INTERVIEW: Sursock takes on Oman

Hotelier Middle East speaks to Michel Sursock, general manager of Salalah Marriott Resort, about leading the international chain’s entrance to Oman and what keeps him motivated.

How did you begin your career in the hospitality industry?
I started my career in 1977 in the rooms division as a senior receptionist with Novotel and a night supervisor at Holiday Inn, both in Sharjah.

From 1981 to 1995 I focused my career on sales and marketing with several five-star properties in various cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Casablanca, Lebanon and Qatar.

In December 2003 I returned to my home country Lebanon where I continued gaining experience in senior executive roles and I became executive assistant manager at Le Royal Hotel, Dbayeh, followed by the Metropolitan Palace Beirut as resident manager, eventually taking a role as consultant to the Metropolitan Club.

In 2007 I was assigned the role of pre-opening general manager at the Royal Tulip Mirbat Resort & Spa in Salalah, Oman, which was later to become the first Marriott resort in the Sultanate.

I had spent two years in Oman, developing a keen knowledge of the Omani market and forging strong relationships in the community. I am now delighted to join the Marriott family.

What are your immediate and long term plans in your new role?
I would like to ensure more momentum at the resort, create a unique resort atmosphere for all the guests, while also concentrating on attracting more business and consolidating our position locally and internationally.

What will Marriott bring to Oman’s hospitality market?
Leading the first Marriott resort in Oman is a wonderful opportunity. Oman as a tourism destination is still new and is currently just being developed. The authorities are investing a lot of money to promote the Sultanate abroad, especially Muscat.

Dhofar Region itself, in Southern Oman, is not yet very famous and only the “insiders” will know about the unspoiled beaches, the ancient sites of the Ubar and Queen Sheba, sites of the old times when the Sultanate still depended on exporting frankincense.

The current challenge really is to establish the Marriott resort in Salalah internationally as a tourist destination and make tourists aware that Oman has more to offer than Muscat and Musandam.

Dhofar, the land of springs and gardens needs to be more promoted abroad and, along with the Ministry of Tourism, we are working very closely to bring more tourists to this beautiful part of the Sultanate.

What keeps you motivated as a general manager working in the region?
I love meeting new people from different cultures and backgrounds, and I also enjoy watching my staff grow through proper training and experience.
The tourism industry is a very vibrant industry that brings continuous change, so you certainly need a very proactive mind to stay on top of things and be prepared for the future.

I like the challenge and the daily surprises, the flair of the unexpected in the hospitality industry — I have been working in this industry for more than 30 years now, and I have never had one day which has been the same as another.

I believe there is hardly any other industry in the world where this would happen and that leaves you feeling curious and excited about the things to come.

What do you bring to the company?
My biggest asset certainly is my experience. I would say there is hardly any situation or occasion in hotels that I have not lived through. Also, since I have worked most of this time in the Middle East, I have valuable insight into the different cultural backgrounds of people in the Gulf.

I have the regional experience, I know how the people function, what they like and dislike in regards to holiday experience and how they work. This is also very important as wherever you go, you have to adjust to certain cultural aspects and working attitudes.

Why were you keen to remain GM at the recently reflagged resort?
Marriott International has a very strong brand name. Apart from the fact that it is my first working experience with Marriott, I rate the brand as one of the top players in the industry.

I believe that working for Marriott will provide me with new challenges, a new working environment and new methods of how things are being handled and communicated.