We chatted with Ali Akbar Multi Property General Manager at the new Jaw Resort and Spa and Swan Executive Suites.

What first interested you and made you want to join the hospitality industry?

The hospitality Industry is considered to be a versatile and evergreen industry with global scope, this being one of the reasons for me to pursue a career in hospitality. The other option in mind was engineering and the oil industry, something that I was keen on as a teenager. Eventually, hospitality came naturally to me and I decided to stick to this stream, although I had been a science student. Opportunities were ripe in that moment and I decided to pursue a career in hospitality. All praise to the Almighty, I’ve had the great opportunity of introducing family resort concepts in Bahrain. Jaw Resort and Spa is my second family resort project of a unique private villa concept in this country.

You have worked your way up from waiter through various positions to GM. What drove you to strive for this level of success?

All praise to the Almighty, It has always been my ambition to be a leader and to sculp more leaders along my journey. I have always considered myself a student not a master. My motto is to learn, teach and grow together. I started with F&B (food and beverage), moved to the Rooms Division and then spread my wings to learn more about engineering, and immerse myself into projects which molded me into a successful operations manager. That mix of experience from different departments has allowed me stand where I am today in the hospitality industry. This is my Journey and there is still a lot to be achieved yet.

Your title now is Multi-Property GM. Please tell us a bit about Jaw and also the other property you are involved with.

Jaw Resort opened its doors to guests last August in the middle of the pandemic. The unique concept of private pool resort villas with complete privacy, undisturbed seclusion and stringent hygiene protocols was well received by the people of Bahrain, as we were packed to the rafters from day one for the summer days that followed. As we complete our first year of operation, we can now say, with assurance, that this project has been launched successfully, at a time when the global hospitality is struggling. Apart from Jaw Resort, another project in its pre-opening stage is Swan Executive Suites, located in the prime locality of Seef/ Sanabis. It is a family-oriented leisure and corporate concept city hotel, featuring luxury suites and penthouses. Located in the heart of the ever-bustling Seef district, Swan Executive Suites is the perfect haven for the business traveller, as well as for families looking for spacious accommodation and shopping destinations in the vicinity.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of the Job is having the leverage as well as the drive to introduce new concepts, constantly being in the process of upgrading hotel facilities for our valuable guests, so they always have something new to look forward to every time they return. I believe that there is always room for improvement, enhancement and innovation. The global hospitality industry has been stagnant in this Covid era, and it is now more vital than ever to find new ways to appeal to potential guests.

Do you have a hidden talent that you like to pursue when you’re not working?

I have always dreamt big. Once the thought appears, I usually sketch it down and gather the team for their feedback and input. This way I can ensure to learn from them and vice versa, till we are able to convert the thought into a reality. This is my passion, whether I am working or not working, these ethics are built into my system, I see no reason to change it. ✤