Hilton's new recruit

Hilton’s new regional director of sales Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean, Victor Louis, says getting the right team in place is paramount.

ATN: What is your hospitality industry background?
I have been part of this industry for 14 years now — I started my career as a food and beverage trainee and advanced to the position of assistant front office manager at the Olympic Hotel in Egypt during my collegiate years.

I joined the Hilton national sales office in Egypt in 1996 as assistant salesmanager and shortly after, left the Hilton to work for the Sheraton group.

I rejoined Hilton in November 2000 and worked my way up from sales and marketing to the position of general manager of Hilton Fujairah — a post I held for two years before taking on my new role.

ATN: What are your main responsibilities in this role?
I will be overseeing the sales teams at18 properties acrossthe Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean.

My primary responsibility is to devise the strategy to drive sales and revenue into all the Hilton properties — existing and upcoming —across all the brands including Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Garden Inn, Doubletree by Hilton and Conrad in all the Gulf countries, plus Mauritius and Seychelles.

I will also identify new markets and work with my team to put together action plans to approach these.

In addition, I will be in close contact with our existing partners; fostering long-term business relationships.

ATN: What is your action plan to achieve your aims?
My main aim is to drive sales and showcase our products and services. As a firm we always believe in planning, innovation and discipline.

My plan is to devise a strategy that is organised and creative; but flexible enough to weather the current climate.

ATN: What are your biggest challenges in this role?
I aim to put together a dream sales team and my biggest challenge at the moment is finding the right talent to fit our company.

ATN: What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
The faster and more exciting pace of the sales environment and the challenge of building new business relationships and looking beyond traditional sales tactics to devise a powerful sales strategy.