OPERATOR INTERVIEW
Petra
Dead Sea
district. Primary and secondary cities in Saudi Arabia including Jubail, remain high on our radar, as well as other locations in the UAE, Oman and Qatar. How does Mövenpick aim to capitalise on all the hospitality incentives and initiatives being outlined for Dubai’s hosting of Expo 2020? We currently operate six hotels in Dubai and with our strong presence in the city, we will be aligning ourselves with the initiatives proposed by the government, working hand in hand in order to provide visitors with an amazing experience. What is your opinion on the hospitality landscape in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the MENA region? Owing to good political stability in the UAE, we foresee excellent performances of the hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as in other GCC countries. Give us a brief overview of the region from the recession in 2009 till date. 18 MARCH/APRIL 2015
The next openings are Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh and our third hotel in Jeddah, Mövenpick Hotel City Star Jeddah, which will both open during the second quarter of 2015, taking our portfolio in Saudi Arabia to a total of 11 properties
During the recession, occupancy rates reduced somewhat, however within one year, we could see improvements again. The market has softened slightly in the second part of 2014 as a result of additional inventory in markets such as Dubai. Actually, the political landscape in the Middle East has impacted some other hotels in the region more than the recession, particularly in countries bordering Syria and Iraq. What plans does Mövenpick have for the Middle East region? We will continue to develop hotels under a single brand, as we developed a very strong DNA for Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts. We have no plans to dilute the brand into other segments, other than upscale and upper scale. We also believe that Africa, especially North Africa but also the eastern and western regions of the continent, presents great opportunities for growth. We presently have several proposals under negotiation. We are also contemplating to introduce new innovative restaurant concepts that address the ever-
changing demands of our customers in this area. The ongoing development of our brand promise “Natural Enjoyment” is also a focus area, as we aim to provide quality service and create great stories for our guests to take away with them. Ultimately however, our plan is to continue growing at a sustainable pace. Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts has always believed in organic growth and I’m very proud that we’ve managed to consolidate our developments to maintain a balanced portfolio distribution. We would like to solidify our position as a leading international hotel operator. In the Middle East Brand Ranking Index conducted in 2013 by BDRC, an independent research consultancy firm, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts ranked second in terms of Brand Recognition, a significant achievement for our international company. How are relationships with owners/ investors managed? We see ourselves and our owners as strong business partners. It is our aim to always align with the vision of our investors. Sharing the vision allows