Joining the island’s luxury hospitality space in a few short months is Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour. The hotel is Hilton’s first luxury brand in Bahrain opening in the heart of Manama, overlooking Bahrain Bay. While our eyes are set on the operational launch of the luxury hotel and one of the most sought-after sushi spots that opens with it, we sat down with Chantel Moore the General Manager of Conrad Bahrain to get an idea of what’s in store for guests at the property.
With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Moore has been a part of several hotel openings and operations. She was named among the 25 most influential women hotelier leaders in the Middle East and is revered as one of the dynamic leaders with a successful track record of completing complex projects in the industry.
What, in your opinion, sets Conrad BFH apart from other luxury hotels in Bahrain?
Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour sets itself apart with a seamless guest experience. As a bold and empowering brand, brought to Bahrain by Hilton as a flagship property, we’re very excited about the complete luxury experience it will provide guests from the moment they make a reservation.
This particular Conrad is a residential all-suite property with larger room space, perfect for staycations at a purely luxury level. The concierge-driven service makes for an exclusive experience replete with great dining options and a view of the Bahrain Financial Harbour. Our penthouses on two floors of the hotel are key attractions and come with swimming pools, overlooking Bahrain Bay.
How will you benchmark your success at the property?
We have several quality assurance programs and luxury campaigns ready to roll out. The way I see their success is by measuring their effectiveness against our competition as well as the guest experience. As a luxury product, we’ll also participate in the Forbes Travel Guide.
What are some amenities or services designed for guests at the hotel?
Conrad Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to crafting unforgettable experiences through its unique blend of bold design and curated experiences. We have a bold design, featuring artists from Bahrain. We are also a LEED building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). It is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which means that we’ll be opening with sustainability at the forefront. We’ve also enabled technology in our operations, for example, the Digital Key which is available to all members of Hilton Honors. With this Digital Key, you can choose your room on the app and have the seamless experience of actually using all of the areas that have a digital touchpoint at the hotel – whether it’s at Conrad BFH or other Hilton hotels worldwide.
What can guests look forward to in terms of dining experiences at Conrad BFH?
The amazing SUSHISAMBA! We’ll be opening the much-awaited restaurant with 185 seats on the rooftop with an infinity pool, a lounge, great DJs, and a private dining area. We’ll have live Sushi counters/cooking stations, and the best of the Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisines. It’ll have great views for the tourists and I believe it’s something everyone in Bahrain is looking forward to.
Among our other F&B options are the Japanese-themed lobby coffee shop, Café TOMO and a 50-seat lounge Trade Room which can also be used for business gatherings.
Looking back at your journey in the hospitality industry over the last 30 years, is there a memorable experience or anecdote that has shaped the way you operate in this sector?
My experience in the industry runs very deep, having led hotel openings, closures, handovers, and operations. Throughout the journey, I believe the most important thing was to make sure that I built teams that believed in me and had great mentors around me. A positive attitude and surrounding myself with people who looked after me helped my career and shaped me as a person.
What’s the best leadership lesson you’ve learned and from whom?
The best lesson I’ve learned is that you need to be willing to do it yourself. Starting as a telephone operator at a 3-star hotel in Darwin, Australia, the journey to managing Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour has been long and humbling. If the housekeeping manager is off and there’s a lot to do, I’d go make a bed myself. To be a good leader, you need to be able to foster that sense of ownership in the team, empower them to make decisions, do the work, and look after each other.
What is your vision for Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour?
My vision for the hotel is for it to be Bahrain’s luxury hotel of choice and the most successful F&B venue in the Kingdom. This vision also extends to Bahrain Bay as an area and the Kingdom as a whole.
What do you consider to be major challenges and opportunities, facing Bahrain’s luxury hospitality sector in the coming years?
With the Kingdom’s 2030 vision and BTEA’s efforts to attract more tourists to the island, there is a need for luxury products in Bahrain. It will pave the way for more F&B concepts as well. Rather than challenges, I see in the coming years the of opening more luxury hotels & venues that will support the growth in this niche market and attract further footfall into the tourism sector.