A host of new speakers and sponsors are lined up to support this year’s essential networking and education forum for hotel general managers
More than 200 hotel general managers are expected to attend the annual Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate, now in its fifth edition and being held on September 2 at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. The forum will feature five major panel discussions, plus live-on-stage interviews and ‘Take 5’ presentations from some of the most inspirational GMs we know.
An exclusive data presentation from TRI Hospitality Consulting’s senior consultant Christopher Hewett will provide delegates with an essential snapshot of the UAE’s hotel performance in 2014, and Hewett will later be joined on stage by Philip Wooller, area director Middle East & Africa, STR Global to answer questions about how GMs can best use performance data.
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Topics for the panel debates include: Beating Benchmarks; Healthy Competition; The OTA Dilemma; Social Media in Hospitality and the GM’s Responsibility for Reputation; and The Evolution of the GM.
Speakers will be finalised this month, but the stage will welcome many new names in 2014, with Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO, HMH Hotel Group; Margaret Paul, GM, Madinat Jumeirah — The Arabian Resort; Pep Lozano, GM, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi; Jan Moenkedieck, GM, Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah; and Marko Janssen, GM, Meliá Dubai already confirmed to speak.
To enable more in-depth conversation and the informal sharing of challenges and best practice, the Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate will also feature four workshops, with each GM choosing one to attend.
These are focused on: The Difference between a Good Manager and a Great Leader; Employee Engagement and Staff Retention; Guest-centric Philosophies and Experiential Travel; and F&B Innovation, which will be led by Robert Ancill, chief executive officer, The Next Idea.
As well as the conference sessions, the GM Debate, as always, will facilitate essential networking among colleagues, peers and industry suppliers.
Sponsors this year include silver sponsor Rikan, associate sponsor Ronai, knowledge partner Glion, and presenting sponsor, Du. Farnek, ESP International, Unique Precise International, Restonic, Pulsar, TCL, Eurocoffee/Lavazza, Horeca Trade, Coffee Planet, Infoscape and Ruud Lighting Arabia are also supporting the event, with experts on hand to explain their products.
Riaz Khimani, managing director of Rikan General Trading, says the event is the perfect platform for hoteliers and suppliers to keep in touch with one another.
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