Event Preview: Hotelier ME Great GM Debate 2013

The agenda is set, speakers lined up and sponsors confirmed for the fourth annual Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate in Dubai next week, which is themed around Hospitality’s Leaders, Innovators and Game Changers.

The countdown is on to Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate, a unique discussion and networking forum for hotel general managers being held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel on September 9.

There are a few changes to the agenda for this year’s conference, now in its fourth edition, with close to 20 new speakers and some new session formats all revolving around a central theme of Hospitality’s Leaders, Innovators and Game Changers.

Excitingly, the conference will open with an exclusive live-on-stage interview with Rudi Jagersbacher, president MEA, Hilton Worldwide, conducted by Hotelier Middle East editor Louise Oakley.

Ranked number one in this year’s Hotelier Middle East Power 50, Jagersbacher will share some key insights and anecdotes from his 40-year hospitality career, as well as his outlook on the future growth for the hotel business in the UAE.

Continuing this theme, the agenda is peppered with short speeches from some prominent hospitality figures in the UAE. In a new series of sessions, called ‘Take Five’, Gerald Lawless, president and group CEO, Jumeirah Group will speak about ‘The One Piece of Advice I Live by’; Karim Bizid, GM, The Oberoi Dubai, will share ideas on ‘How I Keep My Passion for Hospitality Alive’; and Jason Myers, MD Jumeirah Restaurants and general manager — operations, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, will reveal ‘The Best Mistake I Ever Made’.

The opening session brings together four regional experts to discuss how to stay competitive and plan for the long-term. Omer Kaddouri, COO, Rotana; Olivier Hick, VP operations, Gulf and Levant countries, Accor; Christian Grage, VP operations for the Arabian Peninsula, Hilton Worldwide; and Mohamed Awadalla, area VP, Time Hotels, will take to the stage for this debate.

Another highlight will be a panel entitled Winning Guests, which will comprise travel trade, e-distribution and hotel experts to discuss challenges and share best practices. It will be moderated by Leo Fewtrell, secretary general of the Gulf Travel & Tourism Association Committee.

The hot topic of F&B management will also come under the spotlight, with Hakkasan’s Henk Bruggeman, director operations — Middle East and China moderating a panel discussion on whether hotels can compete in F&B.

With panelists including Rupprecht Quietsch, general manager, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, Gert Kopera, senior vice president food and beverage, Jumeirah Group and Luigi Romaniello, managing director, Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Bruggmen will question pricing, creativity, business models and ambience in hotel-based outlets.

Prior to lunch, the 200-plus delegates will be able to select from a range of more intimate, interactive workshops in which to partake. These include: Profit per square foot — are you making the best use of space in your property?; Optimising web, social and mobile opportunities for your property; and F&B Concepts — are there any genuinely new ideas left?

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Product Knowledge

The Great GM Debate also provides hoteliers with the opportunity to learn about new product trends and launches from a limited number of hand-picked suppliers exhibiting their wares across a range of hotel segments, from software and spa amenities to beds and beverages.

Returning once again as platinum sponsor, A.Ronai will present its latest tableware ranges from Genware and Steelite and launch Ronai Uniforms. Managing director Gavin Dodd highlighted creativity in F&B, staff training and wellbeing, and the digital debate as issues likely to dominate discussion panels.

“With the increased competition across all sectors, we would suggest that trends relating to creativity will be an important area of focus. Continuing to raise the profile of Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East as a whole as a key destination for travellers and ensuring F&B outlets are offering something different, outside the norm of the traditional “hotel restaurant”, is important.

Is a third party-run outlet a better option for guests and hoteliers alike?” Dodd asks, pre-empting a question surely expected to take centre stage on the panel, ‘Can hoteliers compete in F&B?’.

Exhibitor The Product House has been operating in the Middle East spa industry for the past 10 years and now offers nine product ranges and a host of ancillary services to hotel spas.
The company’s founder, Janette Gladstone-Watts, who will be on-hand to answer all spa related queries, says: “Our prime aim is to support hotel spas not only in terms of their product offering, but also in training, marketing and merchandising the total package from the beginning of the spa journey to retail offerings.

“Supporting events such as the Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate not only allows The Product House to increase awareness and extend the benefits of our services, but also allows us to play a role in one of the leading hotel events in the region”.

The team will be available to discuss the various product ranges, including the new Rose Stem Cell line from Aromatherapy Associates and Vinology treatment from Anne Semonin.

For the first time in 2013, The Great GM Debate has an education partner in the form of the Glion Institute of Higher Education, which provides training to hospitality students in more than 90 countries. Glion partnership manager Anouk Tenten says that supporting events such as The Great GM Debate is a core part of the school’s philosophy.

“Education and especially (our Glion) online education works two ways. We have our faculty members that are the facilitators and experts in the curriculum they teach, however, we also use the real work/life experience in our class to make topics more feasible to what’s happening today in our industry. Supporting the GM debate goes herewith hand in hand. We like to deliver but also learn and get feedback from the industry professionals,” Tenten says.

She adds that when it comes to HR, talent development is critical as is the shift of focus towards woman and generation Y, “who will become dominant as a consumer as well as in our work field”.

“In 2010, Glion introduced the first 100% online MBA in International Hospitality and Service Industries Management, dedicated to developing executive talent for the global hospitality and wider services industry. We are working with various hospitality partners to tailor our programmes to their needs.”

Tentun and representatives from a total of 21 partner companies (see box out opposite) will be available throughout the GM Debate to offer product insight and industry opinion, with plenty of networking breaks enabling general managers to explore what’s on offer.

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Stellar speaker line-up for 2013 GM Debate

The regional leaders, tourism experts and top general managers to lead the day's discussions...

- Rudi Jagersbacher, president MEA, Hilton Worldwide
- Gerald Lawless, president and group chief executive officer, Jumeirah Group
- Omer Kaddouri, chief operating officer, Rotana
- Olivier Hick, vice president operations, Gulf and Levant countries, Accor
- Christian Grage, VP of operations for the Arabian Peninsula, Hilton Worldwide
- Serge Zaalof, president & managing director, Atlantis - The Palm
- Mohamed Awadalla, area vice president, TIME Hotels
- Thomas Tapken,  area vice president - Dubai & Northern Emirates, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation
- Andrew Humphries, regional vice president and general manager, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi
- Tim Cordon, general manager, Radisson Blu Hotel - Dubai Deira Creek
- Luigi Romaniello, managing director, Rosewood Abu Dhabi
- Rupprecht Queitsch, general manager, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
- Jitendra Jain, regional director of marketing - Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
- Stephan Schupbach, general manager, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
- Leo Fewtrell, secretary general, Gulf Travel & Tourism Association Committee (GTTAC) and managing partner, Gulf Reps
- Gert Kopera, senior vice president food & beverage, Jumeirah Group
Stewart Selbie, general manager, Mina Seyahi Complex
- Patrick Antaki, complex general manager, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
- Karim Bizid, general manger, The Oberoi, Dubai
- Henk Bruggeman, director of operations - Middle East and China, Hakkasan Dubai
- Stefan Viard, general manager, Vida Downtown Dubai
- Jason Myers, managing director - Jumeirah Restaurants & general manager - operations, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
- Heinrich Morio, general manager, Burj Al Arab

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What The Delegates Said

The 2012 forum gave more than 200 GMs the chance to network. Here's a selection of what some of them thought about last year's event: 

“Great event with up-to-date information and an excellent opportunity to catch up with fellow GMs and meet some of the newcomers to the industry. It was interesting to hear from experts in the break-out sessions and have the chance to debate in smaller groups.”
Paul Bridger, general manager, Premier Inn Dubai International Airport

“I always look forward to the event and find the sessions very useful. Naturally it’s always good fun to catch up with the other GMs and get their point of view on what’s happening in their properties.”
Walter Knight, general manager, CityMax Hotels

“It was again a very dynamic GM debate with topics geared to the current industry climate, a great platform to share knowledge and experiences as well as to meet colleagues and friends.”
Lothar Quarz, general manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre

“I thought the day was informative, evenly-paced and interesting. It was also an excellent opportunity to catch up with some old friends and colleagues.”
Oliver Key, general manager, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi

“Once again the event proved to be the best in its kind for hotel GMs to network, exchange ideas and get unique insights from industry experts.”
Bani Haddad, regional vice president – Middle East & Africa, Wyndham Hotel International Group

Top suppliers sponsor 2013 GM Debate

The Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate is a free-to-attend, invite-only event for hotel general managers, made possible thanks to the support of some of the best hotel industry partners and supply companies operating in the Middle East.

For the second year running the conference is presented by Du, while software solutions provider SAP is the platinum sponsor. A. Ronai is again the platinum sponsor, with the Glion Institute of Higher Education signed up as education partner for the first time.