What makes a good GM?

1. “It’s overused, but you need to have the passion for the job because you can’t do 14-15 hours, and keep smiling at the guest. People realise it’s fake. If you don’t have passion, you won’t succeed. You can only fake it for so long.”
2. “Times are changing. You used to start as a specialist, then work your way up. General manager, as the title implies, means you need to be a generalist. You need to be able to let go and empower your people.
3. “The more you know, the more you realise how little you know. You have to update yourself every day. Something may have worked in the past, but if you don’t change, it may not work in the future. The worst phrase in the English language is ‘I already know that’.”

MY THREE FAVOURITE THINGS:

1. The beach: “The 500m pristine beach is unique in the UAE. It’s natural and I haven’t seen any other beach like it here.”
2. Bukhara, the Indian restaurant: “I wasn’t a fan of Indian food before, but when I tried it for the first time… it’s fantastic. It helps to bring in the crowds; we have people from Abu Dhabi coming there to try the food.”
3. The hoteliers: “The team is ultimately selling this place. When we see the feedback, the service is what sets us apart from the competition. The unwavering passion that we have is second to none.”

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