The first panel session of the day at the Hotelier Middle East Procurement Summit The first panel session of the day at the Hotelier Middle East Procurement Summit

The Hotelier Middle East Procurement Summit is underway in Dubai, with the Middle East’s purchasing professionals at Ritz-Carlton DIFC to take part in a day of discussions, debates, presentations and case studies on the issues most pertinent to the region’s procurement landscape.

More than 100 purchasing professionals from across the region are expected to attend the event, which is now in its second year following the success of last year’s inaugural event.

To be debated and discussed during the course of the event are topics that largely revolve around how purchasing processes can become more efficient with greater transparency, collaborative systems, and more autonomy for purchasing managers.

The Procurement Summit kicked off with an introductory presentation from Wissam El Cheikh Hassan, managing partner at Provident Solutions, on how purchasing can be made more effective, which will be followed by a panel discussion on the same topic.

Story continues below
Advertisement

New for this year is a best practice case study on the challenges of F&B purchasing, delivered by Bhanu Pratap Singh, director of procurement, Atlantis the Palm.

The case study will look at how purchasing managers and chefs can work better together to ensure that neither business priorities nor food quality is compromised.

Following a morning break during which delegates will have the chance to network with peers and sponsors, there will be a panel discussion on business ethics and best practice with contracts and evaluations.

A second networking opportunity will be offered during the lunch break and in the afternoon, stakeholder management and how finance teams and purchasing departments can work better together are two of the topics that will be addressed.

The Hotelier Middle East: Procurement Summit 2014 is sponsored by Associate Sponsor A. Ronai, Official Water Sponsor Horeca/ Aqua Panna & San Pellegrino and exhibitors Pulsar Foodstuff Trading/Gourmet Olive Market, Lavazza/Eurocoffee, Ruud Lighting, Unique Precise and Sun & Shades.