With the Hotelier Middle East Awards at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai fast approaching, it’s time to unveil the finalists of our Young Hotelier of the Year award, which is sponsored this year by Ronai, the hospitality supplier.
Due to be held in Dubai on October 30, a total of 90 hoteliers across 18 individual awards categories have been shortlisted for a Hotelier Middle East Award, along with five hotel teams for the coveted Team of the Year Award.
Click below to see our selection of some of the best youngsters in the business:
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Jennifer Lombard Knight, assistant front office manager, InterContinental Regency Hotel Bahrain
ABOUT JENNIFER
After achieving her Bachelor’s Degree, during which Jennifer completed internships at the Michelin Star Kitchen of the Park Hyatt La Place de la Vendôme, as well as at the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace as housekeeping supervisor and at Charles Kendall as events manager, Jennifer joined IHG in 2006 as a graduate on the first AMEA Future Leaders Program as one of the youngest aspiring hoteliers at the age of 21. From the start Jennifer was highlighted as a potential future leader and to ensure progression as a well-rounded hotelier her placements were structure throughout various departments including the Crowne Plaza The City London learning & development department responsible for the role out of Quality Enhancement Programs known as I-Tools; Jennifer also worked at The InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel on rooms division management analysis and implementation of housekeeping productivity.
WHY WAS SHE NOMINATED?
The success of Jennifer’s final position on the AMEA Future Leaders Program as guest relations manager at the age of 22, let Jennifer drive guest satisfaction performance by 8% in 6 months. It quickly became evident that Rooms Division was where her well-rounded hotelier skills could be nurtured for the success of both hotel operations as a whole as well as her continuing development as an hotelier. Jennifer joined the pre-opening team at InterContinental Regency Bahrain as Guest Relations Manager in December 2010, and Jennifer’s commitment towards both quality excellence and training & development for the team during the pre-opening stages of the hotel, supporting the championing of change during the period of unrest and the development of new hotel processes led her to develop into assistant front office manager within a year at the age of 24. A year and a half later, Jennifer’s continued dedication within the enhancement of the quality management cycle, driving team engagement, and strong financial performance has seen her move to the team at InterContinental Doha The City in September 2013 as front office manager.
WHAT DID HER TEAM SAY?
“Jennifer is a pro-active and exceptionally talented young leader who drives the Front Office team members towards activities and solutions that maximize performance and results. She is instrumental in propelling our Guest Satisfaction Survey Score to a consistent winning status making us Number One in the overall region of InterContinental Hotels Group India Middle East and Africa for the month of May 2013, in the same month we also received a Trip Advisor Excellence Award - Best Hotel in Bahrain for 5th month in a row. Aside from her talent in driving exceptional quality for InterContinental Regency Bahrain, Jennifer is conscientious and dependable, confidently handling the Front Office Department in the absence of Director of Rooms. Another recognizable endearing quality of Jennifer is her personal guests interaction where she is able to extend the warmth of our hotel to our guests, the numerous recognition letters from our guests is testimonial to this. Her process focused and setting up a collaborative in house glitch system is highly commendable, enabling us to resolve guests’ concerns promptly and efficiently. Jennifer’s resourcefulness and counsel is well respected and always taken into perspective among her peers and superiors alike.” Michael Koth, general manager and regional general manager, Bahrain & Kuwait IHG/InterContinental Regency Bahrain.
WHAT DID HER GUESTS SAY?
“Dealing with many hotels around the world, I have personally not dealt with a more qualified and caring person like Jennifer when it comes to guest relations and hospitality. In fact, the main reason why I and my family still come to Bahrain Regency Hotel is because Jennifer is the one leading the excellent team in this hotel. It really makes a difference dealing with people with this level of professionalism and with high level of detail ordination. When talking about True Guest Relation Manager, Jennifer is the only person that comes to mind! Keep us the great work and positive spirit.” Mazen Abdullatif Al-Sadat (Guest)
Please click through to next page to find out who else has been shortlisted…
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