EVENT PREVIEW: Hotelier's Qatar GM Debate
The third annual Qatar GM Debate will bring together hotel general managers to discuss the sensitive topic of supply in a market struggling to keep up with the influx of new rooms
Hotelier Middle East first brought its General Manager Debate series to Qatar in April 2011; just months after the country won the bid to hold the World Cup 2022 and with it, captured the attention of the global media.
The buzz was palpable, with hoteliers excited at the boost to the profile of the market and at the dynamic projects starting to hit drawing boards. At the time, Qatar Tourism Authority reported that 85,000 rooms were contracted — and consensus was that these would be needed to accommodate one of the world’s largest sporting events.
However, fast forward two years and as new hospitality projects are starting to come online, those already operating hotels are suffering, with supply beginning to outstrip demand.
While the industry is still bullish as to the future potential of Qatar, right now, strategies need to be implemented to cope with lower rates, varying occupancies and staff shortages — and discussions of best practice in these areas will shape the agenda at this year’s Qatar GM Debate.
Hotelier’s third conference in Qatar will take place at the Grand Hyatt Doha on April 10, bringing the vibrant, ever-developing hospitality business under the microscope once again.
The GM Debate has established itself as a critical platform for those leading Qatar’s hospitality industry as more than 25 speakers take to the stage in a series of panel discussions, presentations and workshops throughout the one-day event.
The 2013 conference will continue the momentum of the 2012 event, which brought together 130 senior hospitality professionals to hear from industry peers representing leading brands in the region, including Simon Casson, regional vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Doha; Safak Guvenc, area manager Qatar and general manager of W Doha Hotel & Residences; Joseph Coubat, area vice president – Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation and more.
This year, GMs will weigh in on key 2013 developments including the growing competition in West Bay, which witnessed the opening of the Hilton Doha in 2012 and will see the upcoming Shangri La open its doors later this year.
Also up for discussion are the Qatar Tourism Authority’s new judicial powers, which come into effect in Q4 this year, with GMs divided as to how this will impact their role and how it may change their relationship with the governing tourism body.
As always, exclusive data presentations will set the scene at the GM Debate, with TRI Hospitality Consulting’s senior consultant, Chris Hewett, taking the stage to share statistics on Qatar’s upcoming pipeline, occupancy and room rates.
He asserts that there is “lots of demand driving new builds”, but warns that Qatar hotel development will “stay centred in the expanding city of Doha and will continue to be driven by business travellers as the leisure market remains in its infancy”.
Sporting Chance
Qatar is also positioning itself to host major international forums and sporting events – long before the 2022 World Cup. Hewett highlights that “various areas will be driving demand; Aspire Zone and Education City are perfect examples of how the country is diversifying itself to attract major global events and business, and therefore more visitors.”
The Qatar GM Debate will also tackle some of the most complex ongoing issues in the sector. One area that continues to challenge GMs is recruitment, remuneration and retention, as competition threatens to undercut investments in training.
Ultimately, it’s a not-to-be-missed event and the only opportunity for Qatar hoteliers to come together to discuss the issues that really matter to the industry.