Tell us something personal, how would you describe yourself in one word?
Inquisitive – I am very inquisitive by nature and this helps me constantly learn from previous experiences. This is a positive driving force, as I am constantly on top of my game and gives me the ability to lead my team and drive them to success. But it can also be a double edge sword, because I am critical of myself all the time.
If you can change one thing about hospitality in general, what would it be?
Truth be told, the hospitality industry is already in a constant cycle of change. It has kept us on our toes. The industry has been evolving at a rapid pace over the past years, having to evolve to the needs of the modern traveller. We have been innovating & evolving from our learnings & industry best practices we have earned from the past 2 years of being in operation.
Can you shed light on your vision for the hotel this 2020?
The team & I have an extensive growth plan based on our learnings from the past 2 years. Without revealing too much details, the hotel will be adding new Meetings & Conference space. We will also be adding bistro twisted 25, Addition of a outdoor BBQ Party area. Last but not the least, we will also be adding the Dome, our outdoor & indoor pool facilities allowing our guests to enjoy the facilities throughout the year.
Taking this opportunity, we are also pleased to announce that we will soon be Wyndham Grand Manama & Resort with the addition of our new Resort facilities located within Bahrain Bay. We are grateful for the efforts of the Bahrain Tourism Authority (BTEA) to improve the leisure segment in Bahrain and giving us an opportunity to positively impact this endeavour.
What have been the biggest challenges and successes of the past year?
We at the Wyndham Grand Manama have identified a challenge with positioning the hotel at the right place, at the right price at right time in the pursuit of the ideal customer journey. Each hotel needs to strike a balance between these three components to be able to achieve guests’ satisfaction and financial targets set.
The key indicator of our success is that we have consistently achieved our targeted goals in all aspects for the second year in a row. It goes without saying that this could not be achieved without the unwavering & outstanding support of our owners, the Al Qaed family, the commitment of our employees as well as the support of the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts corporate team.
Is there a particular saying or motto that guides you?
The core ethos of the hospitality industry has always been the interaction with guests from all walks of life. At the Wyndham Grand Manama, we make an active effort to engage with our guests. Every single person we come across adds value to our experience and helps us drive the property to its best. We strive to live by the words “People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care” (Quote from Teddy Roosevelt).