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.
