Tourist spots do not automatically equal a great hospitality site
This piece was originally shared on LinkedIn in response to recurring conversations with founders and leadership teams around this topic.
I’m publishing it here as part of an ongoing body of thinking around restaurant strategy, market entry, and operational decision-making.
This is probably the most common conversation I have about location here.
Some areas look fantastic on paper, but in reality would be a headache long before you've even opened.
Without enlisting local expertise, real on-the-ground contacts who understand the micro-movements of the city, location can be a costly, stressful exercise. I've seen this go extremely well, but I’ve also seen sites close within their first year.
Take Downtown Dubai, for example.
From the outside, you see:
- A bustling spot full of tourists
- The best view of the Burj Khalifa
- Stunning fountains and backdrop
From the ground, you see:
- Heavy traffic means people worry about visiting for dinner
- Tourists visiting this area to take photos before heading to the mall
- Residents who want to venture elsewhere for their dinner plans
It's crucial to have a clear understanding of the area and whether your potential guests will be there before making major commitments.
Without the right local expertise, small details become expensive delays.
Since first sharing this, I’ve seen the same issue surface repeatedly — particularly with businesses entering new markets or scaling too quickly. The underlying challenge is rarely strategy itself, but how early decisions constrain execution later.