BULLETIN
10 HOTELIER MIDDLE EAST | August 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 08
HOTELS in Muscat will increase in
value by nearly 22% by 2022, eras-
ing the loss of value of hotel invest-
ments witnessed over the period
2015-2018, according to hotel and
hospitality analysts, HVS.
With oil price falling and a sub-
sequent loss of confidence in the
Omani economy between 2015-
2018, the value per hotel key - the
standard industry metric for valu-
ing hotels - lost 31% in value be-
tween 2015-2018.
However, the latest HVS assess-
ment points to increasing hotel
values with a rise in HVS’s hotel
valuation index of 21.9% over the
period of 2019-2022.
This perspective comes as there
is increasing discussion in Oman
of ways in which the hospitality in-
dustry and tourism can grow.
Responding to the positive outlookhighlighted by the HVS report,
Mac Thomson, chief executive
officer, hotel and asset manage-
ment group, MMIS, said: “The
latest report from HVS is a re-
minder for the hotel and hospital-
ity sector that trends in the indus-
try are cyclical.”
“The downturn in the market
over the past few years was a
result of many factors out of theindustry’s control. Now it is time
for the private sector to play its
part in promoting Oman as an
attractive leisure destination and
providing the required accom-
modation.
“Hotel operators need to look
at the growing tourism markets
such as China and India and un-
derstand what will encourage
them to visit Oman,” he said.DIGNITARIES in Saudi Arabia inaugu-
rated a number of water projects in
Makkah and additional holy sites
worth over SR3.1 (US $826 mil-
lion) billion.
According to Eng. Abdulrah-
man Bin Abdulmuhsen Al-Fadhli,
minister of environment, water
and agriculture, these projects
will serve visitors to Makkah and
the holy sites. Saudi Arabia plans
to receive 15 million pilgrims
and Umrah pilgrims by the year
2020 and 30 million by the year
2030, in line with the goals of the
Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The projects includes setting up
a pipeline to carry desalinated wa-
ter from a plant in Al-Shuaibah to
Makkah and the holy sites at a to-
tal cost exceeding SR875 million
($233 million), and the second
phase of Al-Shuaibah desalination
plant with a capacity of 250,cubic meters per day.
Al-Fadhli said: “The inaugura-
tion of the six mega water projects
is a confirmation of the continuing
care and attention accorded by the
Kingdom’s leadership for the wa-
ter sector and its services in Mak-
kah and the holy sites.”“The Ministry of environment,
water and agriculture has always
been keen to ensure that its water
projects and plans are based on
the national strategic goals for wa-
ter and the comprehensive water
plans in the Kingdom,” he added.Dubai Municipality has banned the use
of flowers in restaurant dishes, the de-
partment announced.
According to a memo that was circu-
lated, the department has banned the
“use of all kinds of natural roses and
flowers in preparing foods and bever-
ages which are offered to the public by
the food establishments and to ensure
food safety and quality”.
Legal action will be taken against those
violating the decision.
NEWS
BITES
DUBAI RESTAURANTS BANNED
FROM USING FLOWERS IN FOOD
CALORIE PUBLISHING RE-
QUIREMENT DELAYED
Dubai Municipality has delayed the in-
troduction of compulsory calorie pub-
lishing on restaurant menus.
A directive in May meant that from No-
vember 2019, all restaurants, cafes and
cafeterias with more than five branches
would have to publish calorie counts on
their menus, while all other food estab-
lishments would have to be in accord-
ance with it by January 2020.
The new memo circulated states the
declaration will now be voluntary for
the next two years.
Hotel valuations to rebound in Muscat
Six water projects launched in Saudi Arabia
The country’s hotel valuation index is expected to rise by 21.9% from 2019-
The projects include setting up a pipeline to carry desalinated water to Makkah
The value per hotel key dropped by 31% from 2015-Prince Khaled Al-Faisal inaugurates the six mega water projects for Makkah