Global Restaurant Investment Forum

Bench Events are delighted to release the preliminary outline of the programme for the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF). The Middle East and Dubai in particular is undergoing a massive growth in its dining sector particularly fine dining establishments which is linked with the boom of the hotel sector. The region is fast becoming a hub for concepts imported from all over the globe, and increasingly innovative locally created concepts as well. The Global Restaurant Investment Forum has already been hitting the headlines in The National Paper, UAE highlighting the significance and timeliness of this conference.

The conference will discuss what hotel owners are looking for from their F&B partners, financing options, showcase the hottest concepts and investigate franchising options.It will highlight the importance for hotel owners and operators to ensure their F&B outlets are demonstrating to be standalone and profitable businesses.

Sessions include:

  • CELEBRITY CHEF VS RESTAURATEUR

Is it the death of the celebrity chef and the birth of the restaurateur? Where should you invest; your chef or the restaurateur? When is the "star" chef, designer, operator or brand crucial to the bottom line? In what instances is it just an unnecessary expense?

  • WHAT ARE HOTEL OWNERS LOOKING FOR FROM POTENTIAL F&B PARTNERS?

When putting concepts in their hotels what do they consider the benchmarks of successful partnerships? What types of agreements are they pursing? When does it make sense to leave the outlet with the hotel operator, lease out the space or bring in a third party to manage outlets?

  • HOTEL OPERATORS F&B SHOWCASE

What are the big operators doing to ensure their owners are keeping their F&B spaces in house? What kind of innovations and big names are they bringing to the table to ensure they are getting the most from the space and delivering ROI for their hotel owners?

  • CONCEPT SHOWCASE

We take a look at some of the hottest concepts from around the globe and give them the opportunity to pitch themselves to potential partners.

  • LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Or if you build it they will come? What concepts work where and what locations lend themselves to certain concepts? Can you bring business into less than perfect locations? What are the key factors to make this happen? Balancing between location, rent, customer footfall and customer spend.

View the full programme

We have already confirmed a number of eminent speakers including:

  • Peter Backman, Managing Director, Horizons
  • Stefan Breg, F&B Concept Design Director, InterContinental Hotels Group
  • Rene Dietsche, Director of Food and Beverage, Majid Al Futtaim Holding
  • Duncan Fraser-Smith, Managing Director, The Cutting Edge Agency
  • Raman Khanna, IFS Doha Qatar, Global Hospitality & Restaurant Development Company
  • Gert Kopera, Senior Vice President Food & Beverage, Jumeirah
  • Jason Myers, MD of Jumeirah Restaurant Group and General Manager Operations Jumeirah Group, Jumeirah
  • Julide Ozbilge Nuss, Food and Beverage Asset Manager, Abu Dhabi National Hotels
  • Bob Puccini, Founder, Puccini Group
  • Sanjay Tanna, Director - Commercial and Investments, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)

TESTIMONIALS ABOUT THE GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

"Eating out has become an integral part of everyday life in many countries of the world. The restaurant market is an exciting, vibrant, innovative sector and one which is quick to adapt to consumer demand. Success and expansion can be rapid for the right concept, in the right location and the fact investors are once again showing interest in the dining out market demonstrates how important this sector is becoming in terms of economic contribution.

Horizons is delighted to become a Gold Sponsor of this inaugural Global Restaurant Investment Forum which we believe will become an important platform for debate and discussion for the global restaurant market."

Peter Backman,
Managing Director, Horizons

'One of the keys to creating restaurants in new and emerging markets, with the greatest potential for high performance, is the opportunity to get like-minded Owners, Investors, Operators ,Concept designers and brands together to explore potential opportunities and foster key relationships for success. It is through forums such as the Global Restaurant Investment Forum, that we have a unique opportunity to Inspire, Introduce, Integrate and Innovate with the leaders in the field of restaurant investment and development' | Duncan Fraser-Smith, Managing Director, The Cutting Edge Agency

Hilton Worldwide is delighted host the Global Restaurant Investment Forum at our newest flagship hotel; the Conrad Dubai. We look forward to this great inaugural event, and we are certain that the GRIF will create many valuable partnerships for all stakeholders. | Simon Lazarus, F&B Director, Hilton Worldwide

ABOUT BENCH EVENTS AND THE GLOBAL RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

Bench Events has been hosting hotel investment conferences for over 16 years, bringing together investors, owners, financiers, operators, advisors and architects to do the deals that drive the industry. Over the last couple of years it has come to light that the restaurant industry is transforming quite rapidly. Hotels especially have woken up to the opportunity of the industry and are keen to use the F&B sector as a genuine source of profit, branding their restaurant as a separate business. This increased competition is changing the face and practices of the industry.

Mala Patel
+44 (0)20 3318 5800
The Bench

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