project management Archives

Airports are becoming destinations in their own right

A surge in the middle class globally, rapid urbanisation, and a rise in disposable income has led to an increasing demand for air travel. Nowadays, more people are choosing to fly for business and leisure, and airports are experiencing an increase in passenger traffic, which is driving the need for additional services and infrastructure. Research shows that the global airport services market is expected to hit around USD 485.99 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 17.09% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

For millions of us, airports are as much associated with shopping as travel, with retail still the primary experience at airports, prompting one airport retailer to comment that they are quite simply “huge shopping centres with runways attached.” Such is the demand for retail space, that large airports like Heathrow have a number of applicants for every retail unit, and have become one of the most sought-after retail locations in the world. Each shopper is around for just 60 or 70 minutes on average, and despite being considered a “captive audience”, they still expect the overall retail experience to be effortless and appealing. The challenge for retailers is that the airport trading environment is nothing like the high street and they are having to work even harder to deliver to customer expectations, as the high street also continues to evolve and to create truly engaging experiences.

For designers, airport terminals can throw up a number of challenges, such as awkward spaces, negotiating brutal commercial deals, retail design management and demands for extra-ordinary concepts and short dwell-time potential. However these can in turn stimulate truly creative responses with hard-edged commercial realities.

We are also seeing a different design approach to Airport lounges, with what were previously rather mundane spaces, now being looked at by designers in the same way that a high-end hotel concept would be. They are gearing towards creating more unique and personal atmospheres, with design elements and technology that are not generally seen in commercial projects. In addition, the boundaries between leisure and retail have become blended propositions, which means that exclusiveness in retail can now filter into these ‘exclusive’ lounge spaces and deliver a VIP experience – mimicking the experiences of the finest shopping malls.

rpa:group has extensive experience in terms of designing and project managing various types of Airport experiences from First and Business class lounges to Retail, Restaurants, Airline check-in and more, which makes us the ideal partner for your next airport lounge project. We are also familiar with the process of obtaining the necessary external and internal airside passes and of navigating stringent airport approvals, managing the coordination of approved consultants and site access for a range of schemes. If you would like to know more, or need our help, please get in touch.

The Great Hotel Conversion Trend

Shopping malls were retail destinations in their own right, giving shoppers a large variety of retail offerings within one location. However, the way people shop, and the arrival of online shopping has forever changed and increasingly challenged the shopping mall, with the pandemic just speeding up the changes. With some exceptions, owners of shopping malls have come under growing pressure to maximise the potential viability of their assets again.

A ray of hope that could be set to save many shopping malls, is the post-pandemic surge of experiential travel. In the case of shopping malls, it means enhancing the retail components, by providing more restaurants and a variety of leisure facilities and experiences – and the addition of hotels. This will entice tourists and local shoppers, who will see these as leisure destinations, rather than just places to exchange cash for goods.

Shopping malls are ripe for this transformation, as many often have substantial acreage in densely populated areas that already have good access to infrastructure, which helps make them suitable for accommodation as well. This in turn can unlock land value by activating dormant space such as parking lots or as many malls have flat roofs, there is scope to consider airspace development.

Having a mixed purpose offering in one location answers the concept of the 15-minute city, which was inspired by French-Colombian scientist Carlos Moreno, highlighting that it can and should be attainable for people to have access to everything they need within a 15-minute walk or cycle of their dwellings to save time and enhance quality of life.

The idea of mixed-use development doesn’t stop with shopping malls. There is a growing trend in cities to convert redundant office buildings into hotels. This is being driven by various factors, such as changes to the office market, with an estimated 35% decrease in office rentals and an increasing demand for hotel accommodation.

The rise of hybrid and remote working has meant that traditional office space is less in demand and property owners and developers have had to look hard at alternative uses for their buildings, in order to stay lucrative. In many instances, converting them into hotels is emerging as an attractive and viable solution.

In cities such as London, where space is a premium, and being a global tourist destination, there is always a demand for hotels. With feasible space for new build hotel developments scarce, converting existing buildings such as redundant office blocks that can be viably repurposed is a no-brainer.

Office blocks lend themselves to this cause for several reasons, with a prime benefit being that so many are open plan. Partition walls and modularity can be successfully used for the construction of rooms, which can be key to commercial success. Structurally, large open office spaces tend to be solidly constructed and surround a central service core containing lifts, plumbing, ducts and risers, fire stairs, bathrooms and equipment. Wet areas located against the core can easily be connected to the building services and systems.

Most modern office buildings already have the advantage of a 3-meter floor to ceiling height and large windows to allow plenty of natural light. There is also often scope to move various exterior walls, in order to create balconies or outside leisure and hospitality spaces.

Taking into consideration that many office buildings are centrally situated, puts them in close proximity to prime tourist locations and makes them very attractive for redevelopment.

As with any large-scale conversion, it is essential to have the right team in place. A good Architect will be able to visualise and design the best use of the space within the building, to maximise its potential and ensure its adherence to the differing regulations required for the changed use of the space. An experienced Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor will be able to facilitate the planning elements, and to help ensure that the works out carried out on time and within budget.

Ultimately, whether it is a redeveloped office block or the addition of a hotel within a shopping mall, these will help to inherently improve the local urban experience and to drive profitability for the owners.

Pitfalls to avoid during a hotel refurb

We are seeing how increasingly, hotels are responding to these changes, with many focusing on becoming social hubs for the local community and destinations to work, eat, meet and relax. More corporate guests are extending their stay into weekends , giving rise to what has become known as the ‘bleisure’ trend. This in turn is driving the need for hotels to be flexible with their social spaces, such as bars able to be transformed into meeting rooms, or restaurants into night clubs. It is the hotels that respond to these trends and changes by embarking on a rejuvenation scheme approximately every seven years, which are the least likely to experience a dip in profit.

When done properly, renovations can take considerable investment, both financially and with time. It is important to have a well thought out plan of action, with clearly defined steps. Criteria to consider include ensuring that refurbishments align with low reservation periods, to help reduce or avoid hotel revenue loss. But rather than closing the hotel entirely during the works, another option could be to close it in sections, commencing with the lobby and ancillary areas, and then dividing the bedrooms into smaller unoccupied sections, to try to avoid noise disturbance impacting on guests.

Having a strong procurement plan and committing to a programme with realistic deliverables and timescales is essential to help drive value engineering. Nobody wants to waste time by tendering a project for a desired scheme, only to find out that it comes in over budget. If as built information is not available, it helps to undertake a thorough dimensional survey and MEP survey of the entire building. This is where it is prudent to obtain the support of an experienced Project Management and Cost Management team.

One could say that choosing the right team with a ‘can-do’ attitude and experience that reflects the project type and having them in place from the beginning, is key to the success of the entire project. After all, there is no point in undertaking a rejuvenation scheme if it becomes sabotaged by spiralling costs and unnecessary delays.

Tenders for Main Contractors (MCs) with the correct pedigree, need to be carefully considered and they should be able to demonstrate previous experience of the project type. It is advisable to lock them into the tender and to check their financial status and the project value against their turnover and current order book. MCs also need to submit a detailed programme with their tender, including a description of their logistical plan and most importantly a weekly prediction of their labour resources on site each week. This is again where an experienced Project Manager who is familiar with a host of local MCs can offer pertinent advice before awarding the contract. It is also prudent to ensure that the correct type of Contract is in place with the Main Contractor before works commence, to avoid potentially a multitude of unexpected costs and complications arising during the refurbishment scheme.

Knowing who the clientele is and how to accommodate their needs is paramount. From this, a clear concept can then be developed, with the help of an experienced design team. A good Project Manager will be able to work alongside a design team, utilising their experience to ensure that realistic solutions are achieved, without compromising on the creative elements that will give a hotel its own robust brand identity and customer appeal. Whilst schemes should require an initial sample room fit-out for sign off, an experience Project Manager will help to ensure that the physical delivery of the concept is right and kept within budget, as it is rolled out to other areas.

Good communication cannot be underestimated and having a good Project Manager in place, enables all communication to be overseen and communicated through one individual, which will help facilitate a smoother process all around. The old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ rings very true when it comes to refurbishment projects and it is advisable not to skimp on consultant fees, as they are employed to look after the best interests of both the client and the project.

There is no denying that embarking on a refurbishment scheme can be challenging. However, by having the correct team in place and ensuring best business practice and good communication from the beginning, it should result upon completion in a profit increase, through being able to potentially charge more per night and attract new audiences, and ultimately to drive occupancy rates.

Demand sees surge in office refurbs

Hybrid working has been on the rise since the turn of the century and even prior to the pandemic JLL expected 30% of London’s office space to be ‘flexible’ by 2030, however, it is Covid that has permanently changed the way we work, resulting in a surge in demand for flexible workspace globally. This is helping to generate the largest increase in the refurbishment of office buildings since 2020, as demand from workers shifts to the highest quality and flexible spaces and embracing of new working practices.

Comments Geraint Evans, Managing Director of Office Network Global, “Changes to employee rights in the UK will only increase the migration to flexible working when the Flexible Working Bill achieves Royal Assent later this year. The Bill enables employees to request flexible working changes to their job role even before they start work, with each request having to be considered and only dismissed with good reason. Recent CIPD research shows that 6 percent of employees changed jobs last year specifically due to a lack of flexible options and 12 percent left their profession altogether due to a lack of flexibility within the sector. This represents almost 2 and 4 million workers respectively and will undoubtedly result in further alterations and refurbishments as business leaders and landlords strive to accommodate accordingly.”

The Summer 2023 London Office Crane Survey carried out by Deloitte found that the number of office refurbishments across the capital hit a record high in the period between October 2022 and March 2023.

Margaret Doyle, chief insights officer for financial services and real estate at Deloitte, has said: “Tenants’ shift toward quality over quantity has led to desire for attractive, sustainable, well-kitted out spaces, close to transport hubs and amenities.”

This is having a ripple effect with new infrastructure and expanding transport links such as the new Elizabeth Line helping to attract people to previously overlooked areas, such as mid-town and the eastern fringes of the city.

Another influencing factor is the need to bring offices up to scratch legally – especially in terms of energy efficiency – which is set to drive London’s development for the rest of the decade. The letting of commercial space with an EPC rating below E becoming soon becoming unlawful, has initiated 37 new retrofit and refurbishment schemes, providing nearly 300,000m² of workspace, the highest since Deloitte began tracking activity in 2005.

Recently released figures by Industry analyst Glenigan also show that planning approvals on detailed office schemes in the past three months were up 8 per cent on the start of the year, and 31 per cent on last year, in a clear sign that this sector is not showing any signs of slowing down.

With nearly 40 years of experience delivering construction services including PM and QS, Architecture and Design, in the commercial sector for clients such as WeWork and PVH’s UK Head Quarters , rpa:group is your ideal partner for your next office scheme.

Airport lounges are transforming – let us help you with yours

Business travel can be dreary and time-consuming and airlines, airports and other institutions are increasingly seeing the value of investing in better airport lounges to help make this experience more enjoyable, which attracts repeat business and enhances profitability.

Airline lounges have been around for a while, offering a place of respite, some light refreshment and internet access away from the hustle and bustle of the terminals, but opportunities are afoot to make these lounges destinations in their own right —think fully-stocked bars, spa services, gourmet meals, private TSA and immigration, and being chauffeur driven across the airfield to your flight.

We are also seeing a different design approach, with what were previously rather mundane spaces, now being approached by designers in the same way that a high-end residential or hotel concept would be. They are gearing towards creating more unique and personal atmospheres, with design elements that are not generally seen in commercial projects.

As travellers prefer a sense of the location they are in, consideration is increasingly being given to the design of lounges, to embody local flavours, rather than being identical around the world. As an example, last year’s winner of the Priority Pass Annual Lounge Awards was Club Kingston at Jamaica’s Kingston Norman Manley International Airport, which includes artwork and décor sourced from across the island, as well as traditional Jamaican food and drink.

Lounge buffets are also getting makeovers, with more stations manned by chefs and an increase in grab-and-go selections, or fine cuisine from a made-to-order menu. For those travellers with more time on their hands, options for distinctive dining are also on the increase.

When it comes to technology, airports have fast become some of the most technologically advanced buildings in the world, with biometric enabled self-service check-in facilities and apps that help navigate airport processes. Airport lounges are moving into the digital field too with the likes of Etihad, Emirates and Aviapartner introducing VR entertainment technology. More than a form of entertainment, these airlines anticipate that this type of technology will enable more personalised end-to-end solutions and an enhanced user-experience.

The introduction of premium lounges is not limited to airlines; and we are seeing a wave of independent lounge programmes being launched all over the world.

rpa:group has extensive experience in terms of designing and project managing various types of Airport experiences. From First and Business class lounges to Retail, Restaurants, Airline check-in and Security combs and more, we are the ideal partner for your next airport lounge project. If you would like to know more, or need our help, please get in touch.

Why a recession is a good time for a hotel refurb

One of the key factors when undertaking works is to avoid disturbance to guests. With many hotels experiencing reduced occupancy due to economic factors, disruption will be at a minimum and works can happen more quickly and efficiently. This is better than enforcing a decrease in occupancy by having to close floors for refurbishment during busier periods. In other words, this is a good time for hotel owners to put plans into action, so that they can offer their future guests an experience that they are increasingly coming to expect from their stay.

Research is showing that guests are more likely to spend longer periods of time outside of their rooms, and hotels need to adapt public spaces to accommodate this. A refurbishment plan can see ground floor space being fully maximized and utilised in a variety of new ways, to become areas with purpose in their own right, helping to increase dwell time. This can include areas being given over to create workspaces and wellness centers and upgrades made to bars and restaurants, which are increasingly becoming destinations that attract customers beyond hotel residents. Other important criteria to update include proper entertainment, fast and reliable Wi-Fi and optimal technology.

Having a strong procurement plan and committing to a programme with realistic deliverables and timescales is essential. This is where it is prudent to obtain the support of an experienced Project Management and Cost Management team. After all, there is no point in undertaking a rejuvenation scheme if it becomes sabotaged by spiralling costs and unnecessary delays. rpa:group’s Project Management and Quantity Surveyors have a proven record in driving value engineering, ensuring that project programmes align with low reservation periods to avoid hotel revenue loss.

Working alongside a design team, they can utilise their experience to ensure that realistic solutions are achieved, without compromising on the creative elements that will give a hotel its own robust brand identity and customer appeal.

Whether hotel operators are embarking on large-scale refurbishment schemes, or a series of small but important upgrades, they should be using this time to implement these, ready to entice future guests, when the country gets back to normal after these difficult times through the recession.

Sustainable Office Design

The pandemic has increased hybrid working and this looks like it is here to stay. With this in mind, employees and employers are more than ever considering the personal impact upon their environments and are embracing a ‘new’ approach to how and where they work.

Maybe the time has also come to consider commercial space more as a commodity in the same way that an increasing number of self-employed and start ups do, which will bring our investment in these spaces into sharp focus – i.e. “if I’m paying someone to provide a serviced work environment for me, I’m going to want to be the most productive I can!” Brand choice from offerings such as WeWork and Work.Life etc is going to be driven by the provider’s authentic attempts to offer a sustainable space that promotes wellbeing and productivity – just like retail brands have to fight for market share.

Sustainable office design goes beyond the use of construction materials and extends to adaptability of space, which will help give it longevity. Considering that the average organisation can undergo a physical change roughly every 18 months or less, and also has to adapt to the changing financial climate and needs of the workforce at that particular time – i.e. expanding and contracting to suit – requires adaptable design and the creation of reusable products for modularity, disassembly and re-assembly. This helps eliminate waste and provides a working environment that meets the ever-changing requirements of employees.

Preferred characteristics include flexible workspaces, connective and reliable mobile technology and a setting that caters for different activities within the working environment. The provision of “sticky spaces” to enable deep collaboration are as important as providing spaces specific to eating and socialising and leisure activities. Rather than designing things that can only be used once, thought is now being given into how they can be disassembled and used again.

Environmental factors also have their part to play, blurring the designated barriers between inside and outside, and using as much natural light as possible. This will differ according to location, but good design is about understanding the environmental elements and creating the right solution in a ‘passive’ way. Greenery is an often overlooked but essential element in sustainable office design. Not only are plants aesthetically pleasing and help to absorb excess noise and purify the air, but they can also be used to create natural delineation of spaces and function. In fact, various studies have shown that incorporating plants into workplace design can have a positive effect on perceived productivity.

Sustainable design ideally involves the use of recycled materials in construction. As an example, there are significant challenges to face when producing an entire flooring system using recycled materials such as abandoned fishing nets, or upcycling shipping pallets for office fixtures and furniture. British start-up Biohm is one such business working towards fabricating construction materials from waste products, such as paper and even dried orange peel and is working towards an off-site modular construction approach. The modular method of construction means very little waste product compared to onsite and traditional methods, so it looks set to play an increasingly important role in embracing sustainable construction methods.

Technology has its part to play, as it can help enable businesses to evolve their workplaces into resource production and to be carbon neutral. This can include micro-harvesting energy through solar panels and wind turbines depending on location, or harvesting and processing rainwater, as seen in companies such as Living PlanIT, that uses AI water technology to help drive this. Overall, an efficient energy management system cuts down a building’s energy use.

The principals of sustainable office design are being incorporated across a variety of platforms. RIBA for example has launched a Sustainable Futures Group, which introduces these principles into their coursework and gives awards to designs that are both sustainable and humane. Increasing numbers of landlords are putting sustainability at the heart of their building design, and are targeting a BREEAM rating of Excellent. One thing is for certain, cutting-edge workplaces of the future will be designed with sustainability in mind.

Images courtesy of WeWork

The department store dilemma

So, what is to become of these extinct department stores? Clearly something needs to, because space that is no longer fit for purpose has a materially adverse effect on society. Mark Burlton, MD of Cross Border Retail Ltd, a global independent retail real estate business agrees. “Even though many have heritage and are significant landmarks to which people hold an attachment, empty or abandoned buildings emit a sense of local economic distress and impact the perception of the surrounding area.”

This is when we can draw inspiration from the past. For hundreds of years, our high streets were buzzing and multi-faceted hubs, serving the local community with a thriving mix of retail, residential, services and hospitality. Over time, retail cannibalised these and the bubble has now burst.

Nigel Collett, CEO of architecture, design and cost management consultancy, the rpa:group states that what the pandemic has emphasised, is the value of community. “During lockdown, we have spent an unimaginable amount of time in our own neighbourhoods, relying far more heavily on local shops and services during this time.” He adds that this feeds into something referred to as hyper localisation, where the services providers and retailers of a community can directly understand and respond to the needs of the people living within it. “As the new normal will see many more of us working flexibly and spending more time at our homes and surrounds, it is the right time to reintroduce more community relevance and empty department stores can help,” he says.

This is because as we live a more local existence, our essential needs all need to be met and there is still a requirement for some retail, but it will be condensed. There is also opportunity for the introduction of more pop-up, adaptable event spaces, leisure and hospitality and the provision of fitness and healthcare centres. With flexible working becoming the norm, there is going to be a need for co-working spaces and “business hubs” and childcare facilities to support these, which can be accommodated by vacant department stores. “Large empty stores are usually spread over three of four floors and the space can be carefully divided up. Natural daylight is a challenge as their floor plates tend to be large, but there is scope to introduce light-wells, which make the spaces more versatile”, states Nigel.

“Structurally, many department store buildings having flat roofs, and there is opportunity to build onto these and have outdoor entertainment spaces and roof gardens or airspace hotels or residential units,” adds Nigel. Mark agrees “Airspace construction tends to be more modular and more easily supported by the existing structure of the building. Including residential will bring more people back into towns and city centres, which is what we need.”

Like anything, there are challenges that need to be overcome.

At the onset, a detailed study would need to be carried out to foresee exactly what the needs of the local community surrounding the empty store are and to prevent any replacement being a “five minute wonder”, as Mark puts it. “Staying relevant and responding to these is the most important first step, to ensure the social and economic benefits of repurposing the retail space. A local solution needs to be taken into account and this will result in diverse outcomes”, explains Mark.

As an example, the old Debenhams site that occupied 80,000 square feet in London’s Southside Shopping Mall is being transformed into London’s first active entertainment venue, which includes a Japanese E-karting area, bowling lanes and various hospitality offerings. Further afield, an old Macys store has been transformed into a secondary school. “In both of these instances, how these buildings are repurposed is in direct relation to answering a local need,” states Nigel.

Like anything, there are challenges that need to be overcome. Mark warns that landlords will need to be convinced that a change of use is in their best financial interest. “Local councils need to lend their support to help uplift the area. From a planning perspective, the recent government guidelines stating that planning permission is not needed for change of use needs to be approached with caution.” Nigel agrees and adds “Architects can help ensure that the character of the building is not lost and that the space is divided and utilised in the best way possible, with full safety and quality practices in place.“

We also cannot ignore the fact that repurposing multi-level retail stores is expensive and architecturally challenging and all the more reason why an experienced architect is essential. And yet, done properly, these present a strong opportunity to transform dead spaces into engaging and commercially viable ones that are adaptable and future proof, no matter what may lie ahead.

Why hoteliers should be refurbishing during a pandemic

This is when operators who have planned for a refurbishment scheme have the upper hand. One of the key factors when undertaking works is to avoid disturbance to guests. With many hotels now at low or zero occupancy, disruption is at a minimum and works can happen more quickly and efficiently.

The government is currently assisting the hospitality industry by helping with staff costs, and this support offers an added reason why hoteliers should be using this time to carry out refurbishments, if they can afford to – it’s as simple as that.

Thinking ahead, what customers will need more than ever is reassurance that the hotel they are checking into is a safe place to stay. Aside from reconfiguring guest flow and ensuring communal spaces adhere to social distancing guidelines, some operators are installing thermal CCTV systems, where cameras can take up 30 people’s temperatures as they walk through the door. Guests are also more likely to spend increased amounts of time in their rooms, where they feel more secure and so these need to offer more than just somewhere to sleep. This could require repurposing areas of bedrooms, for the provision of adequate working facilities. Other increasingly important criteria will include proper entertainment, fast and reliable Wi-Fi and up to date technology.

So, whether hotel operators can embark on large-scale refurbishment schemes, or a series of small but important upgrades, they should be using this time to implement these, ready to entice and reassure future guests when normal travel resumes.

getting ahead in the fitness industry race

You don’t need to read these types of reports to know that the fitness and health club industry is on a continuing growth path and that an exciting future lies ahead, for both budget and premium fitness businesses. Stroll along any high street and you will encounter a shop that has been replaced by a gym. Offering high spec equipment, no hefty membership fees, the convenience of 24 hour accessibility and the ability to join online and on-site, allows people to begin their fitness journey within minutes. The prediction is that the fitness sector will continue to break all barriers as the consumer gets easier access, with more personalisation, localisation and easier sign-up and payment options.

With bricks and mortar retail increasingly under pressure, and store closures in evidence daily across many UK towns, these new gyms also breathe life into struggling high streets. They can absorb vacant shops and help save high street communities that would otherwise face the risk of turning into ghost towns.

Businesses like PureGym are perfectly placed to take over vacant space near transport hubs and on UK high streets, with a model that has helped them become the first operator to reach 200 clubs and impressively pass the one million-member mark in 2018, with no signs of slowing down.Naturally, transforming a previous retail or business space into a suitable fitness hub, requires necessary design management, development management and cost expertise. When combined, these go a long way in supporting business such as PureGym and helping to ensure that their expansion is not compromised by poor time keeping on delivery of roll-outs, or being at risk from poorly managed budgets.

Various factors come into play, where good PM and QS services can prove invaluable in helping deliver an expansion programme. A recent example of this for us has been a change of use from office space into a gym, that required extensive negotiations with the landlord and a structural engineer, to overcome weight-loading issues – vital, when considering that gym equipment is far heavier than office furniture. A solution involving a new floor sub-structure and additional support to the existing structure, ensured that the building was safe and fit for its new purpose.Other factors overseen by a project manager include acoustics and soundproofing and also the strength and suitability of floor surfaces and how these will withstand impact. Then there is planning, signage and being the key negotiator between client and contractor. Because some gyms are open 24 hours, safety is paramount and has a different set of building regulations, such as remote monitored CCTV, panic alarms, help points and the correct implementation of all fire and safety requirements.

Where in many instances internal teams can differ, it is up to the PM and QS to ensure that there is consistency in the delivery of the final product, through efficient communication with contractors. Similarly, because multiple sites are often underway simultaneously, a PM and QS can apply their learnings from one contractor to another, instilling best practice across all.One might argue the need for external support, if the client already has their own in-house PM? To this our answer is simply that the additional support from an external PM and QS, will in fact offer greater savings, through their efficiencies and contract negotiations. You could say that a good QS and PM can save you more than they cost!

The opportunity to develop and to meet the increasing demands of today’s fitness market is vast and whilst competition is strong, there is ample room for change, diversity and progression in years to come. There truly has never been a more inspiring and rewarding time to invest in fitness.

crossing cultures…

The countries that I grew up in are a melting pot of many nationalities living and working together in relative harmony. It is testament to the human desire (and necessity) to collaborate for the common good that obligates people to understand and respect different cultures, before putting into practice various coping techniques.

Language is the obvious main difference, but surprisingly has the least impact as most of the educated workforce speaks English. While making the effort to learn Arabic is rewarded with great affection from the locals, it is largely unnecessary. What can cause greater impediment is being unaware of the different nuances of communication needed when engaging with different audiences. There are enormous benefits to interactions between people of different faiths, backgrounds and experiences and I look upon my time in the Middle East with enormous affection. As expats we often expect people to adapt to our way of thinking and approaches to work and life, but we would be very well advised to embrace cultural differences for the benefit of all.

Above I outline some customs and etiquette to bear in mind when doing business in the Middle East.