that they give zakat, share profits, serve halal food, forbid alcohol, and segregate sexes. At the other end, properties which simply do not have alcohol or non-halal food are sometimes described as sharia compliant, which leads to an unclear value proposition for the end user,” he explains. “One of most recognised entities bringing more clarity to the sector is CrecentRating, which has implemented a globally-recognised rating system that enables guests to ascertain how halal, or sharia-compliant a particular hotel is. “In the UAE, only two properties have managed to achieve the highest attainable score of 7 - Al Jawhara Gardens, and Al Jawhara Hotel Apartments. It is interesting to note that both are marketed as Islamic accommodation specifically for Muslims, rather than accommodation that is suitable for all, but particularly geared towards Muslim travellers. “This distinction may seem trivial, but it does highlight an issue for properties that derive their entire identity from being ‘sharia compliant.’ While it does create a pull factor for potential Muslim guests, it also in some ways excludes those who may want to stay in a particular location but not fully understand what an Islamic hotel is.” Online tools such as Salam Standard have set out to make finding a halal-friendly hotel or resort more simple by ranking properties Bronze, Silver and Gold according to the services they offer Muslim travellers. More than 50,000 hotels worldwide are already indexed on Salam Standard, which displays their Muslim-friendly amenities and services and allows users to rate and review them. Major hospitality brands whose properties are Salam Standard indexed include AccorHotels, FRHI, and Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts. Salam Standard was conceived after 50,000 Muslim travellers from around the globe were surveyed to discover what services and amenities were most important to them when travelling. The availability of halal food and prayer mats or places to worship were some of the top priorities, the study found. “Muslim tourists come from all corners of the globe and have vastly different levels of faith-based requirements,” says Fadhlillah. “But there are tangible steps that hotels can take to become more attractive to this market – providing halal food, family-friendly activities and prayer facilities are some.” Salam Standard’s Global Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism report reveals the GDP impact of the world’s Muslim tourism sector exceeded $138 billion in 2015. The industry generated 4.3 million jobs and contributed more than $18 billion in tax revenue. “To put this into perspective, a GDP impact of $138 billion is larger than the entire economy of Morocco or Kuwait,” says Fadhlillah, who January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Cover story

will be revealing more Middle East-specific report findings at ATM. “The power and potential of the Muslim travel sector should not be ignored.” Experiences count Over the past decade there has been a paradigm shift in traveller sentiment - a one-size-fits all approach no longer meets the more complex travel needs of the modern consumer. Travellers demand experiences, adventure and authenticity – and they want to explore lesser-known destinations, especially those that are untouched or unique. According to TripBarometer 2015, around 69% of global travellers of all age groups were planning to try a new travel experience in 2016. The trends report says 17% were planning to travel alone for the first time while 15% were seeking their first adventure travel experience. The recent WTM Global Trends Report 2016 in association with Euromonitor International reveals how adventure seekers are looking to the Middle East for new experiences and time-honoured trails are high on their agenda. The Nativity Path in Palestine, Abraham’s Path from Turkey to Egypt, the Jordan trail, and Lebanon’s mountain trail are all centuries old, but are witnessing a resurgence in popularity, as hikers set out to discover the region’s history, religions, culture and rural communities. Tourism infrastructure is minimal in many places along these routes, which means that home stays are often the only lodging available. This perhaps presents opportunities for hotel groups looking for off-the-beaten track presence while supporting jobs in rural communities. Euromonitor International’s head of travel, Caroline Bremner says the marketing of these trails is proving to be “a surprising success with wider implications beyond the tourism trade, as they help spread a message of peace and fostering cultural exchanges”. One hotel brand that has successfully carved a niche in remote Middle East locations is Anantara, part of the Minor Hotels group. “We have a number of iconic properties in the Middle East including Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in the Empty Quarter in Abu Dhabi and Anantara Al Jabal 28

HOTEL NEWS ME December 2016

David Garner, vice president of sales and marketing for the Middle East, Sri Lanka and the Seychelles, Anantara Hotels and Resorts

Scott Booth, senior research director – head of travel, tourism and leisure research, YouGov ME Al Akhdar Resort in Oman, which has just opened,” says David Garner, the hotel brand’s vice president of sales and marketing for the Middle East, Sri Lanka and the Seychelles. “Anantara continues to satisfy guest desires to connect deeply and personally with their travel destinations by infusing authentic cultural experiences and interactive journeys guided by local experts – we were the pioneers in this field,” he adds.

A sense of adventure YouGov’s Booth believes adventure travel has huge growth potential in the Middle East. “This is actually another travel segment that is so broadly defined it is difficult to pin down, but it includes sports or outdoor pursuits (scuba, hiking, surfing, etc); all sorts of adrenaline-fuelled or back-to-nature experiences (hiking, safaris, etc); small-yacht cruising (i.e. yacht charter or boutique adventure cruises); historical/cultural tours out of the ‘norm’ (Machu Picchu, Everest Base Camp, etc), and so on,” he says. “What I am seeing is the pursuit of more authentic, personal, and ‘real world’ experiences. “We have seen an explosion of services offering authentic wining and dining tours, cultural experiences and ‘life’ experiences in destinations across the globe. This matches with the profusion of self-catering accommodation services like Airbnb that put more power in the traveller’s hands to determine what their experience will be like. This focus is notable particularly amongst millennial travellers who seem to be carrying backpacking-type habits into their core income-earning years - Milennials are now aged 16 to 34, so we are only beginning to see how the segment will behave as ‘adults’. “What this means is that as trip budgets grow, instead of the excess being used on more opulent flight classes and accommodation, it is going towards more differentiated holiday choices.” One Middle East destination tapping into demand for adventure travel experiences is Ras Al Khaimah, which has set ambitious targets to attract one million visitors by 2018. The development of niche markets is key to achieving this goal says Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA). “Ras Al Khaimah is known for having the tallest mountain in the UAE,” he says. “Standing at 6,266 feet, it is a core proposition for the emirate and we are currently in the process of developing products to complement existing attractions for adventure travellers.” RAKTDA recently launched the region’s first commercial Via Ferrata. Located on Jebel Jais, it features three-courses spanning 1,542 feet, including three zip-lines of 165 feet, 195 feet and 985 feet in length. “This has already proven a popular attraction and we are keen to further develop our

Cover story

Medical Tourism

Dubai Tennis championships

products and promotion of such activities across Ras Al Khaimah,” adds Mattar. Sun, sand and surgery? Traditionally, Middle East residents have ventured to Asia and Europe for medical treatment, but in a bid to not only claw back this business, but attract international medical tourists, the Gulf countries in particular are investing heavily in world-class healthcare infrastructure. In March 2015, the President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the AED5 billion ($1.36 billion)

second phase of the Dubai Healthcare City (DHC) project, a development spanning 22 million square feet overlooking the historic Dubai Creek that includes a wellness concept designed to enhance holistic care for residents and visitors alike. It’s all part of DHC’s drive to position Dubai as a health and wellness hub in a bid to attract at least half a million medical tourists by 2020. In a bid to promote the city’s medical tourism services, Dubai Tourism recently launched the world’s first medical tourism portal. The ‘Dubai Health Experience’ offers medical tourists health, travel, hospitality and visa

services at the click of a button. Some hotel groups have already jumped on the medical tourism bandwagon. Rove Healthcare City, part of Emaar Hospitality Group, has opened its doors, while the 277-room TIME Royal Hotel, located just a few minutes from DHC and Wafi Mall, will launch soon. “Dubai plans to position the emirate as a global medical tourism destination by 2020 with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) targeting 500,000 medical tourists with expected revenues of AED2.6 billion,” says TIME Hotels CEO Mohamed Awadalla. “To support this ambitious strategy it is imperative that Oud Metha’s hospitality capacity is enhanced as the area is currently underserved in terms of hotel rooms.” The DHA is targeting a broad spectrum of treatment-seeking visitors including GCC nationals and South Asian medical tourists, which according to Awadalla, is a fit with TIME Hotels’ own sales and marketing strategy. “We will also add more value to the market with two rooms per floor at our new Wafi property specifically designed to be handicapaccessible, which is a first for the city and a unique selling point for the promotion of Dubai as a leading destination for medical tourism,” he explains. The hotel will also be wheelchair friendly with ramps sited throughout its major public areas and with adapted elevator access. Euromonitor’s Kosutic says medical tourism is a key growth market for the Middle East, worth an estimated $3billion in 2016, up 15% on 2015. A close cousin, the wellness sector, is also tipped for greatness, with spa revenues of $537 million anticipated for 2016 and a predicted CAGR growth rate of 48% between 2015 and 2020 to reach $729 million. The UAE commands a 14% share of the spa market and hotels and resorts dominate the sector, Kosutic stresses. His advice to hoteliers is to look to emulate the spa offering in more mature markets. “There’s strong demand for two- to sevennight health and wellness programmes and life coaching focused on mindfulness, breathing, meditation and cosmetic treatments, similar to those available in the Asian market,” he says. “Health-focused tourists usually spend 130% more than regular travellers as they seek such experiences as part of leisure activities.” January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Chain Focus

Millennium and Copthorne Hotels Hotel News ME profiles the group’s 2016 achievements, future goals and its planned MEA pipeline

5 minutes with...

Francois Kassab, chief operations officer, Millennium and Copthorne MEA What were the hotel group’s key achievements and milestones in 2016? We have continued to expand our footprint across the region, with the launch of five new hotels this year as well as a strong pipeline of new openings in place. We currently have over 30 properties in the pipeline, and one hotel opening every month, ensuring we are firmly on track to have 100 hotels by 2020. In September, we debuted in Georgia with the opening of The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi. Part of The Biltmore Collection, the 214-key luxury hotel is located on the Rustaveli Avenue and offers a health club with indoor swimming pool and fully equipped gym, opulent ballroom, dedicated conference room and four meeting rooms. Six restaurants and lounges are due to open over the coming months. In addition, we recently opened Bab Al Qasar in Abu Dhabi and Grand Millennium Muscat in Oman. Located on the exclusive Corniche, next to the Presidential Palace, Bab Al Qasr is an iconic property offering 677 sumptuously appointed guest rooms, suites and residences alongside a private beach, infinity pool, luxurious spa, 16 fully equipped meeting rooms, ballrooms and several dining outlets. We have also continued with strategic growth in Saudi Arabia with the opening of two new hotels, Millennium Hotel Hail and Copthorne Riyadh. We have 20 hotels due to open in the Kingdom within the next five years, with plans to expand across the entire region, which covers not only the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah but also 30

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

extends into locations in the North, South and Western Provinces.

What have been some of the key challenges facing your hotel group and the hospitality industry over the last year? As with any year, hoteliers have been faced with challenges but ones we believe we are well placed to address. We have seen some traditional source markets affected by economic conditions which has impacted tourism numbers from these markets. We must ensure we adopt our strategy and approach where necessary to cope with this and look to alternative source markets for business. We will continue to tap into source markets such as the Middle East, Europe and India and continue to develop seasonal campaigns and promotions to target new markets such as China and South East Asia. Recruiting and retaining talent across the region also presents challenges. At Millennium and Copthorne we have introduced several initiatives to attract and retain employees, providing them with the necessary training and work experience so they grow and develop within the company. Our priority is to foster a positive work culture as well as instill a sense of ownership with our team members and a strong sense of pride in their careers. As the Group continues to grow, we have recognised that it is vital that we attract talent from the national pool, after all noone else has a better knowledge of the local culture as well as a desire to aid their country’s future growth and development.

What are the hotel group’s key goals for 2017 and why? The remainder of 2016 and 2017 are important for us as we move forward in achieving our long-term goal of positioning Millennium and Copthorne MEA as a leading hotel group with a different hospitality option to accommodate all types of travellers. We are looking forward to continuing with extending our footprint across the region, with a new hotel due to open every month. We will be focusing our efforts on expansion in KSA as well as an exciting new market entry into Turkey.

How is technology dictating the way you run your business and liaise with customers? Earlier this year, we launched a new global, multi-lingual website which gives our customers an engaging and effortless booking experience. The new interactive platform transforms the online journey, empowering guests to book stays, upgrades, amenities and experiences as well as destination tips, the ability to manage and spend their loyalty programme earnings and status. A key part of this is our new custom-build customer relationship management (CRM) system that enables us to have greater customer engagement, which in turn allows targeted communications tailored to each guest. This investment reflects our focus on building a closer relationship with our guests as well as targeting key source markets by offering Arabic, Russian, and most importantly Mandarin versions.

Chain Focus

Group overview Millennium and Copthorne Hotels plc is a global hotel company which owns, asset manages and operates over 130 hotels worldwide. With more than 40,000 rooms worldwide, the company is present on all continents with a portfolio of brands aimed at serving different market segments. From a single property in Abu Dhabi, Millennium and Copthorne, Middle East and Africa has expanded into various neighbouring destinations. Along the way, the company has cultivated partnerships with reputable and respected owners. Millennium and Copthorne currently operates 28 hotels, has over 12 hotels due to open within the next year and aims to have 100 properties by 2020 in the MEA region.

Upcoming properties in the region Millennium & Copthorne plans on opening 12 hotels within the next year and aims to have 100 hotels by 2020.

Properties due to open over the next 12 months Millennium Plaza Doha, Qatar • Part of the new Barwa Al Sadd development • 232 rooms and suites • Due to open Q1 2017 Millennium Hotel Jizan, KSA • 276 keys • Due to open in 2017 Millennium Tabouk, KSA • 218 keys • Due to open in 2017 Kingsgate Al Safa Hotel, KSA • Due to open in 2017 Copthorne Makkah Al Naseem, KSA • 502 keys • Due to open Q3, 2017 Millennium Makkah Al Naseem, KSA • 822 keys • Due to open Q3, 2017 Millennium Madinah Airport, KSA • Due to open Q2 2017 Millennium Golden Horn Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey • Due to open 2017 • Located in the Golden Horn area of Istanbul • 125 keys

Other brands • • • •

Studio M Studio M will make its debut in the region soon. Agarwood The global debut of the Agarwood brand will be in Salalah, Oman in 2018. M Hotel The first M Hotel in the region will open in Makkah, KSA in Q4 2016. Millennium Place The first Millennium Place was signed in May 2016 with The First Group.

The brands The Biltmore Collection Current hotels in MEA region • •

The Biltmore Hotel Tbilisi, Georgia Bab Al Qasr, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Grand Millennium Hotels Current hotels in MEA region • • • • •

Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai, UAE Grand Millennium Sulaimani Hotel, Iraq Grand Millennium Amman, Jordan Grand Millennium Muscat, Oman

Millennium Hotels Current hotels in MEA region • • • • • • • • • • •

Millennium Corniche Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE Millennium Hotel Fujairah, UAE Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, UAE Millennium Plaza Hotel, Dubai, UAE Millennium Resort Mussanah, Oman Millennium Hotel Doha, Qatar Millennium Taiba Hotel Madinah, Saudi Arabia Millennium Kurdistan Hotel & Spa, Iraq Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre, Kuwait Millennium Al Aqeeq Hotel Madinah, Saudi Arabia Millennium Hail, Saudia Arabia

Millennium Executive Apartments Current hotels in MEA region •

Millennium Executive Apartments Muscat, Oman

Copthorne Current hotels in MEA region • • • • • • •

Copthorne Hotel Dubai, UAE Copthorne Airport Hotel Dubai, UAE Copthorne Hotel Sharjah, UAE Copthorne Hotel, Doha, Qatar Al-Jahra Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Kuwait Copthorne Hotel Baranan, Iraq Copthorne Hotel, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia

Kingsgate Hotels Current hotels in MEA region • •

Kingsgate Hotel, Doha, Qatar Kingsgate Abu Dhabi, UAE

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Interview

If you weren’t a hotelier, what would you be and why? “A Formula 1 driver because who doesn’t like to drive at 200 miles an hour legally!”

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Interview

Soul and stamina No stranger to new challenges, Philip Fitzgerald Jones, general manager, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach Hotel tells Sophia Soltani how successfully opening 14 new properties, alongside working across various oceans takes both soul and stamina to survive in this industry

seasoned hotelier, Philip Jones has fulfilled roles over the course of a 23-year long career in the hospitality industry over rooms division, assignments in the front office and housekeeping departments with independent hotels and international operators including The RitzCarlton Hotel Company in the US. No stranger to adversity, Jones has been part of 14 successful hotel openings, which led him to the sunny coast of Dubai where he moved to take over as hotel manager at The Ritz-Carlton in Jumeriah Beach Residence in 2008. In January 2012, he joined the Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi in Vietnam as general manager, and a short two years later, Jones seized the opportunity to manage the Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa Singapore in the same capacity. In his third appointment, as general manager of a Mövenpick Hotel, Jones has taken over the helm at the Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach in Dubai in January 2016. “I started my career in my native country of

A little bit of ‘Soul’ Soul is a New York-themed restaurant, featuring menus from three different boroughs of Manhattan – little Italy, the meat packing district and upper East side. The Little Italy menu serves great spaghetti, meatballs and New York-style pizza, whilst the Meat Packing District menu features a piece of New York striploin, to name but a few.

Ireland at an independent boutique hotel called Barberstown Castle. I worked there for five years, whilst attending school and qualifying in hotel and restaurant management. Shortly after graduating, I moved to the United States where I began my first assignment with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Over the course of the next 12 years, I had the opportunity to work in seven different properties and be involved in the opening of 13 more.” Explains Jones.

a comfortable bed…

Equipped with extensive hospitality knowledge, Jones insists that despite the influx of new hotel brands being introduced into the market, guests are looking for long lasting relationships with brands they trust. “Over the past few years, we have seen so many new brands come to the market and establish themselves successfully by taking a very different approach, both to the facilities they provide and the type of service they offer, each one targeting a different type of lifestyle. “Moving into 2017, I believe many of the more-established brands will continue to evolve with the times and re-evaluate their image and how they are perceived in the market.” Elaborating on how Mövenpick is a great testament to this, he adds: “We just launched our new brand guidelines and logo, which is sharper, more vibrant and feature more lifestyle imagery. This, together with our more experiential approach to service, will create unique moments for our guests.”

… is for 72% of all guests the most important criterion for choosing a hotel

FINEST BEDDING MADE IN GERMANY Mühldorfer GmbH & Co. KG · D-94145 Haidmühle · T 0049 (0) 8556 / 96000 · www.muehldorfer.com

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Interview

Looking ahead

Movenpick Hotel JBR

Where are your key source markets for business? There are three key source markets for our hotel, the United Kingdom, Germany, and GCC, specifically Saudi Arabia. What new source markets do you expect to see in 2017 and why? In 2017, we expect to see growth from both India and China, because of the expanding middle classes that have an appetite for travel. We also expect to see growth from Australia, which now has better connectivity due to the recant Qantas/Emirates partnership, making it easier for guests to travel to Dubai. When occupancies are low, how do you drive revenue to the hotel, and what percentage of your revenue comes from F&B? Who says our occupancies are low? Year to date, we are running in the very high 80th percentile for annualised occupancy. That said, approximately 80% of our revenue comes from F&B.

Looking back at 2016, it is no secret that the hospitality industry across the entire Middle East faced their fair share of challenges due to the decline in oil prices, political instability in neighbouring countries, and Jones insists that “the biggest impact in 2016 came from the drop in the price of oil, which affected the number of visitors from many GCC countries. Also, the Brexit referendum in the UK and the eventual decision by the British people to leave the European Union saw the value of the sterling drop, and therefore, many UK tourists sought cheaper alternative destinations.” But despite the challenges, Jones reveals that Movenpick’s commitment to understanding current market trends helped ease some of the lows throughout the year, he explains: “Although corporate travel was curtailed from many GCC countries, whilst the value of oil remained low, there was still a significant amount of leisure travellers. As a result, we conducted numerous sales trips to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar focusing on individual leisure travel. This proved very effective for us, as we saw the total number of GCC guests increase, despite the declining number of corporate guests from this market.” Tapping in on what Jones calls “the triple S factor”, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach Hotel continues to strive in turbulent times. “Demand continues to be driven by the fact that Dubai is 34

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Soul Restaurant & Bar - Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach

still one of the best ‘Triple S’ destinations – sun, sand and shopping – and this will grow with the launch of many new attractions, such as the opening of Dubai Parks and Resorts, as well as the development of the Dubai Eye. These will drive more guests to the destination.” He adds: “As a property, we are fortunate to be located in Jumeirah Beach Residence, one of the more vibrant districts in Dubai that is close to all of the above-mentioned attractions. Our success in generating high occupancy and good revenue comes from our award-winning restaurants –The Talk and Soul restaurants. We have been recognised by Haute Grandeur as Best Honeymoon Hotel 2016 and World Luxury Hotel Awards as Best Luxury Contemporary Stylish Hotel 2016.” With F&B making up a massive part of Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s revenue, the increase in stand-alone restaurants building ‘foodie-hubs’ in areas such as DIFC and

Downtown, has arguably impacted F&B outlets in hotels, but Jones insists that the competition is healthy, with “the development of many standalone restaurants in Dubai being good for end users, as it has forced all restaurants to up their game and continue to develop new and exciting offerings. The increasing competition has resulted to a more competitive pricing, ultimately benefiting the customer.” As hotels are not only battling new standalone concepts, many hotels are adopting existing big brands within the hotel, as Jones adds: “It is more challenging for hotel restaurants to create their own identity if they were tied to a mother brand, say for example the hotel. That said, we are very fortunate in Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts, as we have more flexibility to develop brands that are thoughtful and imaginative, and engage the hearts and minds of the customer. A good example, of course, is Soul restaurant at Mövenpick JBR.”

GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

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GRIF 2017 will host a celebration of the brightest and best of the industry at the 2017 Global Restaurant Awards through partnership with The Caterer. The Global Restaurant Awards are an opportunity for the industry leaders to get together and celebrate those organisations that have shown innovation, vision and leadership in their businesses and concepts. Recognising the brands that have really engaged with their consumers through social media, technology, design or sustainability. GLOBAL RESTAURANT AWARDS IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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First look

In pictures: The Avenue Doha Hotel News ME takes a look at Katara Hospitality’s latest opening, The Avenue Doha

Al Mayassa Ballroom • • • • • • •

U-Shape: 32 Guests Hollow Square: 32 Guests Boardroom: 32 Guests Classroom: 32 Guests Theatre: 100 Guests Round Table: 104 Guests Traditional Majlis: 104 Guests

Strategy Room • • • • • • •

U-Shape: 14 Guests Hollow Square: 16 Guests Boardroom: 16 Guests Classroom: 16 Guests Theatre: 40 Guests Round Table: 24 Guests Traditional Majlis: 24 Guests

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

First look

Superio King Roo r m

SIZE BED: Kin : 29 m 2 g si Park Vie zed bed ws City View and s

5 minutes with… Shadi Kassem, general manager Since opening how well has the hotel been performing? As we are still in the soft opening stage, we are building on our sales and marketing strategies whilst considering the competition of the area as well as across Doha. We are confident that in the beginning of 2017 we will gain more prominence in the area to secure our share of the business in Qatar.

Six Senses Spa Six Senses Spa Doha, Centre is located on the roof top of the hotel and features five treatment rooms, female and male hammams, consultation room and nail bar. Six Senses Spa offers a layered approach that unites a pioneering spirit with treatments that go beyond ordinary. At Six Senses, you will find an intuitive mix of science and human awareness, where our high-tech and high-touch approach defines a service that is crafted around the individual. Located on Jawaan street in Doha’s Al Sadd District, the Hotel opened its doors end of August 2016, offering 170 rooms and suites equipped with the latest technologies and amenities required by business travellers on the move. Restaurants, meeting and banqueting space as well as recreation facilities will complement the offer. Located on Jawaan street in Doha’s Al Sadd District, the Hotel opened its doors end of August 2016, offering 170 rooms and suites equipped with the latest technologies and amenities required by business travellers on the move. Restaurants, meeting and banqueting space as well as recreation facilities will complement the offer. - Kassem

What are some of defining feature of the property and how does The Avenue stand out? The Avenue is home to some of the tastiest dining hot-spots in Doha. With a mouthwatering mix of local and international cuisines ranging from Internationally acclaimed Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Yellow Chili Restaurant, international cuisine in Brasserie Baaya, healthy contemporary cuisine in Nektaar roof-top terrace to our home-grown modern Qatari Cuisine in WeCafe. WeCafe, a modern Qatari concept cuisine is led by a team of young and creative Qatari nationals using Qatari culinary heritage as their inspiration. WeCafe is on a mission to introduce marveled varieties and unique flavours of Qatar to guests and visitors alike. The Avenue is also home to the world renowned Six Senses Spa and features five treatment rooms, female and male hammams alongside a consultation room and nail bar. What are some of the current trends being seen within the hospitality industry in Qatar? As Qatar aims to strengthen its travel and tourism sector, the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 has identified several key areas that the country should focus on such as business tourism. Visitors come to the country to participate in expositions, shows, conferences which is why we are also aiming to tap into this market. How are you capitalizing on these trends? We will continue to focus on business travellers as we reinforce our functional meeting spaces and rooms. The MICE segment in Qatar is without a doubt growing. With more than 150 business conferences hosted every year, Qatar has positioned itself in the global map as a destination for MICE travellers. In 2014, Doha hosted 22 significant international meetings, more than Luxembourg and the same number as Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, and The Hague, and was ranked 108th of cities globally by the International Congress and Convention Association. What do you anticipate to see within the industry in 2017? As more hotels open in the region, it’ll become even more important to work on standing out. Whether this be through weekend deals, social media or engaging repeat business, it’ll be interesting to see how the market adjusts to supply and demand woes. I no doubt believe that there is plenty of business to go around and that the market in Doha will continue to flourish at an unprecedented rate.

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Take 10

Focusing on Fujairah Having been in the UAE for 15 years Patrick Antaki complex general manager for Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah and the Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa has witnessed the steady progression of each Emirate. Here he tells Hotel News ME how an establishment can flourish in Fujairah and why focusing on the local attractions can help bolster business Wadi Wurayah National Park With a splendid variety of topographical variations, Fujairah has a refreshing flora and fauna that is unlike any other Emirate city. Wadi Wurayah is a rare protected site and a haven for wildlife in the Middle East, filled with a number of endangered species and stunning natural beauty. Located at the magnificent Hajar Mountains, a coastal road takes you to this exceptional national park through splendid surroundings of seaside and mountain views along the way. An ideal place for nature lovers, the retreat is home to some of the rarest animals in the world; you can spot several bird species, Blanford’s fox, Arabian leopards, mountain gazelles, caracals and the extremely rare Arabian tahr. This hidden gem of nature at the Hajar mountains with breathtaking scenery is a refreshing excursion not to be missed while visiting Fujairah. Souq al Juma A sober village with beautiful natural springs located on the edge of the Hajar mountains is quite famous for its markets, especially Masafi Friday markets or as it is locally called ‘Souq al Juma’. The town market that lies on the Dubai-Fujairah route is the best place to buy numerous handmade crafts from the locals as well as neighbouring cities and countries. The fabulous local market welcomes you with a range of attractive antiques, carpets, earthenware, and local handicrafts. Here you can stop enroute your drive and shop for indigenous and good quality articles 38

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

at much cheaper rates than the high-end outlets elsewhere and take advantage of bargain prices. Fujairah Beaches The only Emirati to face the turquoise Gulf of Oman waters, Fujairah is blessed with a perfect setting of a spectacular coastline stretch. The neat beaches with crisp sand and inviting warm waters attracts tourists from all over the world and is a great place to experience loads of water activities such as swimming, surfing, yachting and much more. The clear waters rich with aquatic life and untouched reefs makes it a happening spot for underwater exploration, so gear up and venture into the waters for some close encounters amid the mesmeris-

Khorfakkan, Fujairah

Patrick Antaki, complex general manager for Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah and the Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa

ing ocean life with snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities. Those who just want to have a sun soaked lazy day can wander around and enjoy our beach with plenty of recreational and dining facilities. Madhab Sulpheric Spring Park Fujairah has fascinating geographical elements with a mountainous terrain and beautiful beaches that makes it different from the other cities in the UAE. One remarkable aspect is its picturesque hot springs set at the foot of Hajar Mountains. The Ain Al Madhad Hot Springs is a great retreat to enjoy a refreshing soak in hot pools, quite popular among tourists and a favourite family weekend spot for the locals. The

Take 10

mineral springs here produce warm sulphuric water that is pumped into two swimming pools making separate bathing areas for males and females. This is an amazing natural spot to just relax among Fujairah’s natural surroundings.

Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah

Fujairah Fort Another historical monument in the UAE – the Fujairah Fort takes you into the past revealing the legacy of its ruling family and the city’s era being a defensive base. Perched on a hill top surrounded by lush date gardens, this fort is a wonderful structure comprising of three major sections, one square tower, two round towers, and several halls. One of the area’s prime attractions, the fort holds an imprint of the city’s historic significance. The nearby Heritage village gives you a glimpse through its restored houses and exhibits about the traditional lifestyle and methods of living of past Emirati inhabitants. Al-Bidyah Mosque Fujairah is home to the oldest mosque in the UAE – the Al-Bidyah Mosque. Built of stone and mud bricks, the creation of the mosque dates to past centuries where no materials were used for making structures other than mud and stones available in the surrounding areas and is considered an accomplishment for the architecture in which it was designed. The main prayer hall has arches with a central pillar that divides the space into four sections each with domed ceilings and has number of small decorative windows that allow light and air to enter the mosque. Also known as the Ottoman Mosque, this holy shrine is functional, performing daily prayers and holds a major significance in history. The mosque’s peaceful ambience is worth the visit. Personalised flare What stands out in both properties is the exceptional service provided by each and every individual in the resorts which falls in line with our motto of ‘every guest leaves happy’ The personalisation of service is noticeable amongst not only returning guests but also amongst first time customers from remembering someone’s

name to what dishes they liked in the restaurant or what food the children like everything must be focused on creating memorable experiences for our guests. Innovation leads to excitement Being in remote locations it is even more important to constantly innovate the brand and the product offerings, because this leads to excitement amongst guests as well as people that are looking for a quick getaway from the busy city. Innovation also leads to more engagement from our associates as they are more involved in the operations and bringing their own ideas forward. Being at one with the local community We must work together to make the destinations better and that only happens when we involve the local community. Over the years, we have really wanted to not only be a 5-star resort but also a place that the community can turn to for support. Through tree planting activities, beach cleans and school visits we have been able to educate not only kids but

also adults on the importance of keeping our beaches and surroundings clean and take care of the environment. With the help of all, we have been for many years now a Blue Flag certified beach and hold a green key - an eco-label for tourism and leisure establishments and is awarded to establishments that fulfill a list of environmental requirements. Learn from your mistakes Every organisation can always be better, hence why we aim to work harder and keep improving our experience. The feedback that our customers give is of utmost importance as they are the ones that come and stay at the resort. Through various channels we ensure that we can listen to what they have to say being it the guests’ cocktails that we do on a weekly basis or the feedback forms that go out after one stays. Keeping in mind that every guest should leave happy. But our efforts don't stop there, as we like to talk and investigate issues and do our best to resolve them during ones stay. We want everyone to feel like they are at home and we do everything in our power to make sure that happens. January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Meet the expert

Women in hospitality: Breaking the glass ceiling Former learning and development manager at Jumeirah Restaurant Group, Assia Riccio is no stranger to female adversity in the work place. Now the proud founder of Evolvin’ Women, Riccio tells Hotel News ME why it’s time for females across the Middle East to break through those glass ceilings and glass floors to claim their spot within the hospitality industry

cross the world women striving for advancement in the business community share similar challenges. In some cases, these challenges are deepened by the country they live in. Influencing change may be slow and dependent on the cumulative effect of individual successes coupled with support from those with the most influence. In the UAE for example Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the wife of Sharjah’s ruler announced that a Ministry for Women must be established, she said: “Women are the pillars of advancement in all societies.” And nowhere is this truer than in the hospitality industry with a relatively small number of female employees in comparison to male employees. For females joining the hospitality industry, some decisions can be more easily influenced by the company they wish to join, who they surround themselves with as mentors and sponsors (their visibility board) and how they deal with their own biases. Choosing who we want to work for as a female is as important as the company choosing the right employee. Interviews are a two-way exchange. Use the opportunity to ask about the number of women in senior roles, find out how long they have held these positions and if they were promoted internally. The answers to these questions will give a good indication of the company’s culture towards female leadership and progression. It is also a great starting point to become a little bit of a detective! Browse the internet and check that the career paths of these women reflect your own ambitions within the same company – considering that you will be surrounded by them it is important to make common ground. Choosing who to connect with is also critical throughout one’s career development and progression and a solid mantra would be to surround yourself with people who are committed to making you shine and stand above the crowd. The hospitality industry is fast moving, ever 40

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

“We must also be aware of a ‘glass floor’ too – whereby other females who have managed to creep up the career ladder reach the top and effectively throw it away so others are unable to climb up” changing and developing, to succeed in this industry it is essential to have your own visibility board – and by this, I mean it is essential to have a group of people you have selected and invited to coach, mentor, sponsor and offer feedback to you. Without coaching and mentoring women are likely to miss the benefits of receiving constructive criticism, advice and idea generation and without sponsorship women are likely to be overlooked for promotions regardless of their competence or performance. Being noticed by the C-suite is critical if you are to advance. This is particularly true at midcareer level, in supervisory or middle management when competition for promotion is most intense.

Networking and attending events are great opportunities to connect with people who can join your visibility board. The Middle East and particularly Dubai are well known for their networking events although, to date, unless you want to become an entrepreneur the development for women in hospitality has not been a focus of these events. For years women have discussed the ‘glass ceiling’ – a metaphor for the unseen, yet unreachable barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising to the upper echelons of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements. But we must also be aware of a ‘glass floor’ too – whereby other females who have managed to creep up the career ladder reach the top and effectively throw it away so others are unable to climb up. More noticeable in the Middle East as we’ve had to fight our way to the top, but we must appear united as females across the hospitality industry, where competition is rife, pay can be low and the long and unsociable hours can affect our personal lives. It is time for females to support each other and take advantage of the UAE, considering that it is one of the most active regions in the Middle East promoting women in the workforce - The Dubai Business Women Council is a good example of this effort. As women are such an essential part of the workforce we have so much power to influence the increase in the number of women in leadership roles. Take care in choosing who you want to work for, who you connect with and reinforce, through success and the support of one’s visibility board, the belief that the old reason we have a ‘glass ceiling’ is to smash right through it! Women seeking a career in hospitality in the Middle East should take every opportunity to sit at the table, take charge of their professional life and make things happen, taking every opportunity to speak their mind and believe in the value that their contribution brings to the table and makes for future success of the industry.

HOTEC 17 Middle East

HOTEC Middle East 2017 Fairmont Baku Flame Towers, Baku, Azerbaijan 25-28 April 2017 HOTEC is the original one-on-one meeting forum for buyers and suppliers in the hotel industry. HOTEC will bring senior decision makers from the industry in the Middle East and leading executives from supplier companies together in Baku this April, for networking and face-to-face meetings by appointment. Spend quality time with leading procurement, project, and design decision makers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, the Levant and surrounding territories, all with ongoing operations and important new projects, this April at HOTEC Middle East 2017. Why attend HOTEC Middle East 2017? – You know ahead of time who is attending – You know the buyers are senior decision makers – You get to choose who you want to meet – You are guaranteed limited competition – You spend quality, uninterrupted time with the buyers – You profile your company to a high level audience – You network, build relationships and get to know the key people in the industry – You receive VIP treatment in a 5 star atmosphere away from the pressures of the office

For more information please contact: Stephen Pace-Bonello: Email: spacebonello@questex.com Tel: +356 9945 8305

www.hotecglobal.com/middleeast

Supplier Focus: tableware

t HotelThis month News ME hears

are

T op

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from a group of the region’s leading tableware suppliers on how organic shapes and colourful tabletop settings are all the rage for 2017. Plus, the steps hoteliers and restauranteurs fail to take to keep their crockery in tiptop condition

What are some of the latest trends being seen in tableware across the hospitality and F&B industry? Ewart: We are now seeing eclectic mixes of not only colours but textures and varying materials too. For example, we recently worked on a project with wood, slate, stoneware and traditional china, all for one restaurant – not the usual mix! Hofbauer: We are seeing stoneware patterns - rustic decorations in a hand-made look. Our new range COUNTRY LIFE is a follow on of this trend. Another trend being seen is organic shapes - the design of these items don’t follow geometrical shapes but instead reflects the designs mother nature created. Rahmani: We have noticed a growing trend towards platter presentation and introducing items such as cast iron cookware on table top settings. Al Diyafa is well served to cater to this new trend by stocking Lava cast iron cookware. Toft: Referring to a European trend – ‘Rough Luxe’ interior design is on its way out in 2017. His suggestion is to put on a white table cover, lower the noise level so you can talk with each 42

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

1765 Gemini’s top picks “Churchill Stonecast has been a great seller- hand painted, with a great colour palette, it ticks the box for durability and on trend design. Rosenthal Mesh brings elegance, texture and colour to the table a beautiful combination of style and feel. Our own exclusive Enigma range, hand crafted for many leading chefs worldwide, it brings a feel of handmade stoneware that is really spot on in the changing world trend of fine dining.” – Ewart

other and give the plate a ‘make-under’! Salis: The rustic, colourful, minimalistic look and feel are still very much in with many buyers. The difference now though is that buyers are becoming more sophisticated in their purchasing habits and no longer want the most popular brands, but instead they are looking for some-

thing ‘a little different’. Having said that, the end of this trend is imminent given that every manufacturer is either copying a look into their collections or launching a variation of it. Bouchareb: Some of the latest trends we see surround the idea of taking food and drinks on the go, to better fit into busy schedules. Whether you create bite sized treats, serve hot drinks to customers on the run, or simply want to pack up leftovers, the takeout industry is booming. Lamprecht: Corresponding with the strong trend of adding more colour to the table, we introduced a powerful design this year that is a real statement on the table: Genesis by Affinity. With this collection, the industry can impress their guests with literally a colour big bang. And those who already have the white bestseller Affinity can set fantastic accents by adding pieces of the coloured version. How does tableware help to reflect a restaurant’s concept? Ewart: Whether it be fine dining or a stand-

Supplier Focus: Coffee

Dudson Harvest White collection from Renarte General Trading

Glenn Ewart, Commercial Director, 1765 Gemini

Gerd L. Hofbauer, export manager, Seltmann-Weiden

alone concept the food should always be the main event, however as sight is one of the human senses, presentation is key in representing the experience of dining out. The tableware must sit in the surroundings- you wouldn’t expect fine bone china in a rustic metal and wood concept- it just doesn’t sit well with the customer. Hofbauer: The design of the restaurant and the tableware must be one unit. This not only includes the style and the colours but also the quality. No guest in a good restaurant expects to be served with low quality tableware. Toft: A great table setting certainly helps to attract guests walking by. With the flexibility of our products you can easily change the atmosphere of the restaurant to create a different mood for different meal occasions. Rahmani: Tableware is paramount to a restaurant’s concept due to its visibility to guests. Given that many visitors and residents dine outside for an overall experience, food quality, restaurant décor, ambience and tableware are all major contributing factors to enhancing this experience.

Renarte’s top pick “Dudson Evolution – The ‘original’ rustic, coloured tableware option that has the benefit of a lifetime edge chip guarantee. They have now launched an exceptional line called Harvest White which gives a mix of the old-world charm laced with a timeless appearance.” – Salis Salis: The tableware set up is crucial in helping to create the overall ambience of the restaurant. This is where the customer comes into direct contact with the products that have been so carefully selected and purchased. When the guest picks up their cutlery, glass or pepper mill, they want it to mirror the overall look and feel of the restaurant that they have just walked into. A lot of cuisines are reflected in the choice of the tableware even before you browse the menu. Lamprecht: The dining table is a key part of the entire interior design and the guest experience in a restaurant and should go in line with

Adam Rahmani, director, Al Diyafa Hotel and Catering Supplies

Marcus Toft, area manager, Duni MEA

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Supplier focus: Coffee

Ranjan Salis, CEO, Renarte General Trading

Stonecast colourful range from 1765 Gemini

Jamil Bouchareb, owner, Restaurantware

Lloyd Lamprecht, international key account manager hotel and restaurant, Villeroy and Boch

the style, look and feel of the outlet. As well as with the food, restaurants must keep up with new trends and customers’ demands. Bouchareb: Tableware is a way for restaurants to interact with their customers directly. Every customer feels and uses tableware directly, so it’s important to always have the best quality tableware for your customers. Poorly made utensils, plates, bowls, or other tableware sends the wrong message to your customers. Since your tableware is a firsthand experience for every guest, it directly reflects your restaurant’s concept. 44

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Seltmann-Weiden’s top sellers “One of our top-sellers is our shapes DIAMANT and MAXIM, which are made from our unique fine diamond porcelain. This new ceramic material has the same creamy look as bone china. It has the same high translucency and it even has the velvety touch of bone china. However, fine diamond porcelain is a true hard-porcelain and therefore it is much more resistant against scratches in the glaze and chipping.” – Hofbauer

What is the most important factor about a dining table set up? Ewart: It is all about feel- before even the food is served, when you sit at a table, the set-up needs to feel right- cutlery, glass, chinaware, all need to make the customer feel immersed in the concept. A gastropub with white table linen and bone china will make the experience jar with the customer before they have even tasted the food. Rahmani: Whilst it varies between restaurants, a simple and elegant set up is typically most favored by our clients. Guests prefer not to have a cluttered tabletop set up unless attending a major banquet for example. Furthermore, the simple set up allows guests to fully notice the striking features of good quality tableware. Hofbauer: The dining table set up must reflect

the standard of the restaurant and the quality of the food. In a good restaurant, the guest not only expects to get excellent food, but also an incomparable dining experience. This includes an attractive ambiance, excellent, friendly and well trained wait-staff and the unique presentation of food, which is surprisingly different from expectations. Food should not only taste great but be a feast for the eyes as well. And this includes the porcelain on which the food is presented. It should be the right frame for the piece of foodart. Nobody would buy a Van Gogh painting and then put it on a cheap plastic frame. Salis: The most important factor of a dining set up is that the guest feels comfortable in his surroundings and that everything on the table, meets his expectations of the experience ahead. A factor often ignored is parity of pieces being used - you need to have a flow between the tableware on your set up. I have personally noticed disparity between the china, glass and cutlery set ups, you could have very exquisite china with out of place flatware and a horribly chunky glass - not really reflecting what the cuisine being served stands for. Toft: To me, the most important factor is giving a clear unified message to the customer. What does your restaurant want to communicate and then that ‘red tread’ should be reflected in everything from the food to the service to the look of the restaurant. Bouchareb: The most important factor about a dining table set up is adding a special flare that your customers have not experienced yet. You always want to keep your set up new and refresh-

26 Feb - 2 Mar 2017

Dubai World Trade Centre

THE BIGGEST FOOD BUSINESS ...is your business. Make it bigger by visiting Gulfood.

INNOVATION. TASTES. TRENDS.

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First look

Supplier focus: Coffee

Al Diyafa Hotel and Catering Supplies

Porland range from Al Diyafa

“Arthur Krupp porcelain from Germany is traditionally our best seller. It is elegant yet durable, with reinforced edges, Uovo pattern is perfect for candid mise en place and versatile contemporary buffets. In addition, our new Portland brand brings colour and diversity to restaurant set ups and a modern twist.” – Rahmani

Villeroy and Boch top sellers “Our bestsellers are for example, Stella in the premium bone porcelain segment which is also very popular when it comes to custom made solutions, so individual designs that we create in collaboration with hotels and restaurant to ensure a unique dining experience for their guests. Another bestseller in the more casual segment is Artesano Professionale made of premium porcelain – a very contemporary, urban collection that adds a cool yet stylish attitude to any food creation and especially modern interior designs.” - Lamprecht

Seltmann Weiden organic setting

ing so your customers don’t get bored with your tableware and setting. You can do this by using different plates, bowls, cutlery, displays, etc. and switching it up every now and then. What are some of your top tips on how to maintain the condition of tableware? Ewart: Storage, washing, and handling are key- choosing ranges that not only look great but function. Many of the leading manufacturers such as Churchill spend many hours looking at function as well as aesthetics- this means that in the back of house, they are dishwasher safe, chip resistant edges, stackability and glaze durability- these features handled correctly mean your tableware can last a lifetime. Hofbauer: The main point is that the quality of the tableware has to meet the needs of a hotel or restaurant. It must be able to withstand rough treatment without losing its nice look and special treatment. Toft: Using a table cover will make your tableware and not the least your tables last longer as well as providing a reduced noise level in the restaurant. 46

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Salis: Stewarding staff need to be trained on good handling techniques. Without these very important people, things can be broken and mistreated and then the overall look and feel is compromised. Most often manufacturers launch very exquisite lines without really giving a thought to how their pieces will be handled in a commercial environment, it is best to let your clients know the care required for the longevity of their tableware be it china, flatware or glass. Bouchareb: The best advice we can give on maintaining the condition of tableware is to treat it on an individual basis. Depending on the material, there are different ways you should take care of your products. If a product is labeled

as disposable, then don’t be afraid of disposing it. However, keep in mind that the way you dispose of your bamboo, wood, plastic, or other tableware directly affects our environment. Thus, be sure to recycle what you can. If you mainly use glassware, keep in mind that it doesn’t handle impact well. You need to make sure not to clink glasses because this can weaken their structure. Lamprecht: Beyond choosing the correct tableware comes the selection quality dishwashers, detergents meeting the specific needs of different materials especially with metallic applications like gold and platinum. Cutlery should have a high quality too – so 18/10 stainless steel as a minimum in order to guarantee a reasonable lifetime.

Discovering Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Potential The first Iran Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (IHTIC) will be held at the Parsian Evin Hotel, Tehran inÂ Iran on 7-8 February 2017. IHTIC will attract an international audience of senior figures and decision-makers involved in all aspects of hotel and tourism investment in Iran. The conference will focus on hotel development and tourism attraction in the country. Join us in Tehran and hear from industry experts on the opportunities available in this region, find out what lessons they have learnt about doing business in Iran and how they have overcome development and operational challenges. Find out how government is stimulating foreign investment into the country, what incentives and projects are available. ORGANISED BY

Marketplace

Marketplace The supplier and buyer roundup of news, products and services

HOTEC Middle East 2017 The 14th edition of HOTEC Middle East will be held at the iconic Fairmont Baku Flame Towers in Azerbaijan, from 25-28 April 2017. An appointment-based hosted buyer event, HOTEC runs for three days and includes one-to-one meeting sessions between buyers and suppliers within a programme of meals and networking activities. At HOTEC Middle East, international suppliers meet and talk business with some of the key hotel industry decision makers sourcing new and innovative products for their existing hotel operations and new projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain and surrounding areas. The event will

HOTEC 17 Middle East

kick off with an ice-breaking welcome dinner reception on the day of arrival. The following morning, attending delegates are invited to a brief educational seminar which includes a keynote presentation about the state of the hotel industry in the Middle East and a panel discussion. After this, suppliers take their place at their tables in the main meeting

hall for the first of two full-day sessions of scheduled appointments with attending buyers. Once meetings are over, a networking evening with dinner is planned off site, giving delegates the opportunity to take in some of the sights of Baku. More than a hundred delegates are expected to participate in HOTEC Middle East 2017. Over 20 product categories will be represented by suppliers from all corners of the globe, eager to spend quality time with the attending hotel owners and operators, designers and specifiers, and procurement companies. Visit www.hotecglobal.com/middleeast or contact Stephen Pace-Bonello on spacebonello@questex. com for further information.

In 1924, the fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin opened her Atelier de Parfum in Paris, and a world of olfactory delights was born: Les Notes de Lanvin continues the haute couture and fragrance legacy with refined collections for the bath and body and an avant-garde attractive packaging: from the perfume shape bottle with a shiny black capsule, to the pearly white material and elegant branded stamp. The gentle formulas are adapted to all skin types ensuring sensorial textures and experience. Available in 45 ml - Oud & Rose. Notes: patchouli, rose absolute, oud wood, skin musk. Contact mredouane@sagmacorp.com / 04 454 84 02 - 055 710 4252 48

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

Marketplace

Android Touché – POS on a tablet Android Touché is the latest addition to the Touché family of software for F&B industry service businesses. It leverages the variety and low cost of Android devices to make mobile order taking suitable and affordable by all. Android Touché is easy to use yet offers all the sophistication that any fine dining or busy outlet may need. It is intuitive, easy to use and it helps in improve guest service by streamlining operations for hotels. prologicfirst.com mea@prologicfirst.com

Steelite Welsh Slate Unifying the historic and naturally beautiful Welsh slate with the demands of contemporary cuisine, this blend of sophisticated warm plum hues with a natural texture creates a balance of soft allure and striking detail. The artistry of Welsh slate tableware is the blend of elegance and performance. Each product is hand-finished and some feature natural veining making each item different. All products are highly durable, nonabsorbent, oven and microwave safe, colourfast and made of the highest quality slate. enquiries@ronai.ae

Helia Smoker

The Helia Smoker is an electrical smoker cooker that can be readily used in the kitchen without the need for extractor fans or hobs, due to its plug-in system and is distributed in the UAE by Bahraja General Trading. The interior and exterior walls, as well as the drip-tin and gates are made of stainless steel. The double shell construction is fully insulated allowing for pre-heating times with minimal heat loss, meaning the oven runs for nearly 60% of the time without electricity. The heating is with a thermostatic control and automatic times. bahraja@eim.ae

Water-wise spa uniforms

Spa uniform designers, Fashionizer has unveiled a new collection of “hydrophobic” uniforms created specifically for spas, thalasso and aquatherapy staff. The new range of uniforms have been made in a special ‘water-wise’ fabric, suited for hospitality and wellness staff working in areas where they may be exposed to water. The new collection comprises of the Thala tunic and Hydra trousers made with light, hydrophobic fabrics, ensuring the uniforms do not absorb water. The fabric also has antibacterial properties, is skin-friendly and durable. In line with Fashionizer Spa’s sustainability efforts, the new range contains 50% Tencel, made from wood pulp. fashionizer.com

5 minutes with... Andika Roemin, senior vice president, MENA region, Asia Pulp and Paper Group Can you share some details of the company history?

Established in 1972 with Tjiwi Kimia producing caustic soda, we now have operations across Indonesia and China with an annual combined pulp, paper, packaging product and converting capacity of over 19 million tons per annum. Today, APP markets its products in more than 120 countries across six continents.

What does APP offer to the industry that is different?

Our entire Foopak range is halal-certified to the Indonesian HAS 23000 standards. This is a real point of differentiation and, combined with our wider product certification from ISEGA and the US FDA, provides additional assurance for all consumers about the quality and safety of our production facilities. And our Foopak Bio Natura Cup adds a biodegradable option to our portfolio, which we expect will be popular across the Middle East. This innovation provides a readily recyclable and biodegradable alternative, one that we expect to have a huge impact.

What growth do you anticipate to see over the next 12 months?

Over the next 12 months, we will continue our focus on improving packaging and investing in readily recyclable and biodegradable products, as well as continuing to pursuing growth in the Middle East and Africa.

What new products/announcements should we know about?

Our new Foopak Bio Natura Cup is a 100% bio-degradable and fully compostable cup stock suitable for both hot and cold drink. It makes use of an innovative bio-degradable aqueous coating as an alternative to a PE lining, ensuring that the packaging is easily recyclable and compostable at end of life without the need for difficult and expensive plastic separation.

January 2017 HOTEL NEWS ME

Last word

Who said that?

Room with a view This month’s room with a view goes to the magical Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland which is synonymous with a northern lights holiday

Home to the famous Glass Igloos, Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is surrounded by unparalleled winter beauty. The hotel is located in Lapland, on the fringes of the wilderness and close by to Urho Kekkonen National Park. The focus of the hotel is primarily on its unique accommodation options. The igloos are located in both the East and West sections of the resort and are perfect for clear views of the aurora borealis. The Kelo Glass Igloo is a blend of both a log cabin and a glass igloo, with the warmth of a fireplace and sauna and the access of a glass dome above the bed. The hotel runs specific activities in the summer and winter, from reindeer safaris and skiing, to fishing trips and husky safaris. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is located 250km north of the arctic circle in Lapland, right on the edge of the wilderness in Finland. The hotel is close to Urho Kekkonen National Park and roughly half an hour away from Ivalo Airport. Transport from and to Ivalo Airport is available for all customers. A glass roof bus is also available to hire for group rental The dome roofed glass igloos are almost synonymous with a northern lights holiday. Each igloo features twin beds, a coat rack and a toilet. There are 33 igloos in total and the shower facilities are in a separate building.

“The hospitality and tourism industry in Saudi Arabia is new and rapidly growing and something the government is keen to invest in with the Saudi 2030 vision. With new roads, infrastructure, entertainment facilities, and independent F&B options it’s clear to see a new market for family travel.” Hans Schiller, Cluster General Manager of Doubletree by Hilton Riyadh Al Muroj

NEXT ISSUE> We will be running a dedicated supplier focus on kitchen equipment and ovens in the February 2017 issue of Hotel News ME. Revealing the latest products that are bringing professional-level technologies, speed, rotisserie, dehydration and steam into the kitchens from key oven and kitchen equipment suppliers across the Middle East. To get involved in this editorial, please contact hnmesocial@bncpublishing.net

BIN EID EXECUTIVE SEARCH & SELECTION (Specialised in 5* Hotel Sector) TWENTY (20) Years of Celebration *** TWENTY YEARS*** in Talent Sourcing in Hospitality segment BIN EID Executive Search is celebrating 20 years of existence. We thank our clients, candidates, well-wishers who directly and indirectly helped us in our wonderful & blissful journey. We also thank the Almighty, Bin Eid team members, ex-employees, associates and numerous unseen souls who supported us to navigate in our venture. We have touched and transformed thousands of individuals in our 20 years of spectacular journey. Thank you for the trust and confidence placed on us.

Our clients are currently recruiting for the following roles: VP-Operations-Asia, GM-hotels-UAE and Saudi Arabia, Corporate DOSM, DOSM, Sales Managers, Corporate Chief Engineer, CFO Please visit: www.bineid.com to view the current jobs.

HOTEL NEWS ME January 2017

INTRODUCING THE FIRST EVER PREMIUM QUALITY TROLLEY MADE IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

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