SimplyAbuDhabi XII

9 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I My instincts were reinforcedwhen I walked intoThe AddressDowntownDubai; I was overcome with passion and excitement, and felt an innate connection to the property. Any General Manager must be able to tell a story that exudes the dedication, commitment, and passion for their hotel. It was the energy and the ambience, and above all, the combination of various elements of hospitality such as food&beverage, business amenities, and relaxation facilities of The AddressDowntownDubai that drewme to take up this job. Its differentials as a property and of The Address Hotels + Resorts as a brand, has certainly set the benchmark for mixed-use properties. Have you experienced any stand-out events or moments which have shaped your career to date? The beauty of working in hospitality is that you constantly come across passionate and powerful people who can truly enrich your thought-process and perspective. What are yourmainobjectives and responsibilities asChiefOperatingOfficer andhowdifferent is this fromyourprevious roleasRegionalGeneralManager? AsRegionalGeneralManager, Iwas overseeing the operations andoverall growthofThe AddressHotels+Resorts. AsChiefOperatingOfficer, I have beengiven the opportunity to work across every single aspect of Emaar Hospitality Group, spanning the various hotels and leisure clubs, as well as the international operations. What do you lovemost about your new job as Chief OperatingOfficer? Being Chief Operating Officer has givenme the chance to be involved in this once-in- a-lifetime opportunity todevelopour brands locally and internationally, while remaining true to our brand values. What impact has Emaar had on theMiddle East hospitality sector? Emaar has played an integral role inchanging the landscapeof theMiddleEast’s hospitality industry. The organisation has truly solidified its credentials as a full-spectrum provider of services – frombusiness and leisuredestinations suchasTheAddressHotels+Resorts; luxury hospitality fromArmaniHotels&Resorts; upbeat, dynamic living inVidaHotels and Resorts; and an array of leisure clubs – which goes to show how much potential there is for theMiddleEast’s hospitality industry to expand and embrace newer concepts. What do you believe is the secret behind creating a successful Hotel brand? There are two things that must be taken into consideration when creating a successful hotel brand: consistency and connectivity. Consistency across all properties in service and food & beverage; and connectivity, in that a brand must constantly be connected to the needs, demands, and concerns of its guests. Inwhat areasdoyousee themost opportunity for yourbusiness togrowin2014? There is tremendous potential for our brands togrowacross numerous facets, particularly in events and food & beverage. We also believe that our newest brand, Vida Hotels and Resorts, will continue to energise the organisation’s hospitality business. What are your thoughts on AbuDhabi &Dubai’s hotel offerings? BothAbuDhabi andDubai play a bigger role in complementing the vision of theUAE. They work in tandemwith the country’s other economic sectors to further catalyse the growth of the hospitality industry. HowmanyHotels does Emaar have planned for the region? Emaar Hospitality Group’s five-star premium brand, The Address Hotels + Resorts, will lend its expertise to upcoming projects including The Address Marassi Golf Resort & Spa inMarassi, Egypt, and The Address Residence Emaar Square, in Istanbul. Can you describe any new initiatives or programs that you are planning to introduce? So, what new concepts have you got planned for Emaar? The group will continue to focus on guest experience and satisfaction, while innovating its current offerings across all spectrums – whether it is business, food & beverage, or recreation.Wewill alsowork towards strengtheningour LifestyleDiningportfolio,which now encompasses of The Palace Café, At.mosphere Burj Khalifa, Madeleine Café & Boulangerie, and the newest addition, La Serre inVidaDowntownDubai, in addition to bringing in critically acclaimed global F&B brands such as Wolfgang Puck’s CUT and Cipriani, toDubai’s vibrant hospitality industry.Our focus for 2014will be to emphasise guest experience and satisfaction. How are these concepts decided upon? These concepts are createdbasedon customer demands, ensuring thatwe cover all bases of our target demographics. What is the target demographic audience of these concepts? Our concepts cater to everydemographic – frombusiness and leisure travellers – toguests seeking the best in recreation and food & beverage. What are your thoughts on theMiddle East’s Food and Beveragemarket? There has been a dynamic shift in the region’s food&beveragemarket.We’ve seen tastes and trendsmove fromgeneric to specific, with attention-to-detail and an increased focus on the quality of the product. The UAE, for instance, is working towards creating ‘concept’ restaurants, which moves away from bringing existing concepts, to creating original concepts that truly set the benchmark in the global circuit. Tell us one thing your teamand associates do not know about you? I lost my brother and sister-in-law in an accident caused by a drunk driver. As a result of this, I continue to remindpeople I knownot todrink anddrive, because younever know whose family member youmight take away. What’s the best career advice anyone has ever given you? • ‘Simplicity is the ultimate challenge’ • ‘Eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary can speak’ • ‘Always defeat obstacles; push your own limits, and keepmoving forward’ These words resound in my ears. They have encouraged me to cross the hurdles and continue to push the frontiers. Who has been your inspiration in the industry? Mr. AlainDucasse is one ofmy biggest inspirations.His extensive trove of knowledge of the industry andhis unparalleled presence amongst guests is one of the reasons I got into this business. Have you any innovative management methods you use to inspire your team & colleagues? Hospitality is a versatile industry – there are nobounds to creativity; I encouragemy team and my colleagues to push themselves to be as creative and innovative as they possibly can, because the result will be seen in their work. The webmust be the working library at all times. I encourage my teamdaily to be curious and visible for our guests. If youweren't an hotelier, what would you be? If I were not in the hospitality industry, I think I would have been an architect. Lastly, our signature question, what do you think of the Simply Abu Dhabi Publication? Simply Abu Dhabi is brilliant; its high standard and quality, complemented by the integrated technology of its online version, makes this one top-notch publication.