Mazen El Jardali
General Manager, Majestic Arjaan by Rotana

The hospitality industry has tackled unprecedented challenges in the past year, courtesy of the pandemic. What one lesson or piece of wisdom will you carry into your professional life for years to come as a result?

When you encounter a brick wall, such as the challenges we faced in the past year because of the pandemic, the learning curve becomes exceptionally good. Complex changes cannot be controlled, so modifications, diversification, and adjustments must be made through adapting, responding, and planning. Certain basic principles have helped us prepare for this situation, such as being proactive, dedicated, and focused, optimising all opportunities with a meticulous attitude. Most important is to have strong roots in the local community, and maintain a direct connection with our customers, employees, local markets and communication channels. Living up to the values that are the backbone of our brand is essential to overcoming this challenge.

Did the recent lockdown and/or decrease in travel help you discover an aspect of Bahrain that you weren’t previously familiar with?

The most important point to highlight is the outstanding initiatives that were taken by the Government of Bahrain to support the people during these hard-hitting times and the new standards and procedures that were launched to maintain the health and safety of everyone. Also, we should not forget the government’s support of the hospitality industry. Citizens and residents of Bahrain have shown a high level of awareness and mostly complied with the safety guidelines to maintain overall well-being. The recent decrease in travel has encouraged local tourism, increased local demand for resorts and created alternative travel options in the Kingdom.

What are your personal and professional goals for 2021?

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our lives, and changed our understanding of normal phenomena. In 2021, I would like to be able to travel and see travellers come back to recapture a little bit of that normalcy. Professionally, I aim to continue positioning Majestic Arjaan by Rotana as the leading hotel apartment brand in Bahrain by launching new products, services, and promotions that meet the needs of local and GCC markets. We will also continue to give back to the community through our Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.