The Fairmont Dubai was FRHI Hotels & Resorts’ first property outside of the US; it opened in February 2002. At the time, it was one of the taller buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road, alongside the Dubai World Trade Centre. Fourteen years later, the area is busy, with multiple hotels just metres away from the Fairmont Dubai. The competition is fierce and hoteliers are looking to constantly reinvent and rejuvenate.
In such an environment, Robert-Jan Woltering joined FRHI towards the end of 2015 as regional vice president UAE and general manager of Fairmont Dubai. With more than 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry, this is not his first stint in Dubai. Previously with AccorHotels, Woltering was executive assistant general manager of the Sofitel Dubai City Centre Hotel and Residence for two years until 1999.
Now back in the UAE, Woltering will oversee the overall operation, performance and strategic direction of all FRHI properties in the United Arab Emirates, in addition to his role of general manager of Fairmont Dubai.
Woltering tells Hotelier Middle East: “I’m first of all general manager of Fairmont Dubai, which is a great honour and privilege because I do feel this is an iconic hotel which has led the way for many, many years.” He reveals confidently that his plan for the hotel is to reposition it in the market.
Continuing, he says: “I have a secondary prime role, and it is the regional vice president role, where I lead a few teams.” He ticks them off: Raffles Dubai, the Fairmonts on The Palm Jumeirah, Abu Dhabi Ajman, Dubai, and the upcoming Fujairah and Abu Dhabi Marina properties. “Those are very interesting responsibilities where I totally can drive my passion, my innovation and creativity, and maybe assist the teams to reach higher summits,” he adds.
Among his plans include an unwavering focus on food and beverage. In addition to the repositioning of the Fairmont Dubai, he highlights his wish to improve F&B quality. One of the changes that will take place from this month is hiring Tuomas Heikkinen as the new executive chef of the property — he joins from sister property Raffles Dubai.
He says: “Do we want to give it [F&B] an extra kick? Yeah, for sure. Is it going to be something totally different to what we’ve done in the past? No. But that’s because we were extremely good in the past. We just want to maintain that level and maybe improve it a little bit.”
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