What do you look for in an operator?
“Our priorities when it comes to choosing an operator are strength of brand and management depth.”
Anil Bhardwaj, director, A.A. Al Moosa Enterprises

“In addition to the terms of the offer received from the operator, the other important elements we take into account when selecting a hotel operator, are the synergies between the location of the asset and ‘best brand fit’.”
Sanjay Tanna, business development director, ADNEC

“We work closely with Accor Hospitality and InterContinental Hotels Group, two of the world’s leading hotel companies. When selecting an operator, we focus on the value that the brand and its distribution network will bring to our investment — from a variety of aspects ranging from loyalty programmes to account management, as these are the components that drive business to the hotel and ultimately create value for us.”
Alain Debare, general manager, Action Hotels

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“We look for the right quality service-minded attitude, global expertise, interesting and innovative concepts and recognised professional capabilities while selecting partners. Our operators translate our vision on the ground and because of this reason, we take care to find the right partners.

Above all other factors, we look for a potential long-term partner, who comes with a willingness to understand this vision and translate it in reality. We look for experience, regional and market insight, sales, revenue and marketing power, and the unique selling points they offer.”
Siegfried Nierhaus, managing director, Atlas Hospitality

“We look for a management company with innovation, drive and dedication. A company that will treat our hotels as individual businesses, earning their fees on merit not on the reputation of the management brand.

Also, it is important to focus on bookings independent of their reservations systems, not simply relying on their system bookings. It is also imperative that hotel operators are three-dimensional in that they drive business into all sectors of the hotel and not just concentrate on their strength, which is normally rooms where they derive most of their management fees from.”
Michael Scully, managing director, Seven Tides Hospitality