[L-R] Richard Haddon, Julien Coron, Sam Bailey, Jimmy Barrat, Felix Hartmann. [L-R] Richard Haddon, Julien Coron, Sam Bailey, Jimmy Barrat, Felix Hartmann.

Caterer Middle East gathers industry experts to discuss the most burning issues in the industry ahead of the annual Bar & Nightlife forum

The Caterer Middle East Bar & Nightlife Forum will return on October 7, 2014 at Grosvenor House Dubai and will bring together bar managers and F&B directors from hotel and nightlife venues across the region.

Ahead of the event, the advisory panel — which consists of Media One Hotel F&B director Felix Hartmann; Zuma Dubai and Abu Dhabi bar manager Jimmy Barrat; Mahiki Dubai general manager Richard Haddon; InterContinental Dubai Marina pre-opening F&B director Julien Coron; GQ Bar Dubai assistant general manager Sam Bailey; and 360° bar manager Motorga Heathcliff — came together at Mahiki Dubai to determine which issues will drive the conversation.

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Among the challenges expressed was the industry’s struggle to promote the region as an international cocktail destination. Barrat highlighted how international competitions such as Best 50 Bars, and Tales of the Cocktail were still not present in the region.

“My concern and my interest is making the UAE a cocktail destination. For that, rather than only local awards, I’m looking at international ones. The more our outlets are represented internationally, the more sense our region makes for the international scene. To be honest, we should be at Tales now, we should be represented. The more you are internationally represented, the more you attract talent,” he asserted.

While there was a general consensus on the need for more international recognition, the panel also revealed the unique circumstances they face when operating in an Islamic country. Among the many issues is their need to be mindful of the local culture when promoting alcohol in the media, and on social media platforms, often having to use generic terms for “boutique” brands.

Coron explained: “We have challenges because we are in a Muslim country and we can’t talk about alcohol or wine so it’s difficult to promote it. How can the Burj Al Arab talk about the most expensive cocktail in the world?”
Haddon added that the lack of communication in the local market also made it difficult to attract international attention.

He explained: “First you need to be able to communicate to your local market before you start talking internationally. We mention alcohol on our social media and can get away with it because we are independent, but Jumeirah won’t even mention it on social media.

“And if we as an industry can’t speak about what we do to the local market, then it’s almost like we can never educate anyone about the developments in the industry unless they come down and try it for themselves. So it’s quite a difficult situation to be able to market a bar or a nightclub or anything where your main service is alcohol and you can’t mention what you sell.”

“It almost trivialises what we do — we are in an industry worth billions worldwide and we have to make up silly names for what we do. It’s almost insulting not being able to talk about what we do. So we need to have some kind of platform where we can talk about our trade. It’s an insult to talk about beer as a hop beverage or say sparkling grape beverage for an amazing champagne,” he added.

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The panel also lamented the aggressive competition among peers in the industry, with Barrat calling it a “gold rush mentality”.

Haddon said: “We all know each other here, but it’s almost like we are sworn enemies. Particularly when it comes to the nightclub side, it goes tenfold.”

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