30 Minute Interview

'We are actively seeking to include more Indian hotels in our database'

Online real-time benchmarking by hotels allows for accurate and up-to-date performance data and informed strategic and tactical revenue management planning. Jonathan Worsley, chairman of The Bench that provides this service, talks about the scope in the Indian market and more. By Sanjeev Bhar

Jonathan Worsley Chairman, The Bench

Tell us more about your company?

The Bench, a global partner with Smith Travel Research (STR), provides hotel performance statistics on real-time basis that enables management information such as detailed daily, weekly and monthly reports on occupancy, rate and RevPAR against both the market and user-defined competitor sets. With this information, hotels can have a deeper understanding of the competitive landscape to take informed decisions when assessing the viability of new projects.

Will The Bench tap Indian hotels?

We recognise that India is a growing and an important market and are actively seeking to include more Indian hotels in our database and building upon the established branded chain hotels that contribute currently to The Bench and STR.

We are working with regional brands and independent hotels in India so even they have access to data allowing hoteliers to identify revenue opportunities or threats. This will enable them with information for making sound pricing plans based on accurate historical data and spot market trends and changes more easily.

What does the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) which The Bench organises have to offer this year?

The fourth edition of AHIC will be held during May 3-5, 2008 at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre, jointly organised by MEED (Middle East Economic Digest) and The Bench. Understanding the importance of the Indian market, we have an entire afternoon session dedicated to India on May 3 - A Summit On India - which will be a fantastic opportunity to learn about investment opportunities in India and personally meet developers and investors.

Former BBC news presenter, Martyn Lewis CBE, will be chairing the India Summit, which will include a keynote presentation from Surjit Bhalla, CMD of Oxus Investments, and Raymond Bickson, MD and CEO of Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces, will be participating in the Leaders' Panel.

Who are the other speakers expected at the forum?

The three-day conference includes speakers from across the world - HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, secretary general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism - KSA; HE Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties PJSC; HE Shaikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, minister for economy, UAE; ambassador Philip Lader, chairman, WPP Group plc and senior advisor, Morgan Stanley; Abdulla Mohamed Saeed Almulla, chairman of Almulla Hospitality; Sami Al Ansari, CEO of Ishraq Gulf Real Estate Holding (BSC); Abdul Wahab Al-Halabi, COO of Dubailand; Gamal Aziz, president & CEO of MGM Mirage Hospitality; Kirk Kinsell, president, EMEA of IHG amongst others.