Industry leaders took to the stage to discuss the major issues of the moment in front of a roomful of operators.
SPEED PANEL: 12:50PM
Positioning Wine for the Middle East Market
A quick-fire panel session explored how wine can be transformed into a staple choice for your clientele. A first for the forum, the wine session was moderated by Intersect by Lexus general manager Halil Asar, with panellists Hakkasan head of wine Middle East & Asia Olivier Gasselin, and Jumeirah Group group director of beverage Ian McEvoy.
The panel unanimously agreed that the demand for wine is still high. “Expensive or fine wines are looked at as benchmarks; guests judge your menu based on the wines you have on offer,” said McEvoy.
“It’s extremely important to offer a strong product with good value. It’s important to get your expectations right. At Jumeirah, we offer a wide range of wines at varying price points,” he added.
Expensive wine is still finds favour with some customers. Gasselin said: “There are some extremely expensive wines, but they appeal to the true connoisseurs. There are times when we have people buying a bottle worth thousands. However, that’s not to say they sell in high quantities. I used to order enough stock to last me two years, but I have reduced my demand to last me for six months.”
The panel agreed that wine remains a firm favourite among guests, and dismissed the notion that its demand is on the decline.
“In fact, it has steadily risen. On the other hand, if we consider champagne, its demand has drastically reduced since 2008,” revealed McEvoy.
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