The Hotelier Middle East: Great GM Debate 2017 is set to take place on September 26, 2017 at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, and ahead of the event, here’s a brief of what to expect:

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

The panel discussions will return this year, with a focus on topics the advisory panel considered most important. The day will begin with a discussion on the rate war. As supply threatens to outpace demand, rate wars are becoming increasingly common and uncommonly fierce, yet it’s important for hoteliers to unite and hold firm on rates or the market could never recover.

Another important discussion will be promoting the UAE to the world as a destination, with information on working with other properties and DMCs to market the country as a whole. Finally, a panel discussion on food and beverage evolution in hotels will round off the day’s discussions.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH…

Having received positive feedback about on-stage interviews with industry heavyweights, this year The Great GM Debate will continue to host multiple “In Conversation With…” sessions, with hotelier celebs, if you will, on stage. These hospitality personalities will be interviewed live by ITP Business Hospitality Group group editor Devina Divecha, with the floor also opening up for questions. At the time of going to print, confirmed keynote speakers include Gerald Lawless, the head of tourism and hospitality at Dubai Holding, chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, and chancellor of The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. Other announcements will soon follow.

PRESENTATIONS

Snappy presentations on specific topics which affect the general managers of today will be hosted by experts in the field. Chris Hewett from TRI returns to give the general managers and corporate teams an update on the market data and forecast for the months ahead. There will also be another presentation, focused on how to engage your workforce more effectively.

The conference provides more than 200 general managers and corporate hoteliers with a forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities they face on a day-to-day basis, and to learn from the best practice of their peers in a mutually supportive environment.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Gerald Lawless - head of tourism and hospitality at Dubai Holding, chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, and chancellor of The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

SPEAKERS:

• Chris Hewett, associate director, TRI Consulting

• David Prince, area vice president – Dubai & Northern Emirates, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation

• Pierre Delfau, general manager, Southern Sun Abu Dhabi

• David Allan, cluster general manager, ‎Radisson Blu Hotels, Dubai Waterfront & Dubai Canal Views

• Mariano Faz, head of asset management, TFG Asset Management

•  Rupprecht Queitsch, chief executive officer & senior partner, INHOCO Group

• Laurent A. Voivenel, senior vice president, operations & development Middle East, India, & Africa, Swiss-Belhotel International

• Stefan Breg, director of F&B Middle East & Africa, Starwood Legacy Hotels, Marriott International

• Peter Skudutis, general manager, Zero Gravity Dubai

• Sascha Triemer, vice president, food & beverage, Atlantis, The Palm