A wedding at Dubai World Trade Centre, which reported a 21% increase in wedding trade during the first two quarters of 2010. A wedding at Dubai World Trade Centre, which reported a 21% increase in wedding trade during the first two quarters of 2010.

Weddings contribute a significant percentage to a venue’s F&B revenue, but with budgets tightening, what can operators do to stay ahead of the game?

The time has come for F&B managers to take stock and review the competitiveness and operational efficiency of their wedding packages.

Many operators have reported a slow summer, in part due to the current economic climate and to the timing of Ramadan this year. Seasonal trends should see demand return next month, but with large revenues at stake, operators should now take the opportunity to review the current market trends and ensure that their offerings are competitively positioned.

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In some cases, the average wedding spend has decreased, whilst customer expectations have remained steadfast. Therefore, it has become essential to develop high-quality F&B offerings that are priced to maximise revenue without impacting upon the guest experience.

“The market has changed rapidly over the past two years,” explained Ritz-Carlton, Dubai director of F&B, Wael Maatouk. “People are seeking out more value, with smaller budgets to serve the same luxury experience.”

By default, the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai is naturally more exposed to slower summers because the majority of its wedding clientele is drawn from the local expatriate community. Maatouk predicts that business will peak between October and April with more than 60 events in the pipeline.

With a stronger focus on Emirati weddings and as the preferred venue for Royal weddings, Dubai World Trade Centre experiences strong year-round demand. In the first two quarters of 2010 alone it reported a 21% increase in wedding trade — especially at the high-end of the market.

However, it has also noted its clients becoming more budget-conscious, as Dubai World Trade Centre weddings manager, Najah Al Mullah revealed.

“For us, the customer spend has remained consistent, but clients are now operating within more of a set budget and are therefore making fewer special requests. However overall, the wedding business in the UAE is booming and still provides a substantial contribution to our F&B revenues.”