The programme will apply to GMs at all Rotana properties, including the Rose Rayhaan pictured - the tallest hotel in the world. The programme will apply to GMs at all Rotana properties, including the Rose Rayhaan pictured - the tallest hotel in the world.

Rotana will launch a general manager development programme in October, aimed at improving GMs' skill sets to enable them to “stay competitive” in the market.

The hotel group has partnered with Dubai-based consultancy Innovative HR Solutions to implement the programme which will apply to all of Rotana’s general managers.

The programme will be tailored to individuals to monitor and highlight areas for improvement, Anne Oberdoerster, Rotana’s associate vice president of human resources, told HotelierMiddleEast.com

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“You have general managers saying ‘where is my development’ and ‘what is the next step for me’ because when you reach a certain level in your career you’re not moving jobs every two years so you have to keep this level of staff engaged,” said Oberdoerster.

“We might have some very good general managers doing their jobs and we’re not questioning that they’re capable, but in order to stay competitive there might be different angles and different things to look into so we can improve different areas.”

Christopher Watson, regional head of human resources – MENA at Millennium Hotels and Resorts commented that such development programmes would “close the gaps” in the skill sets of senior staff.

“It’s common within our industry for general managers to come from different backgrounds. Many have worked their ways through the ranks but have sometimes not had a hospitality degree so you’re trying to close the gaps in areas like strategic thinking, such as questioning ‘where are we going to take this business in the next five years?’ and coaching skills which these people may not necessarily have been exposed to.”