REVEALED: Hotel interior suppliers you should know
From new-to-market entrepreneurs and niche enterprises through to established names and turn-key solution providers, Hotelier Middle East presents exclusive interviews with hotel supply-side companies playing an essential role in the future growth and prosperity of the Middle East hospitality industry
For the first time, Hotelier Middle East has compiled a list of some of the most important hospitality industry suppliers operating in the Middle East hotel sector that we believe offer services and products that might just make your lives a little easier.
In this first online edition of the Hotelier Middle East 50 Suppliers You Should Know, over the following pages we have listed 17 of the most important interiors, furnishings and fittings suppliers that any self respecting hotel needs to know.
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AL REYAMI
Subhash Nambiar, head of hospitality interior division at Al Reyami, outlines its work on projects including Radisson Royal Dubai and trader Vic’s When was your company established?
Al Reyami Interiors is a flagship member of the well-diversified Al Reyami Group, started in 1994, and which currently holds 30 companies, most of them supporting the interior fit-out business, through a unique backward integration model.
The head office of Al Reyami Interiors is in Dubai, and we are well represented in other emirates with a state of art furniture showroom in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Al Reyami Group has expanded our global footprints outside UAE with offices in Oman, Qatar, Ghana, China and India.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
Al Reyami Group has an annual turnover of approximately AED 1300 million (US $354 million) and has maintained its top line despite the downslide of the past few years.
What is your company vision?
• To be a responsive institution committed to building lasting customer relationships.
• To build trust in every field of organisational growth.
• To contribute to strengthening economic development.
• To ensure every possible means of prosperity for each member of Al Reyami Group.
What projects have you worked on?
Some of the bestexamples of projects executed by the hospitality division of Al Reyami Interiors includes hotels such as the Meydan, MÖvenpick, Radisson Royal, Hilton and Flora Creek; F&B projects such as Trader Vics, Palace Café, Bateel Café & Noche latin; as well as retail projects like Pal Zileri, Liu Jo, LG Electronics and Samsonite showrooms. The ongoing projects of Al Reyami hospitality division include hotels like Millennium Airport, Urban Nation and restaurants like Caramel, Koi, BOA steakhouse and Crystal night club.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Al Reyami Hospitality offers a complete “one stop fit-out solution” of high quality with economical pricing and timely completion through its in-house resource of joinery, MEP, upholstery, glass and aluminium divisions
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AL-HALABI
Bilal Al Halabi, business development manager of Al Halabi Refrigeration and Kitchen Equipment, explains why the company’s greatest asset is its people, and discusses the development of its 500 product models
When was your company established?
Al-Halabi was first established in Dubai in 1975 by a trio of visionary, industrious entrepreneurs, Salahuddine Al-Halabi, Abdul Kader Al-Halabi and Samer Baradei, who have experience in the manufacturing sector going back to 1950.
Tell us about the growth of the company?
Al-Halabi, which is growing at a rate of 12% per annum for the past 10 years, produces in excess of 500 product models via its 20 high-tech production lines, with clients throughout the world going into a project expecting nothing but the very best, and getting something even better! Our state-of-the-art factory manufactures 70% of Al-Halabi total sales, while 30% are imported from world-class manufacturers in Italy, France, Greece, China and the US.
What’s your company vision?
Al-Halabi is committed to providing turnkey solutions that meet the specific needs of its clients through production of high quality products in accordance with both local and international quality standards.
The company’s vision is to become the global market leader in the supply of high quality industrial kitchen equipment and refrigeration units by increasing its production capacity and further widening its customer-base through continuous upgrading of its production facility. Its mission is to exceed industry standards while delivering the service its customers deserve.
Al-Halabi has infused its culture with the inspirational principles that guide its business operations:
• People: The greatest asset of a company is its people, and this is particularly true at Al-Halabi where its employees are part of an extended family.
• Work: Everyone is equipped with the right skills and everyone has a job to do. The team at Al-Halabi is dedicated to providing value for customers with a range of products that are designed to meet any challenge.
• Together: The owners, management and employees within the company have a shared objective. There is only one Al-Halabi. This is a powerful concept, making the business more efficient, resourceful and competitive.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
With a range and diversity unmatched anywhere else, Al-Halabi manufactures, designs and imports a comprehensive portfolio of stainless steel kitchen equipment and commercial refrigeration units, incorporating 20 production lines and more than 500 models such as: preparations tables; sinks; chillers and freezers; bain-marie, salad bars; barbeque grills; shawarma and chicken grills; ovens; cooking ranges; cabinets; fryers; shelves; hoods; heated cabinets; hot displays and nut warmers; plus a wide range of other high quality machinery and equipment that can be customised to the client’s individual requirements, for everything from cold rooms and hotel kitchens through to restaurants and coffee shop counters.
Al-Halabi also imports quality commercial kitchen equipment from leading manufacturers across the world, offering a wide range of products like fryers, convection ovens, grills and griddles, ice cream machines and freezers, pizza ovens, cold dispenser and slush machines, fruit juicers and blenders, food processors, water boiler and cooler, meat mincers and slicers, coffee machines, and many other ranges.
What new products have you launched recently?
Al-Halabi has launched a new Wooden Salad Bar, as well as new upright chillers and freezers specially designed for villa kitchens.
What is your best seller?
Our best sellers are our refrigeration units that we manufacture, plus the cooking lines that we import from Mareno Italy.
What other news is there from your company this year?
Al Halabi has started the construction of its new factory building in Sharjah, which will be handed over by the end of 2013, and opened a new showroom in Al Ain city, its fifth UAE branch.
Al Halabi is also participating in Host Fiera Milano Exhibition in Italy, from October 18-22. Our Stand Number is R11 in Hall #5.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Working on all sizes and types of project, the Al-Halabi project management team ensures that the needs of the customer are met by the provision of a dedicated multidisciplinary workforce whose strengths are built on success, experience and the ability to plan, implement and evaluate each stage of development. This allows Al-Halabi to provide a service that covers everything from A to Z, thereby enabling its customers to do what they do best, run their businesses, without any worries or distractions.
Tel: +971 4 265 2002
Email: sales@al-halabi.com
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Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Company
Sudarshan Rai, marketing manager of DFMC, reveals two new ranges to be launched this year
When was your company established?
Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Company LLC (DFMC) is a multinational company with its corporate office in Dubai, UAE and sister companies in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. DFMC has also recently ventured into India.
Established in 1993, DFMC was first set up to manufacture and market King Koil-branded products. DFMC has since established itself as the leader in the mattress industry in the Middle East and has also acquired the licence to manufacture and market Serta-branded products.
What is your company vision?
It is our objective to sustain the leadership position in the premium segment of the mattress industry with quality, technology and customer service as the basic foundation to achieve customer satisfaction.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
We conduct training programmes for housekeeping staff so that they are made aware of tips on mattress maintenance. We also check the condition of mattresses supplied by us at least once a year so potential problems are identified.
What new products have you launched recently?
We have recently launched iCollection By Serta. This is a range of unique mattresses that deliver superior pressure relief and more support. Another product is the ‘Transformer Bed’ — a unique Italian mechanism that transforms a sofa into a bed. We have also launched bed bug and waterproof mattress and pillow protectors.
What other news is there from your company this year?
This year we revamped our websites www.mattress-leader.com and also launched dedicated websites for both brands separately, namely www.sertame.com and www.kingkoilme.com.
What else does the hotel industry have to look forward to from DFMC in 2013?
During the Hotel Show we will be launching two new col
Tel : +971 4 8853929
Email : dfmc@emirates.net.ae
Web : www.mattress-leader.com
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ELSTEAD LIGHTING
UK-based lighting manufacturer and distributor, Elstead Lighting specialises in manufacturing heavy iron and painted metal fittings using traditional welding and patination skills.
The company recently launched its Saxon range, a wrought iron product with rustic charm and a traditional range of solid brass bathroom fittings in polished chrome and brass finish. For the brand’s Lui’s collection of table lamps, Elstead introduced 40 new models in 2012.
Elstead has signed a licensing deal with four American brands: Feiss, Hinkley Lighting, Quoizel and Flambeau and works directly with their suppliers to wire their products so that they are suitable for the 220-240V markets including the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australasia.
Elstead also introduced a licensed lighting collection using harlequin fabric shades on fittings. Elstead recently developed a 1000m2 front of house showroom for the complete Elstead Lighting collection in Alton, UK. The showroom features more than 1500 indoor and outdoor fittings including over 150 table lamps.
Tel: +44 142 089 377
Email:enquiries@elsteadlighting.com
Web: www.elsteadlighting.com
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GMK International
GMK International LLC chairman Aashok Deshpande reveals why the company is proud to say that “nothing is impossible”
When was your company established?
GMK International LLC (formerly known as Gulf Mobile Kitchen) was established in 2004 to become one of the leading hospitality solution companies. At GMK we undertake new and existing hospitality projects for complete furnishing and supply of equipment as well as refurbishment.
We display quality knowledge and experience in providing furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and operating services and equipment (OS&E) for the region, acting as procurement agents as well as suppliers. With successful alliances worldwide, we offer our services and products of high quality with competitive prices.
How many people are employed by your company?
With a modest start of three people and continuing the same trend, GMK International LLC currently employs around 10 people, including our offices in Dubai, China, etc.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
It is a matter of pride, honour and gratitude to our valued clients that today the annual turnover of GMK International LLC stands between AED 8-12 million (US $2.1-3.2 million).
What’s your company vision?
We envisage GMK to be a prominent solutions provider for every hospitality operator and developer within the region and beyond.
What are your core products/services for the hospitality industry?
The core concentration will be contract furnishing, lighting, art and artwork.
What new products have you launched recently?
We are proud to say that ‘nothing is impossible’ and we mean it. We can produce any design for FF&E and supply all kinds of OS&E as certified by interior designers, architects and operators.
GMK assists its clients in planning and procuring internationally. Our presence and partners in various countries have helped us and our clients procure quality goods for their hospitality, construction and trading needs since 2004. Our prime forte has been procurement support for all hospitality needs from groundwork and pre-opening, to maintenance and support.
What other news is there from your company this year?
In the past year and a half GMK has completed three major projects in Mozambique, namely Hotel Dona Ana (Vilanculos), Park Inn (Tete), and Pemba Beach Hotel Apartments and we’re currently in the process of quoting for other office and hospitality projects. GMK believes that the competition is healthy and provides the edge to the developer but we do not believe that the developer has to pay for it.
What is your best seller?
Our experience, knowledge and know how of our partners’ companies make us a reliable solution provider for new or renovation projects. I have more than 35 years in the hospitality industry and spent more than 20 years in the procurement section in managerial levels of major international chains like Holiday Inn, Hilton, Renaissance and Dubai World Trade Centre. Our director Asit Deshpande, a mechanical engineer from the US, assists me in the technical as well as operational aspects of projects. With added experience of management and an execution team supporting the projects, no project is too big for GMK.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
We at GMK offer more than 35 years of practical experience across almost a dozen pre-openings, and with experience of also working on the shop floor, can offer practical alternative solutions and value engineering.
Tel: +971 4 3577 335
Fax: +971 4 3577 331
Email:info@gmk-me.com
Web: www.gmk-me.com
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INTERCOIL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LLC
Intercoil International Company LLC, established in 1974, is a vertically integrated company manufacturing sleep systems, furniture and foam. Intercoil’s core business is the manufacture and supply of mattresses and divan beds to hotels.
As a manufacturer of foam and foam products, Intercoil also caters for hotels’ upholstery requirements. Currently, the company is expanding its furniture division with the latest machinery and technology to offer complete customised interior solutions.
The company’s latest product launches include Beauty Rest from Simmons and the Eco-touch range of environmentally friendly mattresses from Therapedic, USA. The company reported 20% year on year growth in 2012 and has been able to sustain the growth by strategically focusing on new markets, new products and exploring new opportunities.
Intercoil opened five new showrooms in 2013 — one in Jeddah, Qatar and Jordan, and two in the UAE, in Mirdif City Centre and Jumeirah Beach Road.
Tel: +971 4 3474 474
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INTERMETAL LTD
Intermetal is a leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor contract furniture for the hospitality contract market. The company was founded in Sharjah in 1993 to cater to the needs of the hospitality, educational and industrial markets.
With full scale manufacturing capabilities, each process is stringently followed from start to finish resulting in quality, durable products that exceed our customers’ expectations.
Intermetal’s product range includes furniture, kitchens, cabinetry, doors and wardrobes and the onsite coil coating lines meet the demand for pre-painted aluminium, galvanized and aluzinc coils. The company recently launched the latest addition to its Nest collection, a contemporary range of mobile buffet tables for the hospitality and food services industry.
Versatile and resilient, the table frames can be powder coated in one or two colours. As part of its green initiative, Intermetal has dedicated recycling facilities for aluminium and scrap materials generated during production.
Tel : +971 4 8841650
Email : customer service@intermetal.com
Web :www.intermetal.com
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KOLLEKTION GENERAL TRADING (D. Tales)
Lars Narfeldt, founder and CEO of D.Tales, takes pride in introducing Scandinavian furniture pieces to the Middle East market
When was your company established
Kollektion General Trading LLC started trading in 2009, providing Scandinavian wall-covering, flooring and furniture to the Middle East. In 2012, we launched a separate arm for the furniture, named D.tales, that primarily deals with the contract market and also operates retail stores in the GCC.
Tell us about the growth of the company?
We are a relatively young and small company in the market but have experienced rapid and sustained growth over the last two years. Our online sales have also grown massively over the past few months. Currently there are 15 people working within the company.
What is your company vision?
D.tales aims to be a major player in the designer furniture market in the Middle East and the Scandinavian design store of choice for complete high-end and funky interiors.
We offer high quality interior products reflecting the heritage of Scandinavian design. We work with a unique, innovative and out-of-the-box approach. We are enthusiastic and creative yet reliable and rigorous partners to work with.
What are your core products for the hospitality industry?
First of all we have a wide selection of lights — on one hand pendant lights that can be grouped together to create very large scale light installations, and on the other hand, very cosy, ambient lights for a more private atmosphere. Our four different bed models by Bedcraft — one of which is motorised and adjustable — can be interesting to hotels.
One of our most established brands, ‘&tradition’, has a beautiful selection of timeless chairs and sofas that are great for the horeca market and Muuto is leading design with their avant-garde style.
What new products have you launched recently?
In addition to our existing brands such as Muuto, &tradition, Design House Stockholm and Minus Tio we have recently introduced a handful of new brands. In lighting, we now have Secto Design and Örsjö lamps, which have been used in many international hotel, restaurant and public space projects.
The iconic ice chandelier by &tradition can be adapted to interiors of any size and the levels lamp in copper by One Nordic is becoming the most sought after lamp for the horeca market. On the furniture side, the Bruno lounge chair by Källemo has gathered lots of interest as well as the Mayor sofa — one of Arne Jacobsen’s masterpieces .
What other news is there from your company this year?
We are bringing in a number of new brands as we are opening up our new showroom on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai in September. In addition to the Jumeirah store, we are also looking to expand to Abu Dhabi and open another D.tales store there later this year.
Interiors of the new Jumeirah showroom have been designed by the award winning Swedish design team TAF Architects. We are using rather unusual materials in the showroom interiors to create a truly Scandinavian look and feel. To support our growth, particularly in the contract market, we have recently hired a new senior sales manager, Torben Glud, from Denmark. Torben has extensive experience representing several high-end brands like Fritz Hansen, Erik Jorgensen, Montana, Skandiform, Flos and Le Klint.
What is your bestseller?
In general we have been very successful with our lightings, the colorful E27 lamps by Muuto are a long-time bestseller. Made to measure wallpaper by M. Perswall is also very popular because it offers such a wide variety of options and can be fitted to interiors of any kind.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
D.tales takes pride in offering high quality products at the forefront of avant-garde design – delivered by highly professional staff. We follow very closely the latest interior trends and are pleased to see fast growing interest in Scandinavian design in the Middle East.
Being among the first companies to introduce high end Nordic brands to this market, we take our leadership role very seriously and want to get to know our clients and their needs very well so that we can offer the best solutions for their projects. This is a passion for us so we are happy to go that extra mile to support the client in designing and creating stunning interiors.
Tel: +971 4 3381 229
Email: torben@design-tales.com
Web: www.design-tales.com
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KUDOS
Kudos, established in 1991, was recently taken over by the Dubai-based Absolute Group.
Since the takeover, Kudos has gone through some major changes, including purchasing an All Weather Wicker factory in Cebu, Philippines, and tripling the staff in the head office to accommodate the interior decorations market. Kudos provides a wide range of outdoor furniture including lounging, dining, pool side, balcony furniture and umbrellas in variety of finishes such as all weather wicker, teak, injected rattan, aluminium, sling and LED. Injected rattan — polypropylene furniture produced by injection moulding to give an All Weather Wicker finish — is one of the latest options introduced by the company.
Kudos employs more than 25 people in the Middle East and almost 120 people at its new factory in the Philippines. Kudos has recently become the main distributor in the Middle East for Flexfurn, a Belgium-based supplier of high-end flexible and stackable furniture. Kudos is now concentrating on growing its niche ballroom and conference markets over the next 12 months.
Tel : +971 4 3475 701
Email : sales@kudos-global.com or info@kudos-global.com
Web : www.kudos-global.com
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MIR HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES
Rano Alibabaea, marketing manager at newly established company, MIR Hospitality Supplies, tells Hotelier what sets the company apart
When was your company established?
MIR Hospitality Supplies was founded in September 2013. Based in Dubai and Russia, we are a professional hospitality supply company, integrating hotel supply, research and development, manufacturing, sales, transportation and service.
What is your company vision?
Our vision is to build our brand with our ability to provide custom made products to our international clients thereby building long term business relationships with them.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
Our international factories offer a remarkable production capacity for all articles a hotel may need and we provide reliable distribution service to all markets or clients. Our portfolio includes operational products for housekeeping, F&B, kitchen and stewarding, banquets and conferences, spa, pool and beach areas.
With our expertise and extensive network we can also provide bed and table linen, non-woven products, hotel amenities and leather goods, flatware, chafing dishes, uniforms, LED furniture, glassware, disposable cups, promotional items etc. We also keep stock for LED Candles, LED lamps and candle holders, silicone and vinyl placemats and coasters.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Personal service and individual account management coupled with research and development, manufacturing, sales and transportation. Everyone at MIR Hospitality Supplies is passionate about what they do.
We continually enjoy researching new ideas and technologies through working closely and in partnership with general managers, interior designers and procurement teams. Our commitment to service excellence and product innovation will always remain at the forefront of the service and quality we provide to all our customers.
All our products have been individually designed and incorporate some of the most advanced technology. Our unique range of products will not only help to transform the ambient mood lighting, but are some of the most competitively priced hospitality supplies on the market today.
Tel : 971 4 4200 123
Email : info@miruae.com or sales@miruae.com
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NORTHMACE & HENDON
London-based Northmace & Hendon designs and manufactures professional, sustainable and guest-intuitive hotel bedroom products. Northmace & Hendon products for the hospitality market include ironing centres that are unobtrusive and easy to store such as the new Valette Hotel Safety dry ironing centre, which integrates a headpiece and adjustable board height and comes with a Northmace Hotel Safety dry iron.
Other products include hairdryers that combine safety and efficiency; welcome trays for hotel bedrooms; energy efficient kettles for rooms; and luggage racks for bedrooms. Northmace & Hendon recently launched a new luggage rack with tough webbing and steel legs that fold away to save space when not in use.
The luggage rack’s sleek and purposeful design and its matte black finish have proved to be popular among hotel guests. The company is the brand of choice for individual hotels and large hotel groups in more than 100 countries.
Tel : +971 4 3960 767
Email : sales@northmace.com
Web : www.northmace.co.uk
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O.K FURNITURE
O.K Furniture was established in the UAE in 1976 and currently employs more than 350 people. The company’s core products for the hospitality industry include bedroom furniture, lighting, outdoor furniture and accessories. The company’s product catalogue comprises more than 22,000 designs including a diverse range of raw materials such as wood, leather, fabric, metal, etc.
O.K Furniture closely controls every part of the process from selection of materials to manufacturing and distribution to ensure the consistency in the quality of its products.
In 2013, O.K Furniture launched several new products in the market such as highly engineered wood flooring, tiles and ceramics intended only for contract use, refrigerators and food showcases for cafes, hand-picked antique furniture and lighting, fire-proof doors, and wooden prefabricated patios certified by CasaClima of Italy. O.K Furniture currently has five shops and showrooms in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Tel : +971 6 5333 989
Web : www.okfurniture.com
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PARASOL
Parasol was established in the UAE in 2006 to cater to the outdoor furniture needs of the market, and eventually set up its own indoor and outdoor furniture brand, Voglia. The company’s B2B side in particular has gained momentum over the past six months and Parasol has signed several new contracts in recent months.
The company’s outdoor furniture range has been particularly successful and since Parasol stocks substantial quantities of outdoor furniture, it is also able to rent certain pieces to hotels during the peak season — in 2013, it rented sun loungers and umbrellas to at least five properties during full occupancy.
Parasol recently released Danish furniture brand Bolia to the local market. With the partnership with Bolia, Parasol will be able to offer hotels a wider variety of indoor furniture and accessories as well.
Tel : +971 55 2821 711
Web:www.parasoldubai.com
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RESTONIC
Sameer Ahmed, sales manager at Restonic, reveals the company has secured orders worth AED 15 million in the first half of 2013
When was your company established?
Restonic has been a major supplier of mattresses for over 60 years and the Dubai facility was established in January 2000.
How many people are employed by your company?
With more than 100 employees and supported with state of art machinery, Restonic has a production capacity of 12,000 units per month.
What is your company vision?
Restonic has a long standing tradition of research and innovation. Our emphasis is on delivering high quality sleep products in the region, engineered to the needs of the customers and offer great value for money.
What new products have you launched recently?
Restonic has recently launched signature mattresses under the Comfort Care Collection. Our latest initiative is to emphasise eco-friendly products and as a social responsibility programme towards green hotels, we have incorporated green latex and the Outlast technology in our mattresses, which reduces overheating and provides thermal compatibility for a better sleep experience.
What other news is there from your company this year?
The company is rapidly expanding with new stores in Riyadh, Jeddah, Damman, Doha and Abu Dhabi. With the hotel industry getting robust and new projects being announced, we have secured project orders worth AED 15 million up until Q2 of 2013.
What is your best seller?
Our best selling product is the Loveland Pillowtop, which features a quality pocket spring unit. This model concentrates additional support in the centre third of the mattress to impede body impression and upholstery fatigue. Every coil is individually wrapped and electronically tempered for superior resilience and durability. The non- flip feature allows worry-free housekeeping maintenance without flipping regularly unlike other mattresses.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Restonic believes that offering a personal touch is crucial and we work closely with hoteliers to help them design and manufacture new products in line with new trends in the market. We provide regular follow up services for frequent mattress inspection and ensure that their staff follow the mattress care manual for overall performance of the sleep set.
Tel : +971 4 8803 444
Email : info@restonic.ae
Web : www.restonic.ae
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SALAH INTERIORS
Gary Mullane, general manager of Salah Interiors, reveals the company’s growth plans
When was your company established?
Salah Interiors was established in 1994 as a small family owned business in Karama, Dubai, mainly catering to the local residential interiors customer.
How many people are employed by your company?
Currently, Salah Interiors employs more than 550 skilled and semi skilled employees, all with vast experience in the joinery and design industries. Our senior management team is highly experienced in fit out and operational delivery challenges posed in the MENA region and is supported by ongoing training initiatives to promote best practice initiatives.
What is the company’s annual turnover?
Salah’s annual turnover is in excess of AED 65 million, of which 60% is from manufactured joinery and the remaining 40% of revenue is from FF&E. Sustainable plans for growth supported by detailed business planning and new market entry should see turnover increase substantially over the next three years.
What is your company’s vision?
To continue to grow as a leading turnkey interior design, joinery and soft furnishings company through innovative design, superior product and service quality. We aim to partner with premium brands with similar values and plans in order to strengthen our total solutions offer. Over the next three years, Salah’s business operations will expand into Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We are also currently undertaking the fit out of a major hotel project in India and plan to build on this platform in the region.
Tell us about your company’s growth?
For the past 16 years, Salah Interiors has become a leader in providing full fit out and FF&E solutions for the hospitality sector. Our dedicated teams specialise in creating luxury hospitality solutions for all our premier international hotel groups and we have successfully delivered projects across the MENA region and further afield in Europe and the Subcontinent.
Today, Salah Interiors has a production facility of circa 80,000ft2 in Dubai, from where our highly skilled carpenters, machine operators, upholsterers and craftsman produce bespoke hospitality solutions from concept to handover.
What are your core products and services for the hospitality industry?
Our core business has been the design, manufacture and installation of interiors fit out solutions to guest room areas, hotel FOH and restaurants across the GCC in collaboration with project managers and hotel management.
What new products have you launched recently?
Salah is always working with new creative and innovative products and materials on the market and often creating hand-carved bespoke pieces featuring the latest design concepts and materials.
What other news is there from your company this year?
The last 12 months have seen some important changes at Salah; we have opened a new retail unit on Sheikh Zayed Road (Dubai), catering for walk-in residential customers and consultant professionals to view the latest concepts and prototypes.
This offers a total solutions concept from fit out to curtains and upholstery, including fabric selections, where bespoke villa and room solutions can be brought to life. Also, the main business HQ has moved to our new offices in Al Quoz alongside the production facilities with the company significantly strengthening and restructuring its infrastructure, operational capacity and management teams. We are also looking forward to the opening of a new branch office in Abu Dhabi and plans are underway to develop our market share in Qatar including an additional production facility to be operational in 2014.
As part of our commitment to quality, we have recently become members of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI), while our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible use of resources is embodied in our successful FSC certification from the Rainforest Alliance earlier this year.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
Probably our biggest differentiator is our ability to offer total bespoke design and high quality craftsmanship, but competitively delivered by our in house skilled and experienced personnel within timeframes you would only normally expect from non-bespoke high volume manufacturing.
Tel : +971 4 3477 114
Email : info@salahinteriors.ae
Web : www.salahinteriors.com
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SILVER ARCADE LINEN
Sean Xavier, director of business development, says local production facilities and holding large amounts of stock have made SAT the largest manufacturer and seller of linen for the Middle East’s F&B industry
When was your company established?
SAT has been manufacturing food and beverage linen for more than two decades. We have been established for 23 years and have been the masters in producing top quality F&B and room linen.
What new products have you launched recently?
This year, SAT is unveiling two new big brands — SAT-by Viela Guerra and SAT-Lite, exclusively at the Dubai Hotel Show. SAT- by Viela Guerra is a brand designed in Italy, producing exclusive culinary and room amenities. This brand will provide superior leather, metal and resin amenities. However our unique product will remain a very special range of vinyl amenities, which is completely exclusive to SAT-by Viela Guerra.
With SAT-Lite, we will have an amazing range of banquet furniture made with fibre top and steel tubular frames that makes it extremely lightweight, highly durable and very comfortable to use.
Our robot-manufactured banquet chairs come with unique moulded PU base seats known as contour seating which ease tension in the seat by providing ample support. This comes from replacing the traditional plywood seat base with moulded PU, which curves down to provide the right comfort while seated. The moulded PU makes the chair lighter and more durable as well.
What other news is there from your company this year?
SAT is also undergoing a complete rebranding, from our company logo to new catalogues and websites. Two new brands are being launched in order to meet our clients’ expectations and demands of the industry. There is going to be a completely fresh approach towards how our brand is portrayed to our customers.
Who are some of your key clients?
We have a huge clientele list from Burj Al Arab in Dubai to several five star hotels in the Maldives and Kenya and other countries. Our clients are vastly spread around the Middle East, Asia and Africa and they are ever increasing. We have an extensive marketing team who are highly skilled and are dedicated to reaching out all over the region. SAT does not believe in appointing franchises and agents to sell its products and this ensures that even a distant client gets the same quality, service standards and price as what we offer here in Dubai.
What do you offer hotels above and beyond expectation?
At SAT Linen, we believe in providing maximum services to our customer. We have understood the needs of our clients through our years of experience and interaction with them. This is why we stock large quantity of linen in our warehouse and maintain a huge production facility in Dubai. This helps us to undertake even last minute orders which can be tailored to the need of our client.
We have an in-house laundry facility where all fabrics are pre-shrunk. This ensures our clients that their rectangular placemats will remain rectangular and their round tablecloths will remain round after they are washed several times. This level of experience is going to be reflected in our new brands as well and we will continue to be proactive in whatever we do.
What quality control methods do you adopt?
Every time we introduce a product, it is after long trials on the quality, washing results and various other technical tests, so once we have a product in our official line, it means it is the best available in the market. We have different products catering to different needs.
Some are made keeping in mind the class and elegance needed in a fine dining restaurant, some are made to meet the environment in an outdoor restaurant and many other concepts as well. For instance, we have a new product recently launched under SAT Linen — silicone placemats, which are an ideal option for a trendy diner, indoor or outdoor. So every product, depending on what purpose it serves, sells well.
What makes SAT different from other brands?
We always believed in being different and doing things differently. SAT showed the confidence to rewrite many of the principles followed to date and that has been our key success factor. We were the only company two decades ago who believed that investing in a large amount of stock and producing linen locally can help us be more efficient in our services to our clients. This principle has made SAT Linen the biggest manufacturer and seller of food and beverage linen in the Middle East.
Tel : +971-4-2673834
Email : satlinen@eim.ae
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SIMEXA LTD
Outdoor furniture manufacturer and distributor for the hospitality industry, Simexa Ltd was established in 1999 and posted an annual turnover of US $2.5 million in 2012. The company recently launched two new pieces – the Shade and Sparta – for special occasions.
Simexa also recently introduced a special outdoor collection line by American designer Dann Folley. Simexa manages Skyline Design in the Middle East and South-East Asia.
Skyline Design is a global outdoor furniture brand with a comprehensive portfolio of durable, elegant and contemporary outdoor furniture. Each piece is hand woven with premium high tensile strength workers such as viro and rehau. The furniture is 100% eco friendly, UV and chemical resistant, weather proof and maintenance free. Skyline offers quick dry foam and Sunbrella fabrics in a large variety of colours and patterns.
Web :www.simexa.com
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VINGCARD ELSAFE
VingCard Elsafe, part of Assa Abloy, is one of the early inventors of key card operated locks and in room safes. With a global turnover of €5 million, Assa Abloy employs 43,000 people around the world.
VingCard Elsafe is the largest provider of access control to the hospitality industry worldwide and in the Middle East. The company has products installed in more than 42,000 properties around the world, securing in excess of seven million hotel rooms. VingCard Elsafe’s key products for the hospitality industry include access control for guest room doors, common areas and back of house; in room digital/RFID offline and online safes; energy management systems; and mini bars with regular and glass doors with low power consumption. VingCard Elsafe’s electronic in room safes for hotels are the only UL-listed guestroom safes in the market.
The company recently launched a new access control called Allure, which features integrated DND/MUR/doorbell functions with a glass panel.
Tel : +971 50 2400 845
Email : mea@vcegroup.com or uae@vcegroup.com
Web : www.vingcardelsafe.com