Hospitality by Design: Sageer Patel on Delivering Procurement Excellence Across Dual Brand Openings
Overseeing procurement for a single pre-opening hotel is a complex challenge managing it for two iconic global brands simultaneously is another level entirely. As the driving force behind procurement at both the Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek and Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences, Sageer Patel brings a rare combination of strategic foresight, operational discipline and passion for hospitality.
From embedding sustainability into sourcing to leveraging digital tools and managing supplier relationships across brand identities, Sageer is redefining what effective procurement looks like in today’s fast evolving hospitality landscape. In this exclusive interview, he shares how careful planning, brand alignment and agile decision making are key to delivering excellence across multi brand pre-openings all while keeping guest experience at the heart of every decision.
Click below to access the digital version
Career Journey: Can you share your career path and what led you to your current role overseeing procurement for the pre-opening phases of both Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek and Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences.? How have your previous experiences prepared you for managing procurement across multiple hotel brands simultaneously?
I began my career in the banking sector after completing my graduation in India. A fortunate opportunity led me to Qatar, where I discovered my passion for hotel procurement. The dynamic and fast paced nature of the industry inspired me to pursue a long term career in this field.
Throughout my journey, I’ve had the privilege of being mentored by some of the industry’s finest leaders, who have played a significant role in shaping the professional I am today. Like many hoteliers would agree, pre-opening hotels offer some of the most valuable learning experiences and I was fortunate to be part of the opening of two robust brands under one management umbrella.
In the past, I have worked with esteemed hospitality groups such as Marriott and Accor. These roles challenged and trained me across various facets of procurement from working with brand approved vendors and adhering to strict brand standards, to promoting sustainable purchasing practices all while ensuring optimal negotiations without compromising on quality.
Procurement Strategies for Dual Brand Management: What strategies do you employ to ensure procurement processes align with each brand’s standards and operational requirements?
Managing procurement for a dual brand property presents both opportunities and challenges. A well structured strategy is essential to maintain brand integrity while maximising operational efficiency and cost savings. At the core, a unified procurement approach helps streamline vendor management, standardise supply chains and leverage greater purchasing power.
Our key strategies have included consolidating service contracts, sharing operating supplies and equipment (OS&E), maintaining strict adherence to brand standards, aligning with vendors through regular audits and integrating sustainability into our procurement practices.
Sustainability in Procurement: How are you integrating sustainable practices into procurement for these new properties to support environmental responsibility and operational efficiency?
Sustainability is no longer just a trend it’s a core responsibility for the hospitality industry. At Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek and Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences., we’ve taken a proactive approach to embed sustainable practices into our procurement processes from the ground up. The goal is to support both environmental responsibility and long term operational efficiency without compromising on guest experience or brand standards.
Our sustainability focused procurement strategies include sourcing from local and regional suppliers, selecting eco certified products and materials, implementing a cold water laundry programme and emphasising bulk purchasing to reduce packaging waste. We also utilise digital procurement systems to cut down on paper use and improve process efficiency. Careful selection of sustainable OS&E items, ensuring vendor compliance with sustainability criteria and fostering awareness among employees and suppliers are all key components of our approach.
Supplier Selection and Relationship Management: What criteria do you prioritise when selecting suppliers, and how do you cultivate strong relationships during the critical pre-opening phase?
In the pre-opening phase where timelines are tight and brand standards must be strictly upheld selecting the right suppliers is critical. Procurement decisions at this stage can directly influence both the success of the opening and the long term efficiency of hotel operations.
When selecting suppliers, we prioritise a strategic mix of criteria to ensure quality, reliability and alignment with brand standards. These include compliance with brand requirements, a proven track record in hospitality projects, recognised quality certifications, capacity to deliver on time, financial stability, sustainability credentials and competitive pricing.
Strong supplier relationships are built on transparency, trust and shared goals. Our approach combines strategic selection with long term partnership building. Key practices include early engagement and clear expectations, open two way communication, mutual respect and fairness, performance monitoring and collaborative problem solving.
Leveraging Technology in Procurement: How are digital tools being used to streamline procurement, and what benefits have you observed?
In the fast paced, high pressure environment of pre-opening hotel projects, digital tools have become invaluable in ensuring efficiency, accuracy and transparency throughout the procurement process. By adopting cutting edge solutions, we’ve streamlined workflows, optimised costs and enhanced collaboration across teams.
We utilise e-procurement platforms, supplier management software and digital catalogues with comprehensive product databases. These tools enable faster sourcing, consistent supplier evaluation and centralised data management significantly reducing manual effort and minimising the risk of errors.
By embracing digital solutions, we’ve improved operational efficiency, enhanced transparency and supported smarter decision making. These technologies empower our team to work more effectively and deliver seamless, timely hotel openings.
Budget Management and Cost Control: How do you manage budgets and implement cost control while maintaining quality across both properties?
The pre-opening phase requires meticulous financial planning, with substantial investment across categories such as FF&E, OS&E, services and staffing. Managing budgets while upholding brand standards and quality particularly in a dual brand setup demands a strategic and disciplined approach.
Our approach includes early budget planning with clear stakeholder alignment, value engineering to identify cost efficiencies without compromising quality and centralised procurement for shared needs. We implement a strict purchase approval workflow to ensure accountability at every stage.
Regular budget tracking and detailed reporting help us monitor expenditure and adjust as needed. Vendor negotiations and favourable payment terms support cash flow, while contingency planning helps absorb unforeseen costs without affecting guest experience.
Challenges in Pre-Opening Procurement: What are the unique challenges of pre-opening procurement, and how do you overcome them?
Pre-opening procurement is marked by strict timelines, evolving scopes and brand compliance demands. Key challenges include managing last minute changes, coordinating stakeholders, ensuring brand standards, mitigating supply chain disruption and balancing budgets.
We address these by maintaining a detailed procurement schedule, holding regular coordination meetings and identifying long lead items early. Clear communication channels and designated procurement contacts streamline stakeholder engagement.
We work closely with brand representatives using approved vendor lists and pre approved alternatives. To reduce logistics risk, we engage multiple suppliers, prioritise regional sourcing and build buffer time for critical items.
We control costs through value engineering, consolidated purchasing and strategic vendor partnerships. Delivery logistics are carefully scheduled in phases, with off site storage as needed.
Ensuring Consistency Across Properties: How do you ensure quality and service consistency while respecting each brand’s identity?
Managing procurement for two hotel brands requires a balanced approach. While efficiency is vital, preserving brand identity is equally important.
We start with a deep understanding of each brand’s guidelines. Guest facing elements are procured separately to preserve brand distinction, while back of house items are consolidated for efficiency.
Standardised quality control processes are applied across all items. Unified service contracts include brand specific SLAs, ensuring tailored service delivery. Cross property collaboration allows teams to share best practices and maintain consistent standards of excellence.
Adaptation to Market Trends: How do you stay ahead of trends and integrate them into your procurement strategies?
The hospitality industry is shaped by evolving guest expectations, technology, sustainability and global factors. At both hotels, we take a proactive approach to tracking trends and applying them practically.
We stay informed through research, industry forums and brand collaboration. Guest feedback helps us refine procurement to better serve evolving needs.
We also pilot innovations with vendors and maintain flexible contracts to adapt quickly. Sustainability remains a key driver across sourcing, and cross departmental collaboration ensures alignment with guest experience goals.
Advice for Aspiring Procurement Professionals: What advice would you offer to those pursuing a career in hospitality procurement, especially in pre-opening and multi-brand settings?
Procurement in hospitality particularly in pre-opening and multi-brand environments, is dynamic and rewarding. It blends strategic thinking, operations, relationship building and guest experience insight.
It’s not just about products, it’s about people, performance and purpose. If you enjoy solving problems, working under pressure and contributing to memorable guest experiences, this career path offers growth, impact and long term fulfilment.
In Association with:
Taaza is a UAE-based leader in sourcing and supplying fresh fruits, vegetables, and value-added food products. Committed to quality, freshness, and sustainability, Taaza delivers premium produce to both retail and wholesale clients across the region. The company combines advanced supply chain practices with a passion for food excellence, ensuring every item meets rigorous standards. With a strong focus on food safety, environmental responsibility, and customer satisfaction, Taaza continues to raise the bar in the fresh produce industry—supporting healthier lifestyles and delivering farm-to-table goodness with reliability and care.
