An accomplished hotelier with decades of experience in the industry, the Complex General Manager of The Westin and Le Méridien City Centre Bahrain talks about his exciting new role, his plans for the properties and his travel bucket list!

Welcome to Bahrain and congratulations on your new appointment! Can you share what your role will entail and what you are most looking forward to?
I am delighted to oversee the operations at The Westin and Le Méridien City Centre Bahrain properties. I consider it a privilege to work here with such a talented team. Similar to my focus in all my previous roles, my priorities are to ensure that our guests receive our utmost attention and that we provide services that meet their expectations, all with a smile. In line with this, I am fully responsible for a wonderful team of colleagues whom I look forward to getting to know, and I aim to set an example for them of how we should treat our guests and each other. My job is to create an environment where everyone on the team can succeed, and I strive to lead by example.

The Westin and Le Méridien City Centre Bahrain are two award-winning hotels in Bahrain. How do you plan to further elevate the properties and their offerings?
It is still very early in my tenure, so I am busy building relationships with the team, our key partners and customers. That said, I have a varied commercial background and a strong interest in the culinary world, so I will initially focus on those areas to build upon what are already very successful properties. Additionally, I want to review our excellent sustainability initiatives and our wellness strategy, both for our guests in the unique Heavenly Spa by Westin and within the hotel teams. I look forward to building on the existing local community partnerships and exploring avenues for further growth. Finally, I want to see how we can innovate and create new guest experiences that are unique to us and our brands.

As a seasoned hotelier who has worked with multiple international brands, what makes Marriott Hotels particularly appealing to customers?
I have a history with Marriott that dates back to 2001. I have witnessed the incredible emergence of the Marriott Bonvoy programme and the power it has in creating loyalty beyond reason. Marriott International is the largest hotel company in the world, with more than 30 brands and nearly 9,000 hotels in 141 countries and territories. No other company can provide such a diversified portfolio of hotels and offer choices to every kind of consumer in almost every country. What also stands out is the consistent quality from hotel to hotel and country to country.

Having lived in the Middle East for many years, what do you enjoy the most about living and working in this region?
I have lived in the UAE, KSA and now Bahrain. Despite this extended period, I am always learning about the heritage and culture of each destination. What stands out to me is the kindness and friendliness of the people, as well as the incredible life experiences that my family and I have had. I feel I am on an amazing journey of curiosity and discovery and I am delighted to be in Bahrain for this next leg.

Do you have any travel destinations on your bucket list that you haven’t had the chance to visit yet?
Petra, Jordan – one of the oldest cities in the world that we would love to explore; Salalah, Oman – we would love to experience the monsoon/khareef season and its natural beauty; Tokyo, Japan – a destination for cultural discovery and delicious food; and Italy – I love Italy and I look forward to visiting Sicily very soon. ✤