Arabian hotel operators can benefit from contracting out their restaurant management and food & beverage services to specialised providers, leading hoteliers told the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) 2014 on 5 May.

“Using third-party food and beverage service providers is the way to go,” said IFA Hotel Investments chief executive officer Joe Sita. “It means you can bring in celebrity chefs and well-established food and beverage operators. I have seen this model applied successfully elsewhere and I believe that it is the way of the future.”

Jumeirah Goup operations chief executive officer Nicholas Clayton said that Jumeirah has developed a strong reputation for its food and beverage services in its Dubai properties.

“We have had tremendous success in Dubai, but this is market specific,” Nicholas said.  “But we remain open to other approaches in markets where margins are thin; places like New York, where food and beverage services are very strong.”

AHIC is organised by The Bench and MEED.