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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HMH hotels feature an Eid/summer promotion till September 21

HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings has rolled out an Eid/summer promotion* in which guests enjoy 10% off on the bed and breakfast rate as well as a gift voucher for each day of the stay. The voucher can be redeemed at any of the hotel’s restaurants or at the spa. The promotion will run until September 21, 2015.

HMH CEO Laurent Voivenel said the company has a presence in 15 cities across MENA. “Eid al Fitr is one of the most joyous and biggest celebrations in the Arab world. We want to make it truly special for our guests by ensuring a memorable experience at an exceptional rate. Over 70% of our room inventory has been sold out well in advance given the massive demand from Saudi Arabia and the rest of GCC. We are a market leader in the halal-friendly hospitality segment in the Middle East offering our customers a safe, family environment with the most authentic Arabic hospitality. Our diverse and distinctive collection of hotels enjoys outstanding locations in the most sought-after destinations."

Interested?

View the list of participating hotels 

*Bookings for the Eid and summer offer are non-refundable. Standard terms and conditions apply.

Corp Amman plans sumptuous iftar and suhoor meals for Ramadhan

Source: Corp Amman Hotel website.

The 4-star Corp Amman Hotel has developed an iftar and suhoor offering for Ramadhan featuring traditional hospitality in Amman. Evenings filled with food and music await for JD18 per person, excluding services and taxes.

The fête begins with an iftar menu served at the all-day dining Boulevard Restaurant & Poolside Terrace, featuring popular Ramadhan juices, dried fruits, Arabic breads, soups, salads, pickles and mezze as well as regional dishes such as chicken shawarma, lamb ouzi, stuffed zucchini and vine leaves, kuffteh, kubbeh, chicken with cashew nuts, plus an array of pasta and fish options. Complete your dining experience with an assortment of seasonal fresh fruits, popular Arabic sweets and pastries.

The rooftop Lebanese restaurant Mood will host Jordanian artist Yousef Al Amir, who will be entertaining diners with oud performances every day throughout Ramadhan from 9.30pm to 1.30am.

Erik Huyer, General Manager of the hotel said popular Ramadhan programmes on leading TV channels would be shown as part of the Ramadhan promotion. “The hotel is set to receive diners in a warm and welcoming ambience perfect to enjoy the wide array of Ramadhan delicacies, as they chill out to the mellow sounds of music offered by a master oud player," he said. 

Coral Al Khobar offers iftar and suhoor buffets over Ramadhan

Located in the heart of the city, the Coral Al Khobar Hotel is an ideal place to share an iftar buffet with family and friends. A further selection of Arabic and Mediterranean specialties will be available for the suhoor buffet, from midnight till 3am.

The buffet will feature a wide variety of cold and hot dishes from the GCC and Levant countries, as well as from the Maghreb. Michel Mandrea, General Manager of Coral Al Khobar Hotel said, “Our culinary team has prepared the menu for ftar and suhoor buffets to suit every taste. These specialties include popular desserts associated with the Ramadan festivities. ”

The hotel will also have live entertainment every evening. Another attraction is a daily raffle for up to 15 gifts. All raffle tickets will also have a chance to win a car in the mega draw to be held at the end of Ramadhan.

The iftar buffet, available from sunset onwards, is priced at SR185 per person. The hotel also has discounts on group bookings. 

Coral Beach Resort Sharjah hosts iftar buffets at its Al Bahar restaurant

Source: Coral Beach Resort Sharjah website.

The Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, which recently underwent a complete refurbishment of rooms and facilities, will host an iftar buffet at the Al Bahar Restaurant featuring traditional Arabic and international cuisine, including mixed grills, shawarma, hot and cold mezze like kebbeh, sambosek and fatayer, stews and biryani, besides soups, salads, snacks and traditional Ramadan drinks and juices.

Jean Pierre Simon, Regional General Manager, Northern Emirates, Coral Hotels & Resorts, said, "Al Bahar restaurant offers the ideal setting for guests to break the fast together. Complete the dining experience with traditional Ramadhan desserts such as ever popular umm Ali and mouhalabia.”

The iftar buffet costs AED115, with a group of 10 persons or more charged at a discounted rate of AED99 per person. The resort also offers a special rate of AED85 per person for private iftars hosted by corporations or families in the ballroom, which can accommodate up to 300 people. Children aged six to 12 years enjoy 50% discount, while a maximum of two children under six years per family can dine free.

Coral Al Khobar Hotel opens family section in its Rumours Cafe

Continuing its efforts to provide more family-friendly services, the Coral Al Khobar Hotel has opened a Family Section at its Rumours Cafe as of May 11, 2015. 

The family section serves ala carte breakfast and light meals from 6am to 2am, as well as snacks such as pastries and ice-cream. The coffee menu is comprehensive, with cappuccinos, Turkish coffee and French press cafetière as standard items. 

Michel Mandrea, General Manager of Coral Al Khobar Hotel, said: "One of the finest properties in the Eastern province, Coral Al Khobar Hotel is preferred by both business as well as leisure travellers. It is important for us to understand our guests’ preferences and provide them with an option that suits them the best. Opening the Family Section at Rumours Cafe is just another step in that direction. It provides a relaxing area for guests to unwind with an exciting menu of tea and coffee options that will both refresh and revive any time of the day.”

Coral Al Khobar Hotel is 55 km from Dammam Airport and 18 km from Dammam train station. The Gold Souk, Prince Mohd Bin Fahd Amusement Park, the Saudi Aramco Exhibit, Al Khobar Corniche, Venicia Mall and Al-Rashid Mall are within minutes of the hotel. 

HMH reiterates investment focus on KSA

HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) says Saudi Arabia is central to its expansion strategy, with the group looking to double its existing portfolio of hotels in the country over the next five years.

HMH quoted industry reports that the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia relies heavily on religious tourism. Inbound tourism expenditure reached SAR58.5 billion (US$15.6 billion) in 2013, compared to SAR41.6 billion (US$11.1 billion) from domestic travel in the same year. Growing domestic and international tourist volumes are driving demand for quality accommodations in the country. 

Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Laurent Voivenel, CEO of HMH stated, “Saudi Arabia is a key growth market for us. Riyadh, Jeddah and Madina are the hubs of hotel investment in the country due to the high demand in the cities. Being a halal-friendly, alcohol-free international chain of hotels, HMH is the ideal choice for any hotel owner or investor with the same philosophy and principles. For us being halal-friendly is not simply a business decision but is part of our culture and DNA. This places us in a very advantageous position in the Kingdom. 

"We are therefore, eager to capitalise on our expertise and in-depth understanding of the market and will be soon expanding our network to other key cities in KSA including Makka and Jeddah."

Voivenel said that the opening of the Coral Al Madina Hotel will be HMH's biggest and most prestigious opening of the year. "ATM is the perfect platform to introduce it to key players in the industry. The luxurious 5-star enjoys an unrivalled location just across the road overlooking the Al Masjid Al Nabawi Al Sharief (the Prophet’s Holy Mosque). The hotel is being developed to be the first ‘Smart’ hotel in Madina offering the most advanced technology including high-tech smart rooms," he said.

The countdown to the opening has already begun with the hotel in final stages of development. Featuring 400-plus rooms and suites, spread over 10 floors and five basements, Coral Al Madina Hotel is owned by Mobarak Hotels Group that has appointed Designs Company, specialised in providing integrated hotel solutions, to oversee their growth and expansion. All rooms offer convenience and luxury, coupled with views of the Holy Mosque. 

Laurent stressed, “Each room at Coral Al Madina Hotel is thoughtfully equipped to meet the needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and families."

The hotel also offers three restaurants and a lobby lounge, two meeting rooms with adaptable function spaces, a business centre, fully-equipped gym and spa, shopping arcade, private parking as well as helicopter landing site.

HMH began operations in KSA with Coral Al Khobar Hotel eight years ago followed by expansion in Riyadh, Jubail, Al Ahsa and most recently Madina. Laurent said, 

Need background? Read the Suroor Asia blog post about HMH's partnerships in Al Madina Al Munawarrah.

HMH goes in for the halal-friendly mid-market hotel segment

HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), which operates a chain of halal-friendly hotels operating across the MENA region, has unveiled plans at the Arabian Travel Market to grow its halal-friendly mid-market and budget segment by 30%. 

HMH CEO Laurent Voivenel said, "The biggest growth in the halal tourism is being seen in the mid-market segment. And our strategy is to expand aggressively in this segment with a target of boosting our existing portfolio of hotels by 30% over the next five years. This will include having a hotel in every GCC country while doubling our portfolio in the UAE and KSA. We also have a strong interest in the booming Asian markets such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China."


Voivenel explained, "Our market intelligence shows halal-friendly hotels will continue to claim bigger market share given the business opportunity and demand. 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 by 2030, and 30% of this population will seek halal options - largely in mid-market segment."

HMH is the first and 'still the only' international alcohol-free chain of hotels, Voivenel added, with all brands under HMH halal-friendly no matter where the company operates. 

"Contrary to popular belief, a dry hotel can be as lively and vibrant as any hotel. One of the greatest plus of a dry hotel is a safe and healthy environment that is perfect for families as well as single women travellers. Our hotels tend to focus on clean fun and entertainment. Creativity and passion ensure guests an exceptional experience," he noted.

Hospitality Management Holdings lands operations contracts for hotels in Al Madina Al Munawarrah

Source: HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings. Laurent Voivenel, CEO, HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings and Al Sheikh Mohamed Ebrahim Abdulrahim, Owner, Mobarak Hotels Group.

HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings has entered into a management agreement with Mobarak Hotels Group for the operation of Coral Al Madina Hotel in Al Madina Al Munawarrah in Saudi Arabia.

Al Sheikh Mohamed Ebrahim Abdulrahim, Chairman of Mobarak Hotels Group said, “Our business vision is in line with the Saudi authorities’ plans for expanding the Holy Mosque of Prophet Mohammad and development of adjoining area. Therefore, Mobarak Hotels Group has appointed Designs Company that is specialised in providing integrated hotel solutions to oversee our growth and expansion. As part of this strategic agreement Designs Company will be responsible for developing world-class hospitality products and facilities around the Holy Mosque to meet the needs of growing Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. With an initial investment of SR1 billion, Designs Company and Mobarak Hotels Groups have entered into a management contract with HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings for operating Coral Al Madina Hotel. As part of this strategic understanding, we will hand over the management of four other 4-star hotels under development in the same area to HMH.”

Laurent Voivenel, CEO of HMH said, “Saudi Arabia is a key development market for HMH. We are very proud to debut in the Holy City of Madina and to enter into this very important partnership with Mobarak Hotels Group. We are truly grateful to them for having given us this opportunity. The hospitality industry in Madina is witnessing remarkable growth at the moment and we are very excited to be part of it. HMH is well-positioned in the Kingdom as one of the leading regional hotel groups equipped with the most advanced technology. We are confident Coral Al Madina Hotel will add tremendous value to our growing presence in Saudi Arabia and further strengthen our portfolio”.

Al Sheikh Mohamed stressed, “Coral Al Madina Hotel has been conceived to be a prestigious address for discerning travellers to Madina and is superbly located just across the road overlooking the Holy Mosque. It is a very significant project for us and we are pleased to appoint HMH as the operator who are well-equipped to meet the needs of the Saudi hotel sector in accordance with the best international standards.”

Featuring 400 plus rooms and suites, Coral Al Madina Hotel is spread over 10 floors and five basements. It has three restaurants, lobby lounge, luggage room, shopping arcade, gym and spa, two meeting rooms, business centre and parking space as well as helicopter landing site. The 5-star hotel is expected to welcome its first guests by Ramadhan 2015.

Hajj and umrah tourism are the mainstay of the Saudi economy. The number of pilgrims, which stood at 2 million in 2013, is expected to increase to 5.2 million by 2025. Aviation and hospitality infrastructure are, therefore, being rapidly developed to boost opportunities in Haj and Umrah.

The expansion of the airport in Jeddah is expected to accommodate 80 million people by 2035. At the same time Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madina is undergoing expansion with 83% of the project already complete. Madinah Airport is considered the third-most important gateway to Saudi Arabia and the second-most important airport during the Hajj and umrah pilgrimage seasons.

Madina receives an estimated 11 million visitors per year. Aviation traffic is slated to increase by 27% with the new expansion. The first phase of the project will be ready by early January 2015. The airport will accommodate nearly 8 million travellers annually once it starts operating. Upcoming phases include increasing airport capacity to 14 million passengers a year, while the third phase will see the premises accommodate almost 27 million people.

HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings is a fully-integrated hotel management company that prides itself on being the first hotel chain in the Middle East to offer an alcohol-free environment. It provides hotel owners and developers a broad spectrum of comprehensive management solutions with five distinct hotel brands, including The Ajman Palace Hotel, Coral Hotels & Resorts, Corp Hotels, EWA Hotel Apartments and ECOS Hotels.