Regional versus International Hotel brands to be discussed at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

The familiarity of international hotel brands will continue to prove a major consideration of tourists travelling to the Middle East, despite the increasing number of brands originating in the GCC, according to a senior hospitality figure.

Ed Fuller, president and managing director of International Lodging, Marriott International, said, “Traditional major global source markets like the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan have long relied on their familiarity with global brands to make appropriate travel choices.

“Global brands offer more robust distribution channels and services, rewarding guest loyalty programmes, and have the strategic alliances with complementary travel suppliers that make journeying to far off places virtually seamless.”

Fuller will join other hotel chiefs to discuss the advantages of using regional management companies versus international networks at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, taking place in Dubai between April 30 and May 2.

Owners around the region are expected to take a keen interest in the arguments put forth by experts including Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International, and Imad Elias, executive vice president for Rotana Hotels. 

Along with Fuller, their counterparts from the major global groups will include Jean-Gabriel Peres, CEO for Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and Kurt Ritter, president and CEO for Rezidor SAS Hospitality.

According to moderator, Jeff Weinstein, editor in chief of HOTELS magazine and HOTELS’ Investment Outlook, the trend worldwide is for consolidation and specialisation in the arena of hotel management.

He said, “The global management chains are selling off their hotel assets and focusing on their own area of expertise, which is skilful operations and prudent financial costings. At the same time, we are seeing more and more hotels grouping together to expand their sales networks to tap new markets.”

In the Persian Gulf, traditionally a strong market for the big hotel names, new management companies such as Jumeirah International and Rotana have altered the shape of the marketplace, and the panel will discuss the arguments for owners to opt for locally based operators or bring in new names, particularly at a time when all the major hotel chains are looking to establish a foothold in such a booming market.

The advisory panel of the conference includes among others: Sarmad Zok of CEO Kingdom Hotel Investments; Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels and Resorts & CEO of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff, CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World Travel & Tourism Council; and regional directors from international hotel groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana.

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