Hilton Doha purchasing manager Abdulsaleem Kakkatil gives an insight into Qatar’s supplier market based on his recent experiences on the hotel’s pre-opening team
How long have you been in hotel purchasing?
I have been in purchasing for more than 10 years, having started out in the UAE.
What products are you on the lookout for?
Quality and cost of food products is essential to ensure we provide our guests and team members with high-value products. Hence, we are constantly exploring new suppliers and encouraging existing suppliers to deliver higher-quality products and services at competitive prices.
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How is the Qatar supplier market faring as more new hotels come online?
Qatar is a growing market with a lot of potential. I believe that the rapid expansion of the market will introduce healthy competition for suppliers which should benefit buyers and end-users in terms of value, appeal and reliability. I look forward to using more local suppliers for all Hilton Doha purchases.
Are prices high or low for products in Qatar compared to places like Dubai?
Supply and demand typically dictate price and availability in emerging markets. As the Qatar market continues to develop and expand, we expect that competition will lead to more availability, enhanced competencies, reasonable prices and better service. However, though current prices are generally higher than more mature markets, we see local suppliers aggressively competing with neighboring and more established suppliers for a greater share of the market.
How do supplier service levels vary in Qatar?
Delivering consistent, reliable quality products and services isn’t an easy task but it is required for Hilton Worldwide contracts. The suppliers we see in Qatar have the desire to be the best and most competitive and we see more and more suppliers willing and able to meet high standards.
Were you able to easily source all products desired for the opening of Hilton Doha?
Some items were easier than others, as is expected in an emerging market. We worked hard with local suppliers as well regional suppliers to ensure we didn’t compromise our standards.
Please tell us about one of your most successful deals.
We recently signed a contract with a trading and contracting company to collect our recyclable waste.
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