Preparing for the growth of the hospitality sector in the Middle East is the priority on every general manager’s mind.
Those GMs who can successfully juggle the challenges of demanding owners and stakeholders, along with a new wave of confident millennial staff, while inspiring loyalty among and exceeding expectations of an increasingly tech-savvy customer base, will be the ones that succeed.
The Hotelier Middle East Great GM Debate will once again bring together more than 200 of the region’s top hotel general managers, corporate executive, marketing professionals and supply chain experts to debate the key opportunities and challenges as 653 new hotels prepare to enter the sector within the next five years.
The one-day event, to take place at Jumeirah Beach Hotel on September 8, will combine panel discussions, presentations, case studies and workshops, along with two brand new features for this year — Ignite Talk and a fishbowl conversation.
Among the speakers confirmed are Rotana COO Guy Hutchinson, JW Marriott Marquis GM Bill Keffer, and Vida Hotels & Resorts GM Stefan Viard, while Gordon Campbell Gray has been selected as our keynote speaker, and will set the tone of the event during an exclusive on-stage interview with Hotelier Middle East.
Campbell Gray is an unconventional hotelier who founded Campbell Gray Hotels, which operates Le Gray Beirut and the upcoming Le Gray Amman Residences, and is the creative force behind One Aldwych in London and Carlisle Bay in Antigua.
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Commenting on the opportunity, he told Hotelier: “The hospitality industry in the GCC region is among the fastest growing in the world. We are not only adapting to change at a great pace, but we are creating and leading it.
“Being invited to attend the Great GM Debate as keynote speaker us very exciting as it gives me the opportunity to share and exchange knowledge and ideas with industry leaders at a very exciting time.”
Sponsoring the summit are a number of prolific industry suppliers – headlined by platinum partner Ecolab – and including 36 Strategies, Coffee Planet, Emirates Academy, Farnek, Horeca Trade, Protect-A-Bed and Sysco Guest Supply.
Paul Lloyd, Ecolab’s vice president & general manager, institutional for Middle East/Africa said: “The GM debate is a great opportunity for Ecolab to connect with the leaders and decision makers within the hospitality industry. We believe that the GM debate offers a great platform for discussion with senior hospitality professionals about the future of the industry, specially in our booming region.
“The debate gives an opportunity to better understand customers’ needs, which enables us to develop superior sustainable solutions, products and services. Being the industry leader in hygiene, innovation is the cornerstone of our success.”
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