Consider going halal-friendly to grow in the hospitality industry: HMH

Laurent Voivenel, CEO of HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings, says that the way forward for the hospitality industry is to be halal-friendly as halal tourism holds enormous potential. "Given the business opportunity and demand halal-friendly hotels will continue to claim bigger market share globally. By 2030, Muslims will make up more than a quarter of the global population rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion and 30% of this population will seek halal options," he said at the World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition (WHTS15).

As a travel segment, halal tourism equals roughly 10% of the entire travel economy and last year was calculated to be worth US$145 billion, representing over 108 million Muslim travellers. The segment is forecast to continue to grow to 150 million visitors by 2020 and will be worth over US$200 billion globally, HMH notes. Commanding 33% share of the MENA region's halal-friendly segment, HMH created the region's first international halal-friendly chain of hotels.

HMH spotted the opportunity early in the MENA region, rolling out the concept in 2003. Voivenel said, "At HMH we have taken a ‘halal-friendly’ and not ‘halal-only’ approach. Our strategy has been to position ourselves as a perfect choice for both regional and international corporate and leisure travellers including families and single female guests seeking safe and healthy environment. Let's not forget, not everybody is seeking halal hotels. The world is shrinking with greater connectivity as well as low cost carriers opening new markets bringing in more diverse mix of travellers. Therefore, the way forward is not halal-only; rather it is halal-friendly, and that is what we are all about."

According to Laurent dry hotels are equally popular with Western or non-Muslim travellers. He said, "On average over 60% of our clientele are non-Muslims. Our typical customers are savvy travellers (both leisure and corporate) looking for value for money - basically, smart accommodation at the right price. Equally essential for them is a safe environment.

"A dry hotel can yield the same gross operating profit as the one with alcohol provided the facilities are defined right. After food and beverage, the largest money maker in a hotel is banqueting. So whenever HMH is involved in planning and development of hotel, we advise owners to allocate maximum space to meeting and banquet facilities instead of too many food and beverage outlets as that could generate superb revenue."

Interested?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about HMH's plans to focus on the mid-market

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World Halal Travel Summit 2015 expects to foster real progress in halal tourism and travel

The World Halal Travel Summit 2015 (WHTS15) will be the largest B2B gathering of global halal travel specialists ever assembled, say Cacti Events, the organiser. More than 200 toursim brands will be on show, according to the website.

Supported by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and taking place in Abu Dhabi at ADNEC from 19 to 21 October 2015, WHTS15 is expected to host 6,000 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) travel agents, hospitality groups, hoteliers, developers, investors and key decision makers from the halal tourism market.

The halal travel and tourism market is growing 100% faster than any other niche travel sector, and represents US$135 billion of outbound bookings. According to the WHTS15 website, forecasts are that it will grow to US$200 billion by 2020.

WHTS15 incorporates ITHMAR15, a conference focusing on tourism investment in the halal travel sector that aims to drive real impact. The conference covers five main milestones in investment:

• Trends & Opportunities 
• Funding, including business angel networks, venture capitalists, development banks 
• Government regulations, infrastructure and support
• Global public-private partnerships (PPPs) 
• Implementation 

An Investment Den segment will enable tourism entrepreneurs to pitch their projects to banks, business angels and investment professionals and bring funders and delegates together in 10-minute meetings.

Additionally, TURATH15 (HERITAGE15) will focus on the professionals driving cultural tourism experiences in Muslim-majority countries. TURATH-related exhibitors will be hosted in a dedicated area within the larger WHTS15 arena.

WHTS15 will also host The World Halal Travel Awards to celebrate best practices, service and distinction in the global international halal tourism sector. The results will be announced at a gala dinner at The Emirates Palace Ballroom, Abu Dhabi on 20 October.

Need background?

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about WHTS15

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World Halal Travel Summit to top other events on halal travel and tourism

The World Halal Travel Summit (WHTS15), the largest showcase of halal travel and tourism solutions, is to run over halls 6 and 7 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from October 19 to 21, 2015. 

Organised under the theme Driving The Halal Tourism Revolution, the multi-faceted event will include an exhibition with over 230 exhibitors and sponsors and more than 6,000 delegates and trade visitors, including at a 1,000-seat conference that is expected to host keynote sessions, panel discussions, a ministerial debate and 150 presentations from 70 international speakers.

“The halal tourism market is booming with analysts saying it now represents 13% of the global market,” said WHTS15 Events Manager Hosam Moustafa in a statement at the end of 2014. “A recent Muslim travel report, released by the consultancy DinarStandard and rating agency Crescent Rating, projects that until at least 2020, Muslim international tourism will increase faster than conventional tourism – 4.79% versus 3.8%. At that point, overall annual spending for international Muslim tourism is expected to reach US$192 billion and these figures don’t even include estimated Hajj and umrah expenditures.

“The time is right for an event of this size and scope to address the needs of this vast international sector and Abu Dhabi, with its award-winning ADNEC and event facilities in the heart of this market, is an ideal venue and host.”

WHTS15 is being brought to the UAE capital by organiser Cacti Events with the support of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau – the dedicated business events promotion arm of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

“Many Muslim majority markets are now fast emerging economies, with higher than average population growth rates supported by a young demographic,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi. “Against this background, expenditure by halal tourists is expected to rise more than 6% per annum for the foreseeable future, which is almost double global industry growth.

“With Abu Dhabi now specifically targeting the halal tourism sector with segment-specific accommodation and product, the staging of this event in the UAE capital will put the spotlight on our offering and ambitions.”

WHTS15 is expected to draw high profile international attendance from government delegations, tourism associations, market-leading private sector operators and leading financiers funding Islamic tourism projects.

“WHTS15 is a major opportunity for tourism bodies, private tourism companies and professionals interested in developing business models in the halal travel space – perhaps the single most important meeting of the decade for this sector,” added Moustafa.

“More than 60 countries will be represented at WHTS15, with many exhibiting and others contributing presentations and speakers to the conference sessions.”

WHTS15 will focus on intra-tourism between the 57 members states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) - the second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations with a membership spread over four continents.

Keynote conference sessions will focus on practical applications to increase intra-OIC tourism productivity – innovative technologies, capacity building and entrepreneurship, the role of the private sector and the way that local bodies can quickly adopt and adapt the best international thinking.

In addition to the Summit, WHTS15 will host a half-day high-level Dialogue on 19 October for Muslim majority tourism policy makers, influencers and key industry leaders to identify and engage on impending and future tourism initiatives. Admission is by invitation only, with enquiries to be directed to visitors@cactievents.com.

TCA Abu Dhabi has adopted a halal travel strategy which has seen it engage with four Abu Dhabi hotels, namely the One-To-One The Village; the Ayla Hotel Al Ain, the Hala Arjaan by Rotana and Al Rawda Arjaan Hotel by Rotana in Abu Dhabi city, which are all listed on www.halalbooking com.

“We can meet specific Muslim demands on a number of fronts – halal F&B is one, another is specific segmented family product and specific product segmented for use by the different genders. We also have a number of high and medium quality alcohol-free hotels and segmented sessions for females at mainline attractions,” explained Al Dhaheri.

“Some of our operators are also realising the potential of the market – one example is Captain Tony’s dhow boat cruises, which offer ladies-only tours of the Corniche. Ladies-only sessions are also available at our Yas Waterworld aqua park and on Wednesday nights at Yas Marina Circuit there is a whole evening of sports and activities training for ladies.

“Of course, a visit to our Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque would be an essential on any halal tourism agenda. In addition, Abu Dhabi as a wealth of world-class restaurants and eateries where guests can enjoy international cuisine all prepared to halal standards.”

Al Dhaheri says halal travel will become more prominent in its destination promotion in terms of exposure and quality of product offering.

“We envisage receiving increasing numbers from this segment particularly given that Abu Dhabi serves as a hub for traffic transiting from East to West and vice versa. We can link the highly populous Muslim countries of the East to the West and those in the opposite direction via Abu Dhabi International Airport and we hope that many will choose to break their journey in the emirate and eventually become convinced to stay longer."

Register to attend here.