Dur Hospitality, a leading name in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality landscape and a publicly listed company has demonstrated how leveraging data can transform operations and drive success. With a robust portfolio of 33 properties and over 5,500 rooms, along with 14 properties in the pipeline, Dur Hospitality is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences. However, they faced challenges related to customer retention, sales efficiency, and the need for flexible management solutions.
In our conversation with Mr. Hassan Ahdab, President of Hotel Operations at Dur, we explored how partnering with Thynk not only helped overcome these challenges but also enabled Dur to thrive in a competitive market.
The Challenges
Dur Hospitality's primary challenges included:
- Customer Retention: Understanding guest preferences and behaviors was crucial for retaining customers.
- Boosting Direct Sales: Enhancing direct sales channels to reduce dependency on third-party bookings was a key objective.
- Efficiency in Management: The need to combine central sales management with local food and beverage (F&B) operations to meet specific needs across their diverse portfolio.
Solution: Leveraging Thynk
Dur Hospitality effectively utilized Thynk to enhance its data management and streamline operations by integrating various data sources into a single platform. This integration allowed Dur to centralize back-office tasks while maintaining flexibility for local management. With access to real-time, actionable data, Dur was able to identify inefficiencies and uncover opportunities, optimizing resource utilization in the process. The increased accuracy and frequency of data collection facilitated quicker, more informed decision-making throughout the organization.
"Thynk allows us to have all the information in one place, helping us to be faster in decision making and ultimately grow our market share."
Hassan Ahdab
- President Hotel Operations at Dur Hospitality
Since partnering with Thynk, Dur has achieved a remarkable 25% increase in revenue. By leveraging data insights, Dur refined its offerings to better meet customer needs, greatly enhancing retention and satisfaction. This collaboration also reduced reliance on external booking platforms, strengthening Dur’s direct sales strategy and setting it up for sustainable growth. Thynk is empowering Dur to enhance its market position and pave the way for continued success.
Key Outcomes
- Over 25% Revenue Increase: Enhanced sales efficiency translated into significant revenue growth.
- Aggregated data access: Aggregation of data and elimination of duplicates ensured that decisions were based on accurate and timely information.
- Cost and Manpower Savings: Streamlined operations led to reduced costs and optimized manpower utilization.
“Thynk is an excellent platform. If you are managing multiple properties or even a single property, it helps you manage your systems and their efficiency. There is no other alternative.”
Hassan Ahdab
- President Hotel Operations at Dur Hospitality
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, Dur Hospitality aims to expand its use of Thynk across its full portfolio. Dur sees potential to improve revenue in areas beyond just rooms and F&B and in parallel enhance overall profitability. The company is exploring new ways to engage with customers directly, reduce commission costs, and strengthen overall service offerings.
“We would like to continue evolving and having solutions of this kind. This will have a direct impact and I think the pool of customers will be much greater.”
Hassan Ahdab
- President Hotel Operations at Dur Hospitality
Moreover, the focus on personalization and data-driven insights is set to redefine how Dur Hospitality interacts with its guests, as they are committed to delivering tailored experiences, catering to their clientele’s unique preferences.
Conclusion
Dur Hospitality's partnership with Thynk highlights the transformative power of data in the hospitality industry. By leveraging innovative solutions, they have enhanced service delivery, improved operational efficiency, and positioned themselves for sustainable growth. Both companies are eager to deepen their collaboration, seeing this as just the beginning. With significant growth potential, Dur plans to adopt more of Thynk's solutions across additional properties. As the industry evolves, Dur Hospitality is poised to adapt and lead, setting an example for other hospitality leaders.