Wael El Behi has a reputation for developing successful hospitality teams in both Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, so much so that he now has 13 properties under his belt, and the close attention of many hotel owners.

“I started my hospitality career in my home country of Tunisia back in 1993 as a reservation clerk after finishing my studies. I worked for a local hotel chain, but in a big property with 425 rooms, centrally located in Tunis. After making my way up the ranks, I moved to Corinthia Hotels International and opened three resorts across Tunisia. One of the general managers I worked very closely with at that time moved to Dubai; one day I received a call from him out-of-the-blue, he said: ‘So Wael, are you ready to come to the UAE?’ I told him ‘Yes, I am ready!’”

El Behi arrived in the United Arab Emirates in 2002, as director of sales and marketing in Safir Deira (now Coral Deira Dubai), the first four-star dry hotel in the area. “From there I had the opportunity to move to Abu Dhabi, to work in the same capacity with Mafraq Hotel. I stayed with them for about two years, but you see, after arriving into the UAE for a life in Dubai, I had certain longings to return. I then had the opportunity to join Coral Hotel International, so I came back to work as executive assistant manager at Coral Deira Dubai.”

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El Behi then progressed as general manager through a number of Dubai hotels including Coral Boutique Villas, Coral Hotels international, Suha Hotel Apartments, Auris Hotel Management, Ramada Downtown, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, before joining First Central Hotel Suites in February 2016.”

Commenting on the large number of positions he has held in hotpitality, El Behi adds: “In the end it’s all about your contribution to the industry – this experience in different hotels has helped me develop my skills, I select the right people to work for too.” He adds: “When you work with an international brand everything is done systematically, so in the end your role is to execute the orders. But if you are in a small company, you feel eager to contribute and develop new practices, you have more freedom and this will help you become a better manager.

El Behi admits he rarely stays still for more than a few years: “It’s all about career, about getting to the next step. A hotel manager is a hotel manager, sometimes you need to be stable in your career for two to three years to really prove yourself in a role, but I believe hospitality is always the same philosophy, but in different locations.”

BARSHA HEIGHTS

El Behi joined First Central Hotel Suites having previously spent close to five years with R Holding, the owners of Ramada Downtown Dubai, where he worked for two years and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham JBR and stayed almost three years. “I think my mission was completed there and I needed a new challenge. What attracted me to First Central Hotel Suites was the large room inventory and this is exciting and challenging mission to accomplish for me and my team.”

First Central Hotel Suites is located in Barsha Heights (formerly a part of TECOM until June 2016), offering 524 apartments and rooms, 24-hour front desk, gym, separate male and female saunas and a rooftop pool with views across Dubai.

“When First Central Hotel Suites opened in late 2011, TECOM was completely different – certainly with less hotels and rooms.”