SUPPLIER NEWS & PRODUCT
50 HOTELIER MIDDLE EAST | August 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 08
NEOM LAUNCHES WELLBEING POD
PRECOR LAUNCHES EXPERIENCE
SERIES 600 LINE
FOLLOWING the success of Neom Organics 100% natural candles and home fragrances,
the brand has launched a Wellbeing Pod Essential Oil Diffuser in the Middle East.
The Wellbeing Pod, which comes in a sleek porcelain and rose gold design, is designed to
deliver the scent in minutes. One of the key features of the pod is the low energy LED light and
timer which means users can control the duration of its use.
The Wellbeing Pods are currentl used to create ambiance in hotel rooms and spas.FITNESS equipment manufacturer Precor has launched a new cardio line- Experience®
Series 600 Line, for facilities looking for all the essentials, including an optimal balance
between durability, reliability, and innovation. The 600 Line includes a treadmill, elliptical,
recumbent and upright bikes. Specifically designed for lighter use than a typical commercial
gym, this product line delivers value without compromising on quality.
David Diehl, global hospitality director at the company said: “Precor has a rich history of servic-
ing the hospitality sector. Our longstanding relationships with global hoteliers have given us unique
insights into their business expectation and that of their guests. It is these insights that helped
guide the creation of our 600 Line. Our goal was to provide a high-quality, durable platform that can
optimise superior uptime and off er a club-like experience at a competitive price point.”CONTACT:
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)7584 280654The essential oil diff user which comes in a sleek porcelain
and rose gold designThe 600 Line includes a treadmill, elliptical, recumbent
and upright bikesH O W L O N G H A V E Y O U B E E N I N T H I S R O L E?
For the past 12 years, I have followed my passion and worked in the purchasing
department in the hospitality industry. I rose up the ranks to become the direc-
tor of materials.
WHICH PRODUCTS ARE YOU ON THE LOOKOUT FOR?
As the director of materials my responsibility is to source all sorts of hotel sup-
plies, anything from food and beverage ingredients, furniture, fi xtures and
equipment, operating equipment, engineering products as well as IT products.
To maintain the highest level of hospitality it is essential to be able to fi nd the
best product within the hotel’s budget plan.
W H AT C H A L L E N G E S D O Y O U F A C E AT W O R K?
The main challenge at the moment is the validity of the price as most of the sup-
pliers issue quotations with limited validity period. To benefi t from preferred
rates I work closely with department heads, as teamwork allows us to deliver
the best results in terms of quality vs price ratio.
Another challenge that I occasionally face is limited availability of operating
equipment. Most suppliers do not keep a stock of the required items and sourc-
ing them can lead to a waiting time of two to three months. To overcome this
challenge, we have developed maintenance and purchasing plans together
with the department heads to help meet deadlines of the delivery due date.
T E L L U S A B O U T O N E O F Y O U R M O S T S U C C E S S F U L D E A L S?
During the soft opening of Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas I experienced a situa-
tion when the supplier issued an LPO using the previous year’s price; however,
the price had increased by the day of our request. After prolonged negotia-
tions, which didn’t lead to a successful deal, I reached out to the headquarters
of the company in the US and following approvals from top management I
succeeded at keeping the price as initially quoted which lead to a saving of
AED38,000 ($10,347.17).
W H AT D O E S A S U P P L I E R H A V E T O D O
TO IMPRESS YOU?
I look for a combination of service and
quality. With a variety of diff erent suppli-
ers available, it is important to remem-
ber that a supplier does not only deliver
an item but also provides service. So,
the quality of service as well as the qual-
ity of the product matters.
PURCHASING POWER
Sureshbabu Mudavakkad, director of
materials, Saadiyat Rotana Resorts & Vil-
las shares some insights into his role