Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek has developed its hospitality division into an all-embracing hotel management company under the leadership of UAE-based international hotelier Walter Knight.
Knight was originally responsible for structuring and developing Farnek’s fledgling hospitality division earlier this year.
The company started by providing a range of outsourced and third-party services, including concierge services, housekeeping, property operations, maintenance, energy consultancy, a press release stated.
Farnek secured numerous contracts which included the Expo Village, situated on the Expo 2020 site. It is currently responsible for managing the reservation services, concierge, front office services and housekeeping, for the 2,273 apartments.
Furthermore, under the trade name of Farnek Hotel Management, the company can now expand its services to cover all aspects of hotel and resort management from initial consultation to day-to-day operations.
Director of Hospitality Knight said: “Originally we were aiming for a service offering, which not only embraced traditionally outsourced FM and manpower services, but also managing revenue driven services, such as central reservation offices and associated sales services.
“Now with our hotel management licence, we can approach hotel developers, investors, owners and management companies direct with a full suite of services including consultancy, management, outsourcing and manpower services proposition.”
Farnek has been supporting the UAE’s hospitality sector for over 40 years, in which time it has amassed an extensive portfolio of hotel contracts, which include five-star brands such as Marriott, Sheraton, Sofitel and Rotana.
CEO Markus Oberlin said: “Our strategy was to create an unrivalled market proposition for the hotel sector, and we have now achieved that. We also have some exciting smart products in development that will be launched very soon, complementing and interfacing with existing property management systems.
“This gives Farnek a competitive edge in an industry that will see major changes in the way hotels are managed and operated, with the advent of artificial intelligence, sustainability, human capital development and the digitization of asset management over the years to come.”
