GETTING TO KNOW YOU:
HOTELIER’S EXPERT PANEL
Salah Eldesoky
Director of information technology
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
Salah Eldesoky describes himself as a “pre-opening addict” having overseen the smooth launch of a number of properties during his 10-year hotel technology career. He has experience in Hilton and Four Seasons hotels worldwide. He came on board for the pre-opening of the new Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi in April.
Mohad Nasim
IT manager
Vision Hotel Apartments
After joining Vision Group as a network administrator in 2006, Mohad Nasim quickly worked his way up to become IT manager for the group. He moved onto the hospitality side of the business in 2006 during the pre-opening of Vision Hotel Apartments in Abu Dhabi.
Roger Tabbal
Director of information technology
Yas Island Rotana Resort & Centro by Rotana, Yas Island
Roger Tabbal started his career as a network system administrator in a five-star Lebanon hotel in 2001 before being promoted to IT manager in 2005. One year later he moved to the UAE for the pre-opening of Fujairah Rotana and then to Amwaj Rotana and Arjaan by Rotana before taking up his current role in April.
Hakam Sourani
Director of IT and AV
Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi
Hakam Sourani’s career began with him overseeing IT in the finance sector. He later joined the hospitality industry and worked for a number of international hotel groups including Starwood. He moved to the Emirates Palace in the UAE capital three years ago.
Manoj Bhatnagar
IT director
The Village, One to One Hotels
Having clocked up more than 18 years in hotel IT departments, Manoj Bhatnager has worked for a number of international brands. His experience in India includes regional head of IT across Radisson’s hotels and overseeing IT for the pre-opening of the first Shangri-La property in India. He came to the Middle East as part of the pre-opening team for La Cigale in Doha, Qatar, before taking up his current role in January 2006.
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What are guests’ most common IT-related questions?
“If guests or colleagues have any kind of problem at all, even if it does not relate to IT, they always call IT.”
Salah Eldesoky, director of information technology, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi
“Is internet free? We explain it is the basic package for free, then they see the high-speed option and usually argue because they want it but don’t want to pay.”
Manoj Bhatnagar, IT director, The Village, Onetoone Hotel
“Often guests call to say their laptop is not working. A guest called in the middle of the night saying ‘my laptop isn’t working’. I went to his room and switched it on. He said ‘you are magic, how did you do that’.”
Roger Tabbal, director of information technology, Yas Island Rotana Resort & Centro by Rotana, Yas Island
“A lot of people forget their laptop chargers and ring to ask for one. They think one size fits all and get frustrated when we can’t help.”
Mohad Nasim, IT manager, Vision Hotel Apartments
“Guests return to their room around six and they need assistance connecting to the internet or say their iPod is not working and so on.”
Hakam Sourani, director of information Technology and Audio Visual, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi
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