Burj Al Arab head chef and butcher 'took bribes'

Posted by: To Answer
9 Jan 2012
Italian and the Austrian are deported... why? They were the first & prime accused. They first got linked with those four suppliers and then had other two Indians involve in it. Moreover, do you think they didn?t got bribe for doing this? It's totally disgusting!

Posted by: thirsty
9 Jan 2012
Have you tried the coffee there?! It must be the same situation as its terrible!

Posted by: Andre
10 Jan 2012
I think this reveal the dirty market of procurement that is being taking place in hotels, not only in Dubai, but across the United Arab Emirates. Chefs will naturally influence in regards to the quality of products they are looking for. Those procurement "bribing" practices are in every hotel. Each corporate office of international chains is drafting a code of conduct in regards to that matter. What I am surprised is that we place only an emphasis on Burj Al Arab, whereas we don't talk about those suppliers as well.

Posted by: essam bahri
10 Jan 2012
Dear Karim, I guess you are working with Jumeirah so taking their side actually. May be your name (Karim) does not exists in Jumeirah means you are writing with any other name, who knows. @ people who left country, how can it happen suddenly that they flew away and 2 Indians were charged and by the way why they flew at the same time when 2 indians are at charge for the same matter where their name was involved. I am not an Indian at all, but fair is fair. If you happen to have time, please review comments over ehotelier.com about Jumeirah group, I met with many people who worked with Jumeirah before (as I stated earlier), they admit the factor of discrimination at Jumeirah then how can you deny it here. Have you ever seen an Indian Executive Chef at any Jumeirah property, or any Indian, Chinese, Srilankan, Pakistani, Malaysian GM at any of Jumeirah property, answer is NO. Now don't say that these countries have no capable hoteliers or they never wanted to be at Jumeirah. i can't write much here, but in private I can give you more 10 examples of what has been happening at Jumeirah, and of course you know it. So please do not pretend to show loyality for that matter which does not exist. Have you ever heard that Marriott, Ritz Carlton, Foru Seasons are discriminating people, NO. it's better if you check the background of your people and then tell us that you are right. Here is nothing personal, but about the facts only which were are sharing together. One guest wanted to book a birthday party at Burj Al Arab - and his request was never replied only after knowing that the family was Bangleshi, waooooo, so what do you think now. If you want I can share many more cases with you.

Posted by: Kevin
10 Jan 2012
I m very suprised that post again Jumeirah are visible. Normally in the past every time I try only to raise some critics the editor never admitted my post. Jumeirah is like many other company is struggling to expnad and establish its brand outside UAE and it is so committed that sometime forget to check the criminal record of partner. just look the owner of new appointed property in Rome....google can help on this. About referral system, is it a case that all GM ,s are englihs or german? mostly woman?

Posted by: Race
10 Jan 2012
@essam you are correct , even Burj AL Arab discriminate guests as well . Germans , British are treated like gods and Chinese and other country guests are treated like shit. May be kareem should go stand in front of burj al Arab and see the discrimination himself , you can see poor Chinese guests after checking out carry their own luggage and walking on the bridge to get in the buses waiting outside. I don't think hotel takes any other nationality seriously , one day I was standing at burj lobby and saw a group of Chinese were taken away by the hotel staff like goats in the truck , where in I noticed when a European gues came there were hotel staff lined up to welcome them . We as an outsider can make out this discrimination . I don't about the staff getting discreminated and I am sure European bosses are discriminating the staff and treat them as slaves ....jumeirah should learn from one &only , four seasons and the ritz about the customer service where everyone treated equally

Posted by: Gunther
11 Jan 2012
Somehow I find it strange that a pastry chef should be involved in purchasing meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. I am sure there must have been an other monkey business for him to be deported. I worked over 25 years in a high profile company in Dubai and all I can say that nothing would surprise me.

Posted by: Bob
11 Jan 2012
This has turned into a board where people are coming out and taking their vent out on the Jumeirah group for "RACIAL DISCRIMINATION". As a person outside the Jumeirah group I think it is time for the Editor to do an investigative journalism into this. I write investigative journalism or watchdog journalism, since its the first time someone has written an article of this nature and I find comments which has turned from the original investigation of bribe into racial discrimination. Since Racial discrimination is an offence whether at place of work or otherwise it needs to be looked into seriously and the people who have written about it should give an unprejudiced opinion. @ Gunther - I do find it strange as per the article that 2 Europeans have been deported. Is there more to it? Why isnt someone from the group not saying anything about it and why were they deported? Can it be because that they were the 'LINK' to a bigger gang of bribe takers? They could have been the link who knew about a big operation, whereas the two who are in the docks would have no idea about it. So the moment they are deported by the company the 'LINK HAS BROKEN". This is what a layman would think about this article. Mr. Gunther according to me the pastry chef does not smell the money he receives and says that it smells only of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables and not pastries. Only hard earned money smells of sweat and only those people who earn it in the right and hard way would smell it, not these bribe takers. So I would request the editor to get to the bottom of it with investigative journalism which would help and clear this issue.Regarding bribes let me say this that both parties "the people who receive bribes" as well as those who "give bribes" are equally wrong and can be subject to legal jurisdiction. Let this be an eye opener for all hoteliers and vendors.

Posted by: Honest Jack
11 Jan 2012
I wonder when the same will happen at Emirates Flight Catering!!!! EKFC is one of the most corruption infested companies in the UAE. It is amazing the amount of leverage some suppliers have at EKFC!!!!! It is shocking that a company would appear professional on the outside but when you look closely you would be shocked!!!

Posted by: Charm
11 Jan 2012
Dear Mr.Bob, let the editor do an investigate journalism , he will be shocked to see hoe the guests are discreminated in jumeirah Burj Al Arab, I am not sure about the staff working there but may be that also can be investigated . Mr.Bob you can see it from the lobby how the Chinese and other nationalities are treated like second class citizenship . I am sure Chinese pay more than other guest but as they are from Asia and do not have the advantage of the language they are treated badly. I am from hong kong and I have seen this while eating in their restaurant junsui .. We were treated like we made a forced entry to the hotel as Allen's . I was a shame that managers and staff were running after the European guest smiling but not a single person looked at us and smiled the only person came to us was security to tell us don't take photos