Hotel owners and operators across the Arabian Gulf are forecast to spend a total of more than $1.25 billion this year and next on kitchens and laundries for new properties, according to a Proleads study released on Wednesday. “The study shows that while globally the hotel sector is experiencing something of a slowdown, substantial new business is available for hotel equipment and service providers in what is still a regional growth industry,” said Maggie Moore, exhibition director of The Hotel Show. In response to exhibitor and visitor requests, The Hotel Show organizers dmg world media Dubai will be highlighting kitchen equipment within its operating and supply section at the show slated on May 18-20 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. “In global terms, the Middle East is one of the few regions where hotel kitchen equipment suppliers can find new markets,” Moore added. Kitchen and laundry equipment accounts for 2.12 percent of the value of a hotel project. The study carried out by the Proleads research house showed that across the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, total kitchen and laundry budgets are expected to exceed $617 million this year and $634 million in 2010 as the region still grows its hotel industry, despite the downturn. The UAEs is forecast to take the lion's share of the total GCC budget this year at more than $427 million. This will fall to just over $390 million in 2010 as more hotel projects are completed. Proleads forecast continued growth in new hotel kitchen and laundry budgets across other GCC countries.
