Made in Spain

Point SL promises speedy delivery of its products.

Spanish suppliers suggest hotels should look to European companies with a strong regional presence to benefit from international experience with a local touch.

Spain-based fire-safety and security systems supplier, Onity, has a wide distribution network, with an exclusive partner in each country that works closely with headquarters; a typical trait of Spanish suppliers, according to international marketing manager Leire Iriberri.

“This way we are able to offer the benefits of a global company, with the local support required to look after customers,” explains Iriberri.

Story continues below

But what are the benefits of a global company? Furniture manufacturer Point SL, also based in Spain, says Spanish companies have extensive experience in the hotel-supply market due to the country’s established tourism industry.

“We have thousands of hotels along the Spanish coast and the years of experience in meeting their requirements can be applied to the Middle East industry,” says Point SL export manager Francisco Pons.

Like Onity, Spanish F&B equipment supplier Zumoval has established a presence in the Middle East through various trade shows and through locally-based agents. With decreased marketing budgets and increased competition, it is difficult for international suppliers to reach hotel decision makers, according to Zumoval export manager Jorge Pérez Laffont, but regionally-based agents with knowledge of the industry allow international suppliers to penetrate the market and offer a consistently-high level of service.

As might be expected, the three suppliers identify Spanish supply market highlights as F&B equipment, furniture and security devices, adding that the Middle East’s hotel sector is looking for the very latest technologies and styles in solutions.

“In Spain our HT24 magstripe lock has historically been our star product and continues to be in high demand for its good value and reliability,” says Iriberri.

“Yet in the Middle East, the new Advance line is more popular as it offers all the advantage of the HT-line locks, with the benefit of improved aesthetics, featuring a minimalist modular design, which blends with any hotel decoration type,” she adds.