The 2013 Debate will provide opportunity for hoteliers to network with tourism boards: Roger Azouri, GM, Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, director overseas promotions and inward missions, DTCM, pictured last year.
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.
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“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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