7 minute read
Startups
ANALYSIS
operators as well as alternative concepts like Airbnb and HomeAway, as our propositions are different. For example, with events such as Expo, there will be a definitive stress on business amenities and services, and this is something we will double-down on over the next few months. For large groups, such as national contingents, a hotel offers more flexibility and ease and a better network of suppliers for tours, meetings and leisure experiences.
There will always be new players in the hospitality industry, and this is something we welcome as it keeps us constantly innovating. Although technology has taken hospitality out of the realm of hotels and introduced new players like Airbnb, it has also helped us streamline and tailor our services.
Lastly, what are the future trends set to reshape the regional hospitality landscape?
QR code menus
are now popular at several F&B outlets Technology will continue to impact the way we travel and stay in hotels. For guests, the brand proposition is as much about the booking experience, marketing, and app functionality, as it is about the hotel destination and hallmarks. For owners, our offering is as much about our ability to create revenue advantages through data and technology, as it is about our scale and expertise.
In response to the challenges of Covid-19, we have used our investment in cloud-based technology to accelerate the rollout of digital enhancements that support safe and secure guest experiences and reduce unnecessary contact. This includes applying QR code menus in all our F&B establishments, the global rollout of mobile check in/check out and piloting other mobile-enabled improvements such as inroom dining orders and real-time Pay-With-Points.
ANALYSIS
Growing fitter
The healthy snack market is gaining greater traction, writes Zainab Mansoor
Health-conscious consumers are keen to make viable food choices, which in turn has influenced the snack market. A rise in challenges related to sedentary lifestyles and the recent Covid-19 pandemic have also raised awareness about the importance of healthy eating, incentivising people across the region to become more cognisant of what they consume.
The UAE has been witnessing increasing demand for nutritious food and organic produce in recent years amid rising incidence rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a report by Alpen Capital revealed. “In 2019, consumption of natural food products in the country increased by approximately 10 per cent, while consumption of organic products and free products (such as free-range eggs) increased by around 20 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.”
Consumers scouring for healthy eating options has paved the way for F&B operators and entrepreneurs to unlock massive opportunities within this space. Dubai-based children’s healthy snack brand Koala Picks was launched in October 2019 to promote healthy lifestyle habits for families, with products ranging from healthy sweet and savoury snacks to breakfast and baking items.
“We are parents and we were struggling to find healthy snacks for our children. A lot of the options that kids are surrounded with have high levels of processed sugar, artificial preservatives and colours, which are all detrimental to their health,” notes Ahmed Mobasher, co-founder of Koala Picks. “Therefore, we decided to address the problem and launch a brand that makes accessible, innovative and delicious snacks from only natural ingredients. Furthermore, all our snacks are approved by our nutritionist to ensure proper nutritional balance between the ingredients.”
While some consumers have started seeking out healthy options for their children, greater awareness is required among parents, explains Mobasher. “We are reaching out to both as our purpose is to inspire our entire community to embrace a healthy eating lifestyle.”
The company recently raised Dhs1.5m in its first investment round to support its growth. “So far we are focused only on the UAE. The opportunities are plenty and they require focus, discipline, and execution. Eventually after exploring these options and putting more systems in place to support our growth, we will expand our presence into neighbouring countries,” adds Mobasher.
With growing product offerings and greater consumer awareness, the healthy snack industry appears primed for a healthy growth path.
COMMENT
Tom Hudson Lawyer and advisor
Catalyst for exponential growth
Iremember the day when Dubai won the right to hold Expo like it was yesterday. The date was November 28, 2013, and I was working for DP World. We had supported the bidding process and there was a big event for the team on the first of the ‘World Islands’ to have been completed where they had set up a big screen for us to watch the announcement. When the news hit, the whole sky simultaneously lit up, with fireworks launching from the Creek to the crescent of the Palm. Messages were projected onto the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab welcoming the world to the UAE. As we took the boat back to the mainland, it was symbolic for us to pass the other World Islands and realise that the world’s attention would be on the UAE soon.
However, what would hosting an Expo actually mean? Over the following few months, I gave this more thought, not just for me personally and professionally, but more broadly what the opportunities might be for the UAE and the region. We knew that the main theme was “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, but how would this manifest? I believed that over the coming years, the UAE would want to attract the world’s most innovative companies and people to set up locally by reforming foreign ownership laws, granting long-term residency, rebate programmes, and establishing tech hubs, freezones and clusters. I myself took advantage of the wave of enthusiasm and set up a company that in turn has helped more companies to set up here.
This summer, as I walked through Hyde Park, I saw for the first time – even though I must have walked past it hundreds of times – a small plaque that read: “This is the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It was the first world exhibition of design, technology and innovation, displaying exhibits from Britain and the rest of the world.” The building that housed the Great Exhibition was nicknamed the ‘Crystal Palace’, the world’s first large-scale pre-fabricated structure, housing 100,000 exhibits. It was the culmination of the industrial revolution, and a celebration of humanity’s achievement to date. Now, 170 years later, its descendent – the current World Expo – will similarly not only be a chance to showcase the fourth industrial revolution, but also be a catalyst for the ‘great reset’. In terms of timing, as we emerge from the pandemic, and potentially face ever bigger threats to humanity, this is a genuine chance for the greatest brains on earth to come together and plot a path for the future.
I remember the first time I went to the Expo 2020 Dubai headquarters. It was just some portacabins stitched together. There was a big panorama window looking out onto a vast expanse of desert, populated with a few Ghaf trees. I remember taking a photo and was reminded of the many ‘before and after’ photos that Dubai boasts. However, looking at the model of what was to be created, next to the window, I genuinely thought that Dubai had bitten off more than it could chew. I returned most recently 15 days before the opening, when Sheikh Sultan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Commissioner of Expo 2020 came to inspect the site, and was completely blown away that the model has now become a reality. One can’t fail to be impressed by the architecture and design that has gone into each pavilion. However, what excited me most was the thought of what will be possible when the gates open.
As we all know, exponential growth happens when there is a network effect. For the first time, I could see that the Expo was the physical embodiment of the network effect of not only 192 countries coming together, but the millions of minds that will pass through the gates and even more beyond that will engage virtually. From classroom to boardroom, I hope as many people as possible will visit and think about the challenges and opportunities affecting our age. Expo 2020 is a platform, and I think that whatever one’s nationality, background, age, or business interests, you will find something that is a perfect fit for you. As I stood at the same panoramic window, looking back out over the site, I felt a sense of a coming of age for the UAE as the country celebrates its 50th anniversary. In the way that the Great Exhibition marked a golden era for Britain, I’m confident that the same will happen for the UAE.
