Alila Hotels & Resorts CEO Frederic Flageat-Simon explains how growing demand for local, cultural experiences is a perfect fit for the company’s first Middle East property – the Alila Jabal Akhdar, which opened last year in Oman
How will the recruitment landscape evolve in the Middle East hotel industry in 2015?
Alila's focus is on local recruitment, promoting the local heritage and the Omani culture and develop the hotel industry as a desired industry to work in. Oman is slowly developing talented hospitality professionals. Whilst payroll is important, the sense of belonging and contributing to the His Majesty's 2020 vision is an important element to share with future team members. Priorities are to continue with the Omanisation programme, instilling Omani team members with ownership and a strong sense of pride in their careers, willing to represent their unique culture and heritage and share the knowledge with our guests. Alila's role is to train on technology, procedures and hospitality standards in exchange.
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What will be the major challenges for GMs in 2015?
Alila wants to successfully build a new destination in Jabal Akhdar, not only in the GCC region, but also to put this region on the world-wide tourism (luxury market) map. The main challenges will be in training and retaining our team members, and keeping them interested and motivated on the mountains.
What new/existing markets will be most important to target in 2015?
Alila continues to develop the domestic, GCC and Middle East market, as this location is new and unexplored for most. Alila Jabal Akhdar is attracting the higher end market of experiential based travellers, who are not restricted by nationality or age group, but more of mindset.
How will the trend for independent hotels evolve in the Middle East in 2015 and beyond?
The evolving trend caters to the intellectual traveller which is a perfect fit for our brand DNA.
Interview continues on next page...
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