Hospitality Management Holdings has announced plans to grow Halal-friendly offerings in today's Arab travel market, with the mid-market and budget segments accounting for 30%. As a pioneer in the competitive Halal market, HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings is the most trusted and leading chain of Halal-friendly hotels in the Middle East and North Africa region.

HMH CEO Laurent A. Voivenel said: 'The biggest growth in the Halal tourism industry is considered to be in the mid-market. Our strategy is to expand aggressively at this stage, with the goal of growing our existing hotel portfolio by 30% over the next 5 years. This will include needing a hotel in every Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country while we double down on investment in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. We also have a strong interest in booming Asian markets such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China.'

With 1.6 billion, Muslims account for 23% of the world's population. The latest industry report shows that the global Halal food and lifestyle products sector is expected to be worth US$2.47 trillion in 2018. A considerable part of this growth will come from mid-market consumers. Experts point out that this is the right time to tap into this market. Laurent emphasized: 'Mid-market Halal tourism is a key growth area for us. Our market intelligence shows that Halal-friendly hotels will continue to have a larger market share, business opportunities and demand. By 2030, Muslims will account for more than a quarter of the global population, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion in 2030, and 30% of the population will seek Halal options—mainly in the mid-market segment.'

Laurent added: 'Given our experience, we are now uniquely positioned to leverage both Halal-friendly and mid-range hotels, having successfully penetrated this segment early on. As the pioneer in creating the first international alcohol-free hotel chain, we remain the largest group in the region operating alcohol-free. The Halal-friendly DNA is part of the company culture, not a simple business decision. Unlike other companies whose aim is to create separate alcohol-free brands or hold a certain share within hotels, we make all brands Halal-friendly no matter where we are. Our primary goal is to provide customers with a safe and healthy environment, whether business or leisure travelers.'

Highlighting alcohol-free hotels, Laurent said: 'Contrary to popular belief, alcohol-free hotels can be more vibrant and lively than any hotel. The biggest gain of an alcohol-free hotel is a safe and healthy environment, perfect for families as well as single female travelers. Our hotels tend to focus on clean fun and entertainment, with creativity and enthusiasm to ensure guests a unique experience.'

FAQ

Which market segment does the biggest growth in Halal tourism come from?
According to the CEO of Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH), the biggest growth in the Halal tourism industry is considered to be in the mid-market. HMH's strategy is to expand aggressively, aiming to grow its existing hotel portfolio by 30% over the next 5 years, including having a hotel in every Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country, and has a strong interest in Asian markets such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
What does Muslim population growth mean for Halal tourism demand?
According to the article, Muslims account for about 23% of the world's population (about 1.6 billion). By 2030, Muslims will account for more than a quarter of the global population, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion, of whom about 30% will seek Halal options, mainly in the mid-market segment. The global Halal food and lifestyle products sector is expected to be worth US$2.47 trillion in 2018.
What are the advantages of alcohol-free hotels?
According to HMH, the biggest gain of an alcohol-free hotel is providing a safe and healthy environment for families as well as single female travelers, tending to focus on clean fun and entertainment. HMH is the largest group operating alcohol-free in the region, making Halal-friendliness part of its company culture and making all brands Muslim-friendly.