Why did you choose a career in hospitality?
It came about at the age of six when I was on holiday in South Africa at the Sun City. I was having breakfast and chanced upon a gentleman greeting guests, ensuring everything is fine and in order. Then I saw him at dinner, socialising with other hotel guests. It turned out he was the hotel’s general manager and that’s when I told myself, ‘this is exciting and I want to be able to do the same someday’.
how has your career progressed over the years?
I have always been passionate about F&B and I wanted to lead the operations side of it from A to Z. Having experienced amazing properties across various cities with Marriott, it has been a journey I will never regret. The JW Marriott Seoul, for example, ran the second largest F&B operation in Asia and it was a big break for me to take its F&B concepts to the next level. Throughout my career, I’ve worked my way up the ranks with a goal of emulating that gentleman I met in Sun City all those years ago.
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This is your first time as a GM; how have you prepared for this role?
I had the chance to lead the JW Marriott Dubai in the absence of its general manager, and that was my preparation ground for my current position. With almost 15 years in the industry, I would always refer to previous GMs I have worked with in the past and ask myself ‘How would they have done it?’, while of course adding my personal touch and with an innovative approach as well.
Tell us about the experience of having worked across 11-odd Marriott properties?
Each hotel has its own story; I have had the chance to be part of two pre-opening properties where action plans and goals are different from an existing hotel where challenges are maintenance and upkeep as an example. One amazing initiative was the ‘Culinary Art @ JW’ promotion at JW Marriott Seoul where we gathered master chefs from around the world, many of them famous Michelin-starred chefs, to showcase their culinary talents. The nice thing is that the promotion remained successful even after I left.
What are your initial impressions of the Courtyard Marriott World Trade Centre Abu Dhabi?
It has made its mark in Abu Dhabi being the first Marriott hotel here. What makes it even more impressive is the Courtyard brand itself, as it ties in with ‘Make Room For A Little Fun’ tagline.
What are some of the initiatives you are planning for the hotel?
Being a property that targets the young and modern guest, I look forward to enhance the offerings we have in our dining venues with a few ‘out of the box’ initiatives. One of which is the rooftop lounge — Up and Below — where we are excited to launch a new Friday theme called ‘Denim Day Party’. Being located in the business and residential district, we would like to engage more with the local communities.
Having worked across Europe and the Far East, how does the UAE rank with regards to hospitality offerings and infrastructure across its offerings?
For the past decade, the UAE has grown in the hospitality industry with amazing hospitality offerings for everyone, and Abu Dhabi is a fantastic destination to experience Arabic culture. The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority has done a huge amount in the past few years to promote the city’s rich heritage and culture. The hotel’s location is one of our advantages; we are in close proximity to sites such as The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Hosn, and the Heritage Village.
What would you say are the most significant achievements in your career?
I have had the opportunity to initiate programmes or offers in every hotel that I have worked at, some of which are being carried out until today. Another achievement would be leading the second largest F&B operation in Asia at the JW Marriott Seoul, as well as winning numerous awards across continents.
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