Revenue optimization by HSMAI hailed

Bob Gilbert, President and CEO, HSMAI, congratulates HSMAI ME for organising 29 events over the past year and highlights the importance of revenue optimization. HSMAI ROC has delivered the most compelling and comprehensive revenue optimization event for the hotel industry, convening key stakeholders to address the most critical trends affecting hotels today.

TT Bureau

The 5th edition of the Commercial Strategy Conference, orgnised recently by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Middle East, along with TravTalk, TravelTV MiddleEast and Tourismbreakingnews as media partners, concluded successully. Mona Faraj, Managing Director, HSMAI ME, in her opening remarks, said, “This year we have created two stages – one the main stage for topical events and the other focused on trends and insights with topical content on marketing and communications. Last year, I was told Mona you are not covering enough topical content across commercial disciplines, specifically marketing and communications, you know we are all marketers here whether we know it or not, but we don’t have the skills for it and what we did is that we created or formed the most active marketing advisory board that have put a lot of the content over the past two years. Every single year we listen to your feedback and try to deliver educational content that is more meaningful to you. We also did a lot of new content this year, so you will see we have a new roc star later on and you will hear why, we brought in the lightning round, now please make sure you attend all six of them, you are up for a treat. 2022 was a year full of educational webinars, activities, events and exposure because it is important to maintain that social element within our regional organisational members.”

She concluded saying that over the past year, 29 events were hosted by HSMAI ME and that they look forward to make it 50 next year. Bob Gilbert, President and CEO, HSMAI, congratulated Mona and the team for the 29 events over the past year form the Middle East chapter. He reiterated the importance of the revenue optimization at this point of time for those engaged in sales and marketing roles. HSMAI ROC has delivered the most compelling and comprehensive revenue optimization event for the hotel industry, convening key stakeholders to address the most critical trends affecting hotels today, with powerful educational and networking opportunities, ROC is the can’t-miss event of the year for learning and engagement. It’s where senior leaders in hotel revenue optimization connect and engage in meaningful, thought-provoking conversations about the most important strategic issues facing the business. The HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners, and is the industry’s leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue.

This year’s conference also featured speakers and experts from outside the hospitality industry who contributed with a fresh perspective, bringing in valuable insights and ideas to attendees. The event highlighted how the region has seized its unique position post-pandemic, as speakers focused on industry relevant issues. Some of the highlights of day one included a fireside chat with HE Issam Kazim, CEO DET discussing the outlook of tourism to Dubai and what the destination needs to do to remain an attractive city for international markets, while Scott Livermore, Chief Economist & Managing Director Oxford Economics ME delved into the impact of inflation and the looming fear of recession on the tourism industry. A Panel discussion on the role F&B today and how it forms critical revenue share for hospitality brands took centre stage.