Dean Zhu
Why did you apply for the World’s Greatest Hospitality Talent competition?
I have known Emaar Hospitality Group through LinkedIn for couple years. EHG is not only one of the most outstanding hospitality business company in the world, but also the most valuable real estate company in Dubai. While taking my master courses for hotel real estate management at Michigan State University, I have done several researches on different real estate companies all over the world. Emaar Properties PJSC is a great mix of all kinds of real estate outlets, including hotels, resorts, shopping malls, business centres and residences. Most of my work experiences are from hotel, resort and club operations. A wider hospitality management job is what I need now, so I applied for a property advisor position through Emaar Careers. Anusha Midhun from Oliv kindly introduced the WGHT programme to me after reviewing my resume. WGHT programme provides a great opportunity for people like me who needs an organic environment to grow faster into a young leader in 3-5 years. Backed by EHG, the training programme will equip me across all vital departments in order to explore more potentials from me. This is exactly my goal in the coming five years: keep challenging myself and exploring hospitality industry.
What do you think you can offer the hospitality industry?
Besides the education and work experiences I have achieved in the past six years, the most essential elements or characteristics that I can offer the hospitality industry are personality and attitude. I was born in a tourism and beverage business family. Serving people and dealing with different situations are what I have been learning throughout my entire life. I have recognised that the hospitality industry is an easily entered industry, but not an easy-to-retain industry. How to think and act positively every day are what I have done at each of my positions. So I am always thinking from the other person’s point of view for both customers and co-workers. My professors and friends see me as a person who shows initiatives for everything. I enjoy leading the team and helping the whole group reach a better goal. I like meeting new people because I could always learn from them. This is also why I have chosen hospitality industry as my lifelong career. I can feel and understand people because I am working in a people’s industry. In short, the hospitality industry keeps me passionate and curious for my daily life, and I give all my strength and vitality back to it.
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What are your ambitions?
Before I started my master's programme at MSU two years ago, my dream was to own and manage a boutique hotel with unique and outstanding products and services. That’s why I tried to rotate at all departments at hotels and clubs — in order to deeply understand service. Recently, after experiencing a great number of new-concept city models. I revised my ambitions. I want to oversee a business complex, which owns hotel, memberships, high-end shopping and dining facilities, offices and residences. It requires me to understand how to manage different hospitality business functions. I would like to see how an organised and high-quality community is created and how to provide people with an enjoyable and interactive environment. I believe Emaar is the best place to help me realise my dream.
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