Tag Archives: Farnek

Farnek has witnessed major growth for its hospitality division, with outsourcing a driving factor. This year alone Farnek has won dozens of contracts worth in excess of AED 72 million, mobilising over 450 staff, with international hotel brands such as EMAAR, Millennium, Sheraton, Movenpick, Sofitel, Hilton and Kempinski, amongst others. The bulk of the demand has been for housekeeping, stewarding and security, as well as specialised cleaning and maintenance. Farnek’s growth in market share is consistent with the latest industry figures. Research by Mordor Intelligence has revealed that the UAE’s hospitality market is currently estimated to be worth over AED 27 billion and is predicted to grow to AED 34.7 billion within five years. Outsourcing staff is widely believed to be more cost-effective than hiring fulltime employees. Industry professionals estimate that hotels can reduce operating costs by more than 30%, but for many hotel managers, outsourcing is still confined to stewarding roles. That is even though typically, low salaries, long and often unsociable hours, repetitive duties and the lack of fast-track career advancement, often account for the reluctance of younger workers to take up fulltime positions in hospitality. However, according to Tamer Bishay, Director of Business Development, Farnek, even though the UAE is close to the enormous talent pools of MENA, South and South-East Asia, where workers can find better paid jobs here than similar ones at home, the exponential growth of tourism is still putting an added strain on hotel human resource departments. “Training of course is a key issue. This can take a considerable amount of time and effort to ensure that employees are trained to comply with operational standards. Then comes the issue of retention. Invariably it …

UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek, is to launch ‘Trendz’ a new standalone hotel management company, at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on 9-12 May 2022. “‘Trendz’ offers a unique 360-degree service for hotel owners and operating companies with an accent on technology and sustainability, two of the most important trends in hospitality today,” said Walter Knight, Director of hospitality at Farnek.   “Farnek, which has over 8,000 employees, has traditionally provided manpower and outsourcing services, such as cleaning, security and property maintenance. However, ‘Trendz’ takes that market proposition one stage further, managing front office requirements, reservations, concierge, housekeeping and room service – we can also manage sales operations, marketing and PR.   “It is a cost-effective and totally flexible hospitality proposition. Hotels can engage with us for specific operational requirements or contract us to manage an entire property, either under the ‘Trendz’ brand or as a white label product,” added Knight.   One of Farnek’s most recent accomplishments, was the development of an app called ‘Flexi-Guest’ which digitalises the guest journey from pre arrival to check out.   The app, which was developed in-house, interfaces with a hotel’s property management system (PMS) affording guests a whole suite of services from uploading travel documents, such as vaccination certificates, ordering a car on arrival, room service and laundry. The hotel app can also send automated electronic updates and alerts to the guest, as well as e-registration documents, e-invoices and e-receipts, all in one convenient space.   “This gives the guest an enhanced experience, providing a seamless pre-arrival and check-in procedure. They can order room service in advance, have laundry …

Farnek secured six hospitality contracts recently, varying in length from one to three years, valued at AED 7.56 million. Farnek was awarded four hotel/apartment contracts, namely the five-star Fairmont Dubai hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, the three-star 230 room Revier Hotel, situated in Business Bay, the four-star, S Hotel in Al Barsha and the deluxe Sonder – JBR Suites, on the Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence.In addition, Farnek also secured two restaurant contracts, The Mood Rooftop Lounge in The Meydan Hotel, Nad Al Sheba and the Cloud Lounge in the Studio One Hotel in Dubai Media City.In total, over 65 staff have been mobilised to manage a range of services from cleaning, housekeeping, security as well as Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) maintenance. Khaldun Aburok, Director of Business Development, Farnek said, “To secure these contracts, some of which are for three years, we not only offered a broad-based proposition, which was commercially competitive. We also demonstrated a high degree of technical training, development and professionalism, offering a well-trained and cost-effective, tech-savvy workforce.” “To maintain those standards training is essential and the Farnek training centre comes complete with a fully fitted elevator, bathroom, kitchen, lobby, and a staircase. The walls and the floor are partially covered in a variety of materials such as carpet, rubber, linoleum, slate, marble, wood and ceramic tiles, enabling our staff to be fully trained on every surface they could potentially come into contact with,” added Aburok.

Leading UAE-based technology and sustainability-driven facilities management (FM) company Farnek is celebrating a decade of achievement with international sustainability certification body Green Globe. “With Farnek’s support, the process of Green Globe certification, has enabled members to save over 180 million kWh of energy, worth over $20 million and nearly two million cubic metres of water which would have cost almost $5 million dollars over the last 10 years,” said Sandrine Le Biavant, Director – Consultancy, at Farnek. “A facility can save energy and water consumption by between 5 per cent and 20 per cent and subsequently make significant savings on utility costs, according to Farnek’s Hotel Optimizer benchmarking data — thanks to the guidelines and precise no cost, or low-cost recommendations provided. Potentially an average sized, five-star city hotel can save as much as $100,000 per year and in addition, waste recycling can also achieve up to 51% diversion, generating additional income from waste rebates,” added Le Biavant. Having signed their original partnership agreement in 2009, over the past decade Farnek, working together with Green Globe, has audited and certified 100 hotels and leisure facilities from 24 different hotel chains throughout the MENA region in 38 cities across 14 countries. Farnek has also coached over 2,900 hotel heads of departments about the process of certification, the wider environment and cost benefits of sustainability. As such 85,000 members of hotel staff, responsible for servicing approximately 28,000 rooms, will have received direct training. “To motivate compliance to the highest international standards, Farnek’s role as an independent consultant and auditor over the past decade has been of paramount importance,” commented Guido Bauer, CEO, Green Globe.