Offering unique experiences to customers was considered extremely important at last year's event. Offering unique experiences to customers was considered extremely important at last year's event.

Today (October 7, 2013) bar and nightlife professionals from across the Middle East’s hottest nightspots are gathering in Dubai to attend the second annual Caterer Middle East’s Bar & Nightlife Forum.

Hosted at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, more than 120 bar, operations and outlet managers came together to discuss the opportunities for growth and debate key challenges facing the bar & nightlife industry.

For anyone who isn't able to make today's event, the Caterer Middle East and Hotelier Middle East teams will be keeping you updated on all the interesting news and views as they surface throughout the day in our LIVE blog below, so make sure to stay logged on.

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To find out more about the Caterer Middle East’s Bar & Nightlife Forum make sure to check out our event preview detailing exactly what you can expect to see and hear about today.

To keep in touch during the event you can message us on twitter at @CatererME and use the hashtag #CMEBars13 to join the conversation.

10.30: The day's delegates, sponsors and exhibitors have all arrived at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City Hotel for this year's Caterer Middle East Bar & Nightlife Forum. After taking the opportunity to grab a quick coffee and a chat with their fellow industry experts, the forum attendees will be taking their seats to be welcomed by Caterer Middle East editor Devina Divecha.

10.50: Our first panel discussion is underway with Luke James, director of operations at Media One Hotel leading the discussion on 'Surviving the Evolution of the UAE Nightlife Scene'. Joining Luke on stage will be Nikolas Pazvadis, general manager of the VIP Room and Hayan Abou Assali, operations manager of Whitelabel who will be discussing the competitive nature of the UAE nightlife scene and what it takes for bar and nightclub operators to achieve longevity.

Hayan Assali from Cavalli Club Dubai starts off the debate by asserting that venues in the Middle East "are surviving with consistency of service, quality and entertainment." 

Our moderator Luke James then goes onto assert that "there's too much of the same in Dubai's nightlife scene." Putting the point to the crowd he is met by a chorus of agreement. 

Nikolas Pazvadis, general manager of the VIP Room says that "charging for entry is horrific," with Hayan Assali saying that Cavalli Club's door policy is a useful way of controlling entry into the venue. However, Luke James says that his venues have been known to turn people away who are too "over-dressed."

Luke James, speaking about the future of the region's nightlife venues, believes that the industry will be 'going casual in the next five years.'  

Speaking about the Media One's Level 9, James went on to say that the venue welcomed 16,000 guests over a nine week period, which he attributed to the fact that the market is 'sick' of the same products, that are "raw and fashionable."

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