Tell us something personal, what is your greatest strength?
I’m an optimist – I believe that having a negative outlook will not take a person anywhere.
There’s a huge supply of hotels in Bahrain, yet no sign of an increase in demand. Do you have a view on this?
In terms of the market industry, I am also positive. There huge opportunities happening in Bahrain which includes the construction of a new exhibition centre and sports city near the BIC in Sakhir. These projects are the growth pillars in Bahrain’s MICE business industry, which in turn, lead to more investors and visitors.
In a fiercely competitive market, how do remain at the forefront of the hospitality game?
The good news is that we’re ahead of our game. We always benchmark ourselves and ensure that we perform better than anybody else.
Al Areen Palace & Spa is very unique – you will not find a resort of this size (10,000sqm. spa space) in the GCC. Even our bedrooms are boasting sprawling space with a full-sized pool, temperature-controlled Jacuzzi, majlis and courtyard. We are also offering competitive rates for our villas. In terms of the spa, 70% of the treatments and technologies we provide are not available anywhere else in Bahrain.
We make sure that we stay unique by offering exceptional experiences that one can only find in Al Areen Palace & Spa.
What has been the biggest challenges and successes of the past year?
It was a challenge to bring the families in our hotel. However, we improved our strategies to bring in GCC families to Al Areen Palace & Spa. I am proud to say that 56% of our record are Saudis, 36% are Kuwaitis while the remaining percentage are from Bahrain; this includes expatriate families who live in the region.
What makes you stand out from the rest?
Al Areen Palace & Spa is a destination. Therefore, we mirror this in everything: from the service, staff and aura of the hotel. Furthermore, our asset is our people. We always look after our staff and consider them our family because they are the stronghold of our hotel. At the end of the day, if we don’t give that quality to our staff, they will not return the same standard of service.