Bahrain Confidential interviews the leaders in Bahrain hospitality about what’s new, what’s next, and what makes them the best…
Mr. Desmond Acheson
General Manager
Ramada City Centre
Tell us something personal, what attracts you to working for luxury hotels?
From a totally personal angle, the attraction of the hotel business was originally that it allows you to travel all over the world as part of your day-to-day work. Also, that it allows you to see and be immersed cultures and environments that you would never have the chance to experience otherwise. The excitement of this is multifaceted in that you meet so many people from hugely different backgrounds; you get to experience their lifestyle; to taste their food; to perhaps learn some of their language; understand their humour.
In a fiercely competitive market, how do you plan on remaining at the forefront of the hospitality game?
At the Ramada Manama City Centre, we are very fortunate that our owner, Dr. Adel Bukhowa, has invested in quality. This allows us to present our 140 key hotel to our guests as a truly excellent 4-star product, where they can expect consistently excellent rooms combined with friendly, discreet and efficient service from our team of professionals. And all this allied to two excellent restaurants (the Levantine Reem Al Bawadi and international fare from Patio) and a fully-equipped spa and outdoor pool. But at the top of all – is our focus on providing consistently excellent service.
What are your plans for the upcoming Formula 1?
The Formula 1 brings the eyes of the world onto the Kingdom and is a chance for us all in the tourist business to work closely with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition team in supporting them to promote Bahrain to people all over the globe. The real challenge to us all though is to build on this event and not to rely on it. We need to work with Tourism authorities to create even more reasons to come to enjoy what Bahrain has to offer.
I believe that the provision of reliable, consistent and excellent service will, in the long run, be one of the primary reasons that persuade customers to keep coming back week after week, month after month, and year after year
What has been the biggest challenges and successes of the past year?
The biggest challenge for us at the Ramada Manama City Centre in 2017 has been to get our name on the map. There are hundreds of excellent hotels in the Kingdom, all of which offer something special in their own big or small way. The challenge for us is knowing how to attract potential clients to choose your property over that of anyone else. And beyond that challenge, is the one of how to attract those customers on an ongoing basis – not just for a one-off special event. That brings me back to the point I made earlier – where I believe that the provision of reliable, consistent and excellent service will, in the long run, be one of the primary reasons that persuade customers to keep coming back week after week, month after month, and year after year
What’s next for Ramada City Centre?
Our immediate focus now is on the upcoming Holy month of Ramadan during which time we aim to provide some excellent and exciting offerings at Reem al Bawadi.