9am Dozens of experts from the F&B industry are networking over breakfast at Mina A’Salam ahead of the start of this morning’s Caterer Middle East Bars and Nightlife Forum 2012
Around 200 professionals registered for today's event, one of two forums to be held this week. Tomorrow more industry experts will be gathered here for the first Caterer Middle East Ingredients Forum.
Find out more about the line up here.
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Just spotted our Caterer Middle East Bar Manager of the Year from 2011 Ferdie Idris from Yas Island Rotana – a regular face at our industry events and awards ceremonies.
10am: Caterer Middle East editor Hannah-Farah Abdulla welcomes the audience and explains the launch of these two new conferences follows on from the success of Caterer’s Food & Business forum held in March.
“There was substantial demand for more industry conferences. This was particularly true of the nightlife industry, where many of you shared your views on the lack of such events that promote best practice within the industry,” says Abdulla.
She goes onto summarise the line up for today, before welcoming the first panelists to the stage: The Evolution of the UAE's Nightlife panel
1010am: The past year alone has seen an influx of international brands arrive in the UAE. Looking forward the next 12 months will see Cafe Del Mar and Marquee debut, just to name a few. Keeping track of this highly competitive UAE scene is difficult with new venues seemingly springing up overnight. This panel will discuss the evolution of the UAE nightlife industry and the role that international brands play in this, the current regulatory and legislative landscape and which outlets stand out in today’s competitive market.
Moderator: Greg Dufton, Co-Founder, Think ME
Panelists:
Richard Haddon, Club Operations Manager, Mo*vida Dubai
Jimmy Barrat, Bar Manager, Zuma
Dave Cattanach, Operations Manager, Irish Village
Jad Matta, Managing Partner, People By Crystal
Marcus Thesleff, Co-Founder, OKKU
- "Everyone wants a nightclub"
The experts say everyone wants a nightclub in a hotel, but it isn't easy money! Hoteliers aren't nightclub operators...
"We’ve worked with both hotels here and in Europe, everyone is chasing for nightclubs in their hotels... they think it’s easy money. It’s not going to work. Hoteliers are good at rooms... If you look at what we do – it’s a completely different animal," says Marcus Thesleff, co-founder, Okku
- Dubai Vs Las Vegas
The experts have drawn several comparisons between the two cities, but can Dubai be on the map - like Vegas - an international destination for nightlife? We people come to Dubai for their hen and stag dos? asks moderator Greg Dufton.
Marcus Thesleff, Co-Founder, OKKU: "By 2014 we’re opening in Vegas. And in Dubai, people come here for the whole thing – beach, shopping, partying – it’s all here".
However, you can't build your business on tourism, they agree.
Okku's Thesleff and Movida's Haddon say hotel guests visiting the nightclub are few and far between: "We get two or three a week and we’re lucky," says Movida's Haddon.
- "Stop the brunches!" says Irish Village operations manager Dave Cattanach.
"I get them ['post-brunchers'] at five o'clock and they're horrible. A lot of the problems [reported] in the UK press come from brunches. I would stop them straight away because of where we are," says Irish Village's Cattanach.
But Okku's Thesleff says it's the operator's responsibility to manage brunch properly: "Depending how you value your brand, you don't want a bunch of drunk people running around”.
"it’s the responsibility of the brunch operators," agrees Movida's Haddon. "I often go to the Zuma brunch which is a laid back affair, people don’t get out of their tree there. It’s definitely the responsibility of the bigger hotels doing the brunches, it’s a free for all, there’s no control. They’ll offer anything."
Thesleff adds: "Some of these brunches are a couple of hundred dirhams and you’ve got to wonder what kind of food they’re giving you if they’re giving all the drinks free too".
Moderator Dufton asks what effect the brunches are having on the emirates weekend nightlife business?
" I‘ll compare it to Vegas where they have day parties and they’ve taken a big chunk of revenue from the evening parties because there’s only a certain amount people can drink, can spend. Are they fit to go out at 11 o'clock and if so – do we want them?" says Thesleff.
1130: The next panel is looking at designing concepts that deliver bottom line results
With a wide variety of nightclubs, lounges and bars, shisha joints and beach and sports bars – sometimes all within the same hotel - it is important to tailor and execute a clear concept in order to attract clientele. This session will discuss how to design, develop and execute a successful concept.
Moderator: Aidan Keane, Founder, Keane Brands
Marcus King, Club Manager, 360
Luke James, Director of Operations, Media One Hotel
Steve Vermote, Manager, Belgian Beer Café - Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City
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