Roundtable: Meet the experts

Nalan Selcuk, founder and MD, Alina
Nalan Selcuk is the founder and MD of Alina AS in Ankara, Turkey and Alina Ltd in UAE. Since 1998 these companies have been providing soft goods of high quality to the hospitality sector. Nalan is supported by Zubeyde Azak, who is the area manager of Alina Ltd in Dubai, UAE. Zubeyde manages all the sales, marketing and after sales activities of the company.

Pinar Tunali, hotel project manager, Maya Tekstil
Pinar has a master’s degree in international business. She has been working for Maya Tekstil since 2012 and has been holding the position of hotel project manager for the last two years.

Khalid Abu Sharia, marketing manager, SCA Hygiene
Khalid joined SCA in 2015 and leads the marketing for Middle East and East Africa. Prior to joining SCA, he held different positions at MNCs including Kohler. He also headed the marketing department at global cleaning equipment’s manufacturer Kärcher. He completed a masters of strategic marketing from the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Khuram Shaheryar, GM, GAGT
Khuram heads the hospitality division of Gulf Asian General Trading, a UAE-based firm that makes linen products amongst others for the hospitality sector. Khuram has worked with GAGT for nearly a decade, and has amassed 13 years of experience in textiles.

Robert Dupree, GM, Pacific Direct
Robert Dupree has been the general manager for Pacific Direct Middle East, Africa and India for the past 13 years. In 2015, the company became part of the Ada Cosmetics Group. Robert’s long-standing experience in the hospitality business has been a deciding factor in building Pacific Direct’s thriving Middle East, Africa and India division.

Rachael Towl, regional sales manager Middle East, Guest Supply
Rachael is a UK-born marketing graduate who has been working in the Middle East for more than two years. She has expertise of working with personal care branded products, having worked within the category in excess of 10 years. In her current role, Rachael works closely with hotels on their personal care amenity choices.

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What are the latest trends in housekeeping in hospitality?

Nalan Selcuk: Sustainability, eco-friendly materials, fair trade products, packaging and elimination of wastage. More importantly, we see an increasing shift in our customers’ demand for quality products and service at competitive prices. Incorporating technology with housekeeping is a challenging trend.

Khalid abu Sharia: There is an increasing interest in finding smarter ways of working, using the power of the Internet of Things for instance. Hotels are looking for intelligent systems that enable its housekeepers and managers to efficiently offer increased quality of hospitality. As you know, there are many challenges that housekeepers face, especially during peak season. So, for hotels it is very important to find ways to deliver a higher and more consistent quality of customer experience.

Khuram Shaheryar: To ‘go green’ is an important trend in housekeeping. This, however, needs to be followed into every sector whether it’s bed or bathroom products, linen, F&B services and other amenities. Over the last two years, we have noticed that the introduction of waterproof pillow protectors, mattress protectors (100% waterproof, breathable, odourless, and environmental-friendly) has made a significant difference not only reflecting in costs, but proves to be a time saver for housekeepers. Moreover, 100% cotton bedsheets in the range of 300 thread count is in great demand across every five-star hotel along with 100% cotton towels range from 600 to 650 GSM. Microfibre duvets, pillow and toppers is another emerging trend to ensure guest comfort in luxury hotels.

Robert Dupree: The luxury experience is an ongoing trend; hotel groups are partnering with luxury retail brands and fashion designers to offer an exceptional amenities programme that differentiates them from the competition. The demand for niche fragrances is also growing in the retail sector which is strongly reflected in the hotel guest’s preference for fragrances in hotel cosmetics.

Rachael Towl: Travellers’ interest in environmentally friendly holidays and hotel stays continues to grow, and thus we have developed the Olive Branch Botanicals and Earth Tempo “Eco-Chic” guest collections, and we are proud to partner with brands such as Tara Smith & Korres to offer the consumer a natural product experience. In addition, we have partnered with Clean the World — a global recycling programme, and have a carbon offset initiative, providing our customers with a positive impact on the environment.

Could you tell us about the latest products you have launched?

Nalan: We have complemented our line of soft goods with olive oil-based natural soaps and beauty items with natural and healthy ingredients. Various Turkish hammam accessories, peshtemals and specifically, traditional handmade copper bowls have been added to our product portfolio.

Pinar Tunali: We have designed our hotel collection under our own brand Penelope Dorme, sub-categorised under four lines; basic, deluxe, exclusive, and soft, to meet the different kinds of demands of our customers. Besides our own brand, we offer a complete private label business to our partners.

Khalid: We recently launched the Tork Image Design line, a new dispenser range in stainless steel designed for premium washrooms. Until now, dispensers have often not been considered at premium washrooms, but with the combination of form and function in the new Tork Image Design Line, that is about to change. SCA also launched the Tork EasyCube system where cleaners can access real-time data from the application on their tablet, so they know where and when cleaning is needed. Managers have the benefit of smart analytics that help them manage and plan for improved overall operational efficiency, saving time and cost.

Khuram: We recently launched a fabric range imported from Spain, with upholstery, bed skirting and cushions from Italy. We have also introduced new Jacquard designs for bedsheets as an alternative to regular stripe sheets in thread counts ranging from 300 up to 600 in 100% cotton, satins and blends. SPA towels are in widespread demand and we have introduced a variety of five colour SPA towels covering different sizes to fit a spa’s requirements.

RELATED: Access Hotelier's first ever Housekeeping Report 2016 for in-depth insights into hotel housekeeping operations in the Middle East.

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