Event Preview: Procurement Summit 2015
The second iteration of the Hotelier Middle East: Procurement Summit will be held on November 3, 2015 at Grosvenor House with procurement managers, directors and solutions providers. The summit will feature panellists and presentations from experienced industry professional in a bid to simplify the industry.
Beginning with a panel discussion, speakers will discuss the evolution of procurement from a back-of-house service to its current mainstream position in the hotel industry, where it is viewed as more than just a cost-saving measure, and is seen as a way to gain competitive edge. These changes have meant that in industries such as hospitality, procurement has grown from a minor function within finance or operations, to become one of the most important components of modern corporate management.
Traditionally, the vertical has been considered as a back of house service. However, procurement has become more than a means by which hotels can simply replenish the goods in the rooms.
The panel discussion will be followed by two presentations; firstly, ‘Implementing an Alliance Management Programme’ will discuss how companies work closely with suppliers long after a deal has been signed. Best practices allow for both, buyer and seller, to jointly manage the relationship. The objectives of an effective alliance management programme with key suppliers include providing a mechanism to ensure that the relationship stays healthy and vibrant.
The second presentation will tackle recent arguments of digital versus the old -school methods of procurement. Today, software that automates purchasing processes from requisition to payment help streamline operations, shorten cycle times and reduce costs. These programmes are being used across all industries to procure goods and services.
The mid-morning session will feature a panel discussion flanked by four presentations on either side.
The first presentation will focus on ‘Measuring Purchasing Performance’ — it’s proven that there is no fixed method that covers every purchasing department.
However, there are a number of key measures that are found to be common in evaluating performance, namely — cost saving, vendor quality, delivery metrics, price effectiveness and inventory flow. The importance of these measures to the overall effectiveness of a hotel’s procurement will evolve over time and therefore need to be assessed and modified on a periodic basis.
The second presentation will discuss the internal relationships with stakeholders in the procurement niche. The presentation, called Internal Stakeholder Management, will focus on a structured approach to managing internal stakeholders. This enables effective partnerships between departments, while understanding the importance of communication for successful engagement with colleagues.
The afternoon panel discussion is set to be a hot topic within the industry — Going Green — Sustainability in Procurement. The journey to become a green hotel starts right from a glass bottle reuse programme or eliminating “red list” chemicals from the hotel facility altogether.
However, hotels should continue to implement strategic programmes to reduce environmental impact.
A recent purchasing trend is responsible procurement (also known as environmentally preferable purchasing [EPP] or sustainable procurement) — a process by which environmental, social and ethical considerations are taken into account.
Looking beyond the traditional parameters of price, quality, functionality and availability, it involves choosing products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health, the environment and society when compared to competing products in the similar space.
The third presentation of the day will clearly define contract negotiations and management. Purchasing managers should enter all negotiations with clearly defined objectives — without which, the possibility to concede on price, quality or service is significantly raised.
Understanding contract management, negotiating volume deals with suppliers — such as additional discounts beyond contracted volumes and re-evaluating supplier contracts are essential for optimising contracts for long term value. The negotiator should enter into discussions with the vendor with precise objectives that they wish to achieve for their company.
The final presentation of the day aims to demystify the difference between a good leader and a great leader. This session will reveal to the procurement professionals how to develop leadership skills by enhancing one’s communication skills and understanding how to harness the energy, enthusiasm and motivation of the people around.
The second Procurement Summit organised by Hotelier Middle East features a strong list of speakers and exhibitors. The breaks between the sessions will enable plenty opportunity for networking amongst various stakeholders.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: November 3, 2015 Venue: Grosvenor House, Dubai
Speaking Opportunities: Please register your interest with Louby.Maktari@itp.com
Attendance: By invitation only, and free to procurement professionals. Please register your interest with Michael.McGill@itp.com
Sponsorship opportunities: Please contact Alex.Hall@itp.com, Alex.Brown@itp.com, or Amanda.Stewart@itp.com
Website: www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/conferences/procurement/