Jennifer Pettinger from bench events reveals what to expect from the show
1. This year we have more plenary sessions than ever before. We’re focusing a lot more on the macro economic environment and looking at the external factors impacting the industry. When we did our advisory board meeting with key industry leaders in the region, that’s what they told us is keeping them up at night. The issues at the moment are all related to the macro-economic environment. So we’re bringing in more external industry experts than ever before.
2. For the first time we have the Chinese group, the Wanda Group, and this really marks a definite interest in the Asian market to invest in the Middle East, and that’s something we haven’t seen before.
3. We have got for the first time a group of students from the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management putting a session together which looks at what their generation wants in hotels. This came out of the advisory board meeting, with TripAdvisor and online portals driving bookings and people’s choices. We›ve got Airbnb and Booking.com participating for the first time, as well the head of Accor’s new booking engine. This is a really interesting step by hotel companies to get into the booking space, and it will be interesting to hear what Airbnb has to say and get a sense of what their strategy is.
4. One thing we’re doing for the second time is a series of short 15 minute presentations, looking at key industry topics. Things that are more focused on new trends in the industry, innovation and the consumer viewpoint, not only for us but the audience who are investors. Building hotels is a long-term decision so you need to have feasibility studies on not only what works now but what will work in the future.
LOOK AT IRAN
IFA Hotel Investment is actively looking into the Iranian market, reports its CEO Joe Sita, who says the firm anticipates “great potential, should the recent commercial liberalisation persist”. He points out that Iran has a dearth of branded hotel and residential offers, most especially to the business tourist. “Through our partnership with Bespoke Hotels International and our existing Yotel brand we hope to enter the market forcefully. Our company also sees great potential through its facilities and staff housing ventures, given that support services with high quality operational practices and experience are in short supply,” he explains.
A.A. AlMoosa Enterprises LLC director Anil Bhardwaj advises caution: “Whilst hotel operators, particularly European, are rushing to Iran for the first mover advantage, hotel investors will adopt a more cautious role to better measure the impact of recent international agreements impacting Iran.”
FIVE sessions to try:
With five major themes/topics in focus this year at AHIC, Hotelier Middle East brings you its pick of the top five sessions not to miss in order to keep your finger firmly on the pulse of the region.
1. Session: Roundtable Discussions
When: Tuesday, April 26 2016, 4-5pm
Round table ‘brainstorming sessions’ with fellow attendees, with topics including a focus on Bahrain and Ras Al Khaimah, dual-branded projects, MICE in the UAE, current and future lending climate, and cyber security and hotel security.
2. Session: Eye on the Future
When: Wednesday, April 27 2016, 10.45am-11.30am
Global and regional perspectives on travel & tourism with newly released data and 10 year forecasts; an examination of the long-term trends which are driving growth and the challenges facing the sector.
3. Session: All About The Oil – What Is The Outlook For Oil Prices And Saudi Arabia?
When: Thursday, April 28 2016, 2.30-3pm
What is the impact on tourism investment and flows?
4. Session: Development Pipeline and Future Sentiment
When: Thursday, April 28 2016, 3.20pm-3.50pm
Given the region’s geopolitical, social and financial circumstances, with oil prices back to the level they were 10 years ago, is there enough funding to ensure the completion of the current development pipeline? What does this mean for future project volume?
5. Session: Eye on Iran
When: Thursday, April 28 2016, 3.50-4.20pm
How big an opportunity is this? Where are the opportunities in terms of product and locations within the country? How secure is it from a foreign investment point of view; how hard is inbound / outbound money movement?
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