AHIC 2011 calls for more collaboration between hotel owners and governments

Speakers at the 7^th annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) called for closer collaboration among hotel owners and more dialogue between owners and Middle East governments as part of a new effort to take advantage of the opportunities in the region’s hotel and tourism market.

“I believe that the tourism market has huge potential which is untapped,” said Dubai-based Seven Tides managing director Mike Scully during an AHIC session exploring the perspectives of leading hotel investment companies.

“We need more clarity and feed-back from the authorities about the hotel industry,” said Fadi Mazkour, director of MENA Hotels & Resorts.  “We have been talking about developing mid-market hotels in Saudi Arabia. In order to tap this market, definitely we need more information about the size of the mid-market.” Mazkour said this would require co-operation with other hotel companies operating in the kingdom and support from the Saudi government.

“Communication between owners and the authorities needs to be much greater,” said Siegfried Nierhaus, managing director of the Atlas Group Middle East.

“If you look at Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the infrastructure has been put in place by the government and it’s the responsibility of the hotel industry to make good use of what has been put in place,” said Scully. He called for more interaction within the hotel industry and with the authorities and greater supporter for initiatives to develop the Middle East hotel and tourism industry.