Jean Manuel. Jean Manuel.

Jean Manuel, purchasing manager, Fairmont Dubai

About Jean
A resident in Dubai for more than 15 years, Ms. Jean Manuel’s career in hospitality started in the 1990s at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel as an administrator in the purchasing department. Some years later in 2001, she joined the pre-opening team of the Dusit Thani Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road as the purchasing officer, responsible primarily for setting up the department, creating SOP’s and internal processes. In 2006, she became the procurement manager for the Desert Palm Hotel, and two years later she joined Fairmont Dubai as the assistant purchasing manager. The latter was no small feat as she took the helm during the height of the recession, in a department that was short staffed by 2 colleagues (out of 6), and was responsible for streamlining the purchasing process, renegotiating contracts with suppliers for better rates without compromising on quality, and for leading and mentoring junior colleagues in her department, all of which were new to this specialized department. She was promoted to purchasing manager in 2010.

Above and beyond the call of duty…
As the ‘nerve’ centre of the hotel, and one of the very few departments that has works intimately with several other (if not all) departments, purchasing/procurement is often overlooked and viewed primarily as the shipping and receiving arm of the hotel. Under Jean’s leadership, this image has been transformed at the Fairmont Dubai. She sees her role and that of the department not simply as order takers for the needs of other departments in the hotel, but as the right hand in procuring much needed and vital equipment, ingredients, food stuff and supplies while applying good and sound management; namely, working with trusted suppliers that offer good quality in line with the company’s global brand standards and at favourable rates. In September 2011, the hotel welcome one of its most prominent guests from the GCC who was also very affluent. He booked the hotel’s largest penthouse suite the night before his arrival and on the morning of his arrival, requested that caviar and other items be placed in the suite as he would be arriving in a few short hours. Upon receiving this request at 9am, Patrick Duff, the executive chef, ran over to the purchasing department, alarmed as the kitchen kept very small par stock of caviar due to its very perishable nature, and on this occasion he had run out completely. Although this request was next to impossible to fulfil within the next two hours, Jean’s relationship with the caviar supplier went into full swing as she quickly explained the situation to him. Although emergency requests for such an item would take 48 hours or more from order to delivery, on this occasion he made an exception. Jean quickly put together the LPO for the order, raced over to the various departments for sign off and asked the supplier to package up the caviar. She then drove herself to the supplier’s warehouse in Al Qouz (getting lost along the way), and manage to collect and deliver the caviar back to the hotel and to the chef before the guest’s arrival at 11:30am. Suffice to say, her efforts not only resulted in a very happy (repeat) guest who brought thousands of dirhams into the hotel every year, but the direct profit from this item (valued at AED 5000 at cost), was over AED 12,000 on this occasion.

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Testimonials for Jean
“Thank You for nominating our leader for Procurement Person of the Year for the 2012 Hotelier Middle East Awards. Ms. Jean is doing a commendable job as a leader. She is full of energy and always inspires us to be best in whatever we do. She has been a guiding force for us. She is very efficient and a true ambassador for our hotel. Whenever we need any advice from her she will explain us and guide us to finish the task efficiently. She is full of energy and always enthusiastic about her work. Her presence is always there with us. She is very energetic and has a friendly personality. She is always on forefront if we face challenges and ready to guide us. Her presence in office motivates us. She always supports and brings out best in us. For us she is guiding force and great leader to work with. She also motivates us and and gives regular inputs about our work. I am delighted to be a team member of such a great leader.” Shaikh Usman, receiving clerk, Fairmont Dubai.

“Ms Jean is an able leader who always Motivates an Encourages us and brings out best in us. She creates a great working Environment with her supportive personality. She treats all her team Equally and always there if we need advice and Guidance. She is always Enthusiastic and very helpful, working with her brings out best in every one. She is alert and active every moment and gives her maximum in solving problems, she is always there whenever team needs her. “ Mohammed Hussein, store supervisor, Fairmont Dubai.