International Guest Supplies is dedicated to providing tailor-made solutions to each and every customer.

Based in Dubai, International Guest Supplies (IGS) was launched in 2006 and began as exclusive agent for Italian linen brand Frette.

The company specialises in guest amenities for hotels, including bath and body care products, spa products, perfumes and bath and bed linens, as well as furnishing items for all hotel areas, non-food items for food and beverage operations and various amenities for airline.

With an international support network, IGS strives to set new standards in innovative products and packaging ideas and service excellence according to managing partner Malek Trabelsi, who explains that the company was initially launched in response to a perceived gap in the Middle East's hospitality supplies market.

"We realised that there was a lack of expertise in the industry," she says. "A lot of products were on offer in Dubai, but very few companies had any real understanding of how to sell, and about how the hotels actually use the product."

This is actually a common problem in all developing markets Trabelsi adds.

"In a rapidly growing market, the sales are easy and the suppliers don't feel obliged to provide their customers with good advice or proper customer service."
 

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Selective supplies

From the outset, IGS has aimed to deliver a portfolio of top quality products according to Trabelsi.

"We started by producing amenities - selecting only the highest quality factories and implementing our standard, the ISO 9000.

"As the company grew, we also decided to represent some different brands, but we only work with other companies where the management share the same philosophy as us," she says.

At present, the IGS stable includes eight brand: Faria & Bento, Deglon, Pujadas, Abert, Cerabella, Marthinsen, Angelina belsi and Germaine de Capuccini.

"The selection of the products is based on four criteria," Trabelsi explains.

"Firstly, the products must exhibit quality and originality; secondly, there needs to be creativity and expertise in the range; flexibility is also key, and finally, excellent service and support is crucial."