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A Q&A with Naim Maadad, CEO, Gates hospitality

How is Gates Hospitality shaping the hospitality sector in the UAE?

Gates Hospitality is a homegrown Hospitality Company representing handpicked Concepts catering for the affluent life-stylers. We believe in a totally hands-on approach in terms of innovation, leadership, and development of the ordinary concepts and brands which are engaging – evolving – enriching.

Our philosophy and approach are simple, connecting likeminded investors, operators and brands to define concepts, successful portfolios and continue our journey in shaping the hospitality industry.

 

What is your approach to success in this very competitive field?

We treat every single business unit as a stand-alone with each unit geared up with focused dedicated management team for front of the house and back of the house totally focused on that particular business. Each unit brand is well defined with a clearly laid out strategy suiting the business.

 

 

What is the common factor between the multiple F&B outlets that you manage?

Each unit is unique and we do not believe in cookie cut concepts and there are very few common factors except the highest levels of service consistency, product innovation and unparalleled guest satisfaction.

 

What are the services that you provide?

In principle, our expertise is extended but not limited to hospitality guidance, asset management, pre-opening foundation, and day-to-day operational success.

We provide 360 degree solutions in terms of concept definition, fitout, operations management, sales and marketing, finance, HR, and all other areas of hospitality management.

 

When working on a new concept, what mainly influences your choice?

The prime focus would be on location, demographics, other F&B brands / players in the area that are performing in the culinary field.

 

Where do you see the hospitality sector in the UAE five years from now?

The hospitality sector would be at ground breaking level with unique concepts, which would be exported out of the region. I expect strong lifestyle concepts with a dominant market segregation to cater to different client needs in terms of USRs – with high end experiences capturing the true spirit of the hospitality field.

 

How do you plan to grow and expand your company?

We plan to grow our business by Identifying the vacuum in the market and finding solutions to address these. We also plan to have the right asset mix, with an overall focus on hospitality including hotels, resorts, SPAs, food & beverage. It is not only about selling cookie cut locations, but having unique offering of concepts which are unique business propositions.