Munawar Zia Munawar Zia

Munawar Zia, purchasing manager at newly opened Ajman Saray, A Luxury Collection Resort, is on the lookout for reliable suppliers.

How long have you been in hotel purchasing?
I have worked in hotel purchasing for more than 25 years. I first started my career in purchasing in 1988 with Hilton in Dubai. Throughout my career I have been privileged to work with many international hospitality groups including Jumeirah, Movenpick and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

What products are you on the lookout for?
Hotel procurement covers a wide range of different products and services including food and beverage, operating supplies, FF&E, engineering, catering services, and contract management, to name a few. Since the resort is new, I am currently in the process of securing reliable suppliers for all of these commodities and services.

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What area of your hotel are you most proud of?
I am most proud of our restaurants and lounges as we offer such a great selection, from Middle Eastern to Mediterranean cuisine, and each outlet provides our guests with exceptional and unique experiences.

Tell us about one of your most successful deals?
I have secured many successful deals over the last 25 years. Most recently at Ajman Saray, these deals include successful pre-opening contracts for transportation, catering, and food and beverage, while saving costs for the resort and not sacrificing quality.

How is procurement evolving in the hotel industry?
Hospitality procurement is evolving rapidly and the process has been hugely modernised. E-procurement is the current trend in the market and the suppliers in this part of world are also adjusting based on market needs. As much as possible, we aim to have a paperless work environment.

What does a supplier have to do to impress you?
In my opinion, reliability is an extremely important factor for impressing any purchasing department. This includes consistency in quality, price stability, delivering on time and open communications.