Taking hotel logistics to the next level

With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022???less than 6 months away, preparations are in full swing with many projects nearing completion. Despite the challenges brought about by Covid-19, Qatar will be hosting the World Cup for the first time in the Middle East and Arab world, and it is all set for this monumental sporting event.

The nation has a lot to look forward to – mega sporting events such as the World Cup are a critical vehicle for countries to attract investment, develop infrastructure, promote tourism and hospitality and build a country’s profile.?

With close to 1.5 million visitors expected to descend to Doha, hospitality will be key to making the event a success.

It’s all about the details

It doesn’t take much to realise that behind the world-class service provided by a hotel, there is a complex logistics machinery working to ensure that everything comes together seamlessly at the right time and the right place.

With Qatar adding more than 100 new hotels to its portfolio of properties, in order to broaden its appeal to a range of travellers and enhance the visitor experience, this is the time when the importance of a well-established, flexible and comprehensive logistics and supply chain management system will be imperative. The use of right logistics and supply chain strategies will help not only to improve the quality and service of the hotel, but drive down their costs and give them a sustainable competitive advantage.?

Working with a logistics provider has its own advantages for the hotel industry. Firstly, it brings in the expertise when it comes to shipping, warehousing and dealing with all the documentation, thus saving hotels the bother of international shipping documents and requirements.??Secondly, by working with a logistics provider, hotels save time by having the expertise needed to carry out supply chain logistics efficiently. Thirdly, if a hotel chain is looking into expansion or moving into a new country, a logistics provider has the network, assets and technologies necessary to adjust, as they can offer customised and optimum supply chain solutions.

Another very important criteria that needs to be considered is sustainability, which according to reports, climate experts have agreed that in order to bring tourism in line with the standards set by the Paris Agreement, the hotel industry needs to cut its?absolute carbon emissions by 66% by 2030?and by 90% by 2050.?

Logistics providers such as GWC play a very important role in this quest for hosting an environmentally friendly event, and can help hotels by streamlining their operations, thus reducing carbon footprint and avoiding unnecessary wastage. This also ties in with Qatar’s Green Key initiative which?aims to certify green hotels in Qatar. With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022??, hotels have a unique opportunity to align with Qatar’s ambitions on sustainable development.

What GWC brings to the table?

When it comes to hospitality logistics, we provide a comprehensive portfolio of services such as furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) or?OS&E (Operating Supplies & Equipment), our highly-skilled team deploys best industry practices, complete coordination and operational excellence, which gives the hotel a stress-free opportunity to focus on their guests and deliver?an exceptional experience.

GWC can also work with hotels in identifying gaps in their supply chain and help them tackle the most complex logistical challenges through our global network, largest transport fleet in Qatar, expertise, and technological advancement, more so in today’s uncertain global environment.

GWC can partner with hotels in the lead-up to their opening by providing project management, mock-up planning, delivery, storage, installation and even recycling. Once the hotel is up and running, it can streamline the most complex and routine tasks through diligent account management to ensure that the supply chain works seamlessly to offer a world-class experience for the guest.

As we see the dynamic hotel industry expanding in Qatar and the upcoming FIFA World Cup??, GWC’s strategically located logistics hubs can provide a suite of services and censure that hotels, are able to provide efficient and cost-effective services. GWC, thanks to its state-of-the-art warehouse management system, 4,000-strong workforce, 19 key locations, 210,000 pallet locations and a global reach, can ensure that the hotels in Qatar will be able to offer an unparalleled and a unique experience.?

By drawing on our robust global network of contacts globally to deliver the logistics and supply chain requirements, we are very confident that we will showcase to the world what Qatar is capable of delivering in the fields of sport, culture, tourism and beyond.