THE GM DEBATE CAREERS MARKET FORECAST TRAVEL NEWS SEPTEMBER 2020 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION HELLO MR. PRESIDENT The exclusive rst interview with Hilton’s Jochem-Jan SleifferWith our wide range of furniture, fixtures and décor solutions, we can create stunning hotel rooms, spectacular bathrooms, relaxing outdoor spaces and ambient dining experiences that your guests will love. Create a lasting impression Jebel Ali Free Zone, Gate No 4 - Dubai, P.O.Box: 18022 | Tel: +971 4 808 50 90, Mob: +971 56 686 52 89 | Email: enquiries@aldanube.com | dhs@aldanube.comIn this issue 3 September 2020 hoteliermiddleeast.com Features 26 Hilton’s area president Middle East, Africa and Turkey JJ Sleiffer 34 What to expect from The GM Debate later this month 38 The Artisan reopens in Dubai’s Waldorf Astoria DIFC THIS MONTH Hilton’s JJ Sleiffer Inside The ArtisanIn this issue hoteliermiddleeast.com September 2020 4 Regulars 6 Trending 12 Checking In 14 Talking Heads 22 Careers: Appointments 24 A Day In the Life 42 How to Spend It 44 That Figures 46 Hot Topic 48 Checking Out 50 Secret Hotelier Check out this Sicilian resort Sofitel Dubai Wafi is almost open How a pastry chef spends his dayThe word 5 September 2020 hoteliermiddleeast.com Published by and © 2020 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Deputy Managing Director Martin Chambers Group Editor Paul Cliff ord Editorial Junior Writer Josh Corder Tel: +971 4 444 3358 email: josh.corder@itp.com Contributor Simon Ritchie Advertising Commercial director Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 email: sally.whittam@itp.com Sales Director, Hospitality & Design Rebecca Lockwood Tel: +971 4 444 3268 email: Rebecca.Lockwood@itp.com International Sales Manager Amanda Stewart Tel: +44 7908 117 333 email: amanda.stewart@itp.com ITP Live General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com Studio Designer Gerald Du Photography Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Fritz John Asuro, Ajith Narendra Production & Distribution Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Circulation Distribution & Warehouse Manager Paveen Nair Marketing Director of Awards and Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies MEDIA Hello, Here we are, another month closer to the end of the year and about the time we start thinking about plans for 2021 in earnest. While I’m sure everyone reading this will be glad to see the back of 2020, it has certainly taught us all some important lessons. But this issue is about looking forward. Among the things coming up is The GM Debate, which will be held virtually over two days and has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience across its six panels. One of the high-profile speakers in the first-ever Leaders’ Panel is this month’s cover star, Hilton’s JJ Sleiffer who has had something of an eventful first eight months as area president, Middle East, Africa and Turkey. He tells us all about it, and how Hilton are preparing for the future in our exclusive interview from page 26. We also have some great opinions in this month’s Talking Heads section, covering the region’s pipeline, the future in KSA and the evolution of the hotel buffet. And with that, I think it’s time to tuck in. Paul Clifford, Group Editor The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.hoteliermiddleeast.com September 2020 6 TRENDING Ritz-Carlton Al Wadi7 September 2020 hoteliermiddleeast.com The Ras Al Khaimah Development Authority (RAKTDA) has announced a strong upturn in the northern emirate’s tourism and hospitality sectors during its initial phase of recovery. Since the outbreak of the virus, RAKTDA has worked to deploy a range of initiatives to support its hospitality partners and establishments. As early as April, RAKTDA introduced generous nancial initiatives to help struggling hotels. Measures included a six-month waiver of touristic licenses ,a waiver of tourism dirhams from March to May, an exemption of tourism licensing fees for Q2 and Q3 and tourism licensing nes until September 30. Thanks to the initiatives, Ras Al Khaimah reported an average ADR increase of 12.9 percent over Eid Al Adha break, the highest average room rate compared to the last three years under normal (non-pandemic) travel circumstances. Impressively, despite Dubai and Abu Dhabi often taking the lion’s share of tourism, Ras Al Khaimah is leading in terms of RevPAR in the UAE, say RAKTDA. The ongoing ‘Shortcation’ Campaign, which was launched in early June targeting domestic travel, drove bookings of almost 7,000 nights during the rst eight weeks of the campaign, giving the emirate a boost in bookings in lieu of international guests. Ras Al Khaimah has also introduced a range of hygiene and safety protocols to help hotels. The emirate was the world’s rst city to be stamped safe by Bureau Veritas and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). It was also an early adopter of hygiene certi cations, creating its own ‘Stay Safe’ stamp for hotels in April. RAK hotels have highest RevPAR in the UAETrending hoteliermiddleeast.com September 2020 8 Europe’s largest hotel group Accor has announced it will cut 1,000 jobs as part of a €200 million cost saving plan to help dampen the damage of COVID-19. The group, which owns brands such as So tel and Raf es broke the news after it posted its nancial results for the rst six months of the year. Consolidated revenue for the rst half of 2020 totalled €917 million, down 48.8 percent like-for-like and down 52.4 percent compared with the rst half of 2019. RevPAR was also down 59.3 percent in the rst half of the year. Accor’s chief executive Sébastien Bazin said: “The shock that our industry is experiencing is both violent and unprecedented.” Accor’s 1,000 man job cut is one of many measures to reduce costs by 17 percent. “Having taken these emergency steps, we must now nish the job from an asset- light model to a full asset-light company,” added Bazin. “Accor must become simpler, leaner, more agile and even closer to the eld.” The virus did not slow opening plans much, with 86 properties opened in the rst six months of the year. Similarly, the group managed to keep 80 percent of its properties, around 4,000, open. Accor forced to cut jobs amid revenue crash The latest tallest hotel in the world, Ciel, is due to open in 2023 . It will soar 365 metres into the sky, and be nine metres taller than Gevora Hotel (the current-record holder). Developed by The First Group, the hotel will add to the Dubai Marina skyline. More than 11,800 cubic metres of concrete and in excess of 3,000 tonnes of steel are being used to construct the building’s foundations. RAK AMI Hotel, a hotel development and management company based in the northern emirate, has announced its Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island property is still on track to open in 2021. The next ‘world’s tallest hotel’ to open in Dubai by 2023 $148m RAK resort on track to open in 2021 HOTEL NEWS The resort’s construction is currently near 40 percent completion, with the developers assuring progress has not slowed down due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Estimated to cost around AED543 million (US$148 million), the resort will have 418 rooms, with each one providing a direct sea view. Once open, guests will be able to opt for larger, family sized room suites or one of the 28 beach front villas with private pools and gardens. The new resort is slated to open in September next year. The hotel will feature 1,042 rooms, including 150 suites. F&B venues will include all-day dining venue Sunset Lounge on the 75th oor, Horizon Bar on the 77th oor, Ciel Observatory & Lounge on the 81st and a rooftop Sky Terrace with a pool and bar. The 82- oor property is the agship development of The First Group’s fast- growing portfolio.Trending 9 September 2020 hoteliermiddleeast.com Marriott International has introduced The Luxury Collection brand to Abu Dhabi after taking over the management of Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa. Just 30-minutes from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa was previously operated by Jumeirah. The resort is designed to be reminiscent of a historic desert village. It has 103 rooms and villas, with Arabesque design hues Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism market has been the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Makkah and Madinah hotels seeing the sharpest declines. Colliers International’s MENA Hotels Quarterly Review looked at just how badly COVID-19 has set the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism sector back. Though the Kingdom is set to bene t from its country- wide domestic tourism drive – Saudi Rotana has revealed its UAE portfolio is starting to show signs of life again after a challenging pandemic period. The company’s hotels have seen growing occupancy rates, with the portfolio reaching an average of 60 to 65 percent occupancy at weekends. Though Abu Dhabi is still focusing on domestic guests, Dubai opened for international travellers in July. Rotana has since seen ve to six percent of its UAE bookings come from overseas travellers into the country. Rotana President & CEO Guy Hutchinson commented: “The hospitality industry is embarking on the next phase of its recovery as guests begin to regain con dence in travel by enjoying local breaks.” Summers – it has still seen performance drop across the board. Makkah was the hardest hit in the quarter, with RevPAR in its hotels crashing by 70 percent compared to H1 2019. In terms of ADR, Makkah saw a 46 percent YoY drop in 2020, with occupancy also dropping 45 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year. Madinah followed a similar demand pattern, however, it was throughout and Bedouin nishes. There are six restaurants and bars including all-day dining at Bait Al Hanine, Emirati cuisine at Al Mabeet, Bedouin-inspired lounge Hayaakom, Italian Terra Secca, rooftop bar Al Mesayan and poolside Panache. According to Marriott, the spa is the key feature. Nestled within a garden, it has 11 treatment rooms including a crystal salt sauna, Turkish hammam and yoga pavilion. Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa opens for business in Abu Dhabi Religious tourism hardest hit in Saudi hotel market Rotana sees occupancy rates recover across UAE portfolio able to retain its ADR, resulting in a YoY RevPAR decline of 44 percent in H1 2020. ADR for the Kingdom’s religious city was down by just 7 percent, though occupancy was down 40 percent.Next >