MIDDLE EAST

THE MODERN WORLD of luxury hotels has changed . Gone are the days where a hotel can be defined by its star rating alone . The luxury hotel guest and the investor into luxury hotels has very different expectations . To succeed in this space , a company must look at providing additional services .

In the Middle East , a key driver of this changing landscape occurred around 15 years ago as a number of countries across the Gulf changed their visa regulations , thus opening its doors to international tourism .

Running alongside this was a significant growth in the airline industry . Major global players such as Gulf Air , Emirates , Etihad and Qatar Airways have contributed immensely to the growth of travel and tourism across the region .

For Christoph K Franzen , Area Vice President for the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman for Hyatt Hotels , the influx of different cultures and nationalities over the last decade has created a more active market than ever before .

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Food Magazine June 2018 | Page 11

THE MODERN WORLD of luxury hotels has changed . Gone are the days where a hotel can be defined by its star rating alone . The luxury hotel guest and the investor into luxury hotels has very different expectations . To succeed in this space , a company must look at providing additional services .