Petr Dubsky, the new General Manager at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, Bahrain originally joined the property in 2014 as Director of Food and Beverage. It was his first experience of working in the Middle East and he says he was struck by the region’s vibrant culture.
In 2016, he was promoted to Acting General Manager, before moving on to become a hotel General Manager in Saudi Arabia, and later in Oman.
Early this year, he was offered the opportunity to return to Bahrain and ‘The Dip’ to be its new General Manager. He gladly accepted the offer, knowing that returning to the property to guide the team once more would be a great next step for him.
The property was completely renovated in 2019, followed by the revamping of its restaurant outlets, namely Bo.Sabi (Asian cuisine) and Mondo, Taste of Italy. With Covid restrictions being eased and the island getting back to normal, Petr has been able to ‘hit the ground running’.
As we sit talking in the expansive and marble clad hotel lobby, Petr keeps an eye on the comings and goings of staff and guests. The hotel is starting to bustle again after Covid restrictions during the past two years virtually closed down the island’s hospitality sector.
How badly did the pandemic affect the hotel? Petr tells us the property had two choices when the pandemic started: close or keep going despite all the cost elements due to the minimal revenue coming in. He adds that their strategy, with the full support of the property’s owners National Hotels Company, was to stand resilient and remain open. This had also been the policy of Radisson hotels worldwide.
What qualities make a hotel stand out from its competitors? Petr believes that regardless of financial investment there would be no success without having a great team who share a “can-do” and “yes-I-can” mentality. He adds that guest satisfaction is the team’s top-most priority.
Having had leadership roles with the Radisson Hotel Group for 14 years around the world, he tells us that he’s learned that being an effective leader is about mastering all aspects of the business, ensuring guests’ expectations are met, and providing an ideal work environment for employees.
He also credits his success over the past 14 years with being lucky enough to have been guided by intelligent and talented mentors, and to have been strongly supported by his family.
‘I’ve learned in life that we must have balance. Work keeps us moving forward, achieving more every day. However, behind every successful man there is a woman who understands and motivates him’.
Petr Dubsky