The of mind Mattar What makes IHG’s new regional MD tick AUGUST 2021 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATIONEARLY BIRD RATES AVAILABLE UNTIL THURSDAY AUGUST 5 #CATERERAWARDS WWW.CATERERMIDDLEEAST.COM/AWARDS BOOK YOUR TABLES NOW FOR ATTENDANCE ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: ANTHONY CHANDRAN TABLE SALES EXECUTIVE TEL: +971 4 444 3685 EMAIL: ANTHONY.CHANDRAN@ITP.COM FOR SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: JAMES SPERRING SALES EXECUTIVE TEL: +971 4 444 3477 EMAIL: JAMES.SPERRING@ITP.COM FOR NOMINATION ENQUIRIES, CONTACT: PAUL CLIFFORD GROUP EDITOR, HOSPITALITY GROUP TEL: +971 4 444 3337 EMAIL: PAUL.CLIFFORD@ITP.COM CEREMONY: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL DUBAI, BUSINESS BAY SPONSOR CAT Awards'21_House Ad (1).indd 129/07/2021 08:50:50CAT Awards'21_House Ad (1).indd 129/07/2021 08:50:50 In this issue 3 August 2021 hoteliermiddleeast.com Features 22 IHG’s Haitham Mattar tells us all about his plans for the group 28 The region’s concierges on the weird and wonderful requests they get 34 What to expect from 25hours Dubai One Central when it opens 36 How is Ciel progressing and what’s next for The First Group? We chat to Haitham Mattar Inside 25hours Dubai THIS MONTHIn this issue hoteliermiddleeast.com August 2021 4 Regulars 6 Checking In 8 Trending 12 Careers 38 Talking Heads 44 Suppliers 48 Checking Out 50 Secret Hotelier Meet Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi’s new GM Checking into the world’s largest Hampton by Hilton The latest on the Red Sea ProjectThe word 5 August 2021 hoteliermiddleeast.com Paul Clifford, Group Editor Hello, Stepping into the shoes of someone who was rightly regarded as an industry titan must be tough, but that’s exactly what this month’s cover star Haitham Mattar has done. The bosses at IHG Hotels & Resorts took their time to make sure the right person was appointed as Pascal Gauvin’s successor, but in Mattar they are confident they have him. For his part, the new managing director for the region doesn’t seem fazed. Throughout our meeting his determination and drive was evident. “A relentless pursuit of excellence,” was how he put it. I can’t wait to see how he gets on in the months and years ahead. Also pursuing excellence are the region’s top concierges, who share some of their most heartwarming and memorable requests from page 28. With the increasing use of technology in hotels its great to see how much the human touch still matters. Being personable is something Gauvin was well known for, and while Mattar is clearly his own man, the engaging MD has his teams and guests at the forefront of hismind. Read the full interview on page 22. Published by and © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. 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PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Martin Chambers Group Editor Paul Cliff ord Editorial Editor Simon Ritchie Tel: +971 4 444 3550 email: simon.ritchie@itp.com Deputy Editor Kohinoor Sahota Tel: +971 4 444 3384 email: kohinoor.sahota@itp.com Reporter Josh Corder Tel: +971 4 444 3358 email: josh.corder@itp.com Advertising Commercial Director Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 email: sally.whittam@itp.com Sales Executive James Sperring Tel: +971 4 444 3477 email: james.sperring@itp.com International Sales Manager Amanda Stewart Tel: +44 7908 117 333 email: amanda.stewart@itp.com ITP Live General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com Studio Art Editor Gerald Du Designer Junemar Tulipas Photography Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Fritz John Asuro, Ajith Narendra Production & Distribution Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Circulation Distribution and Circulation Manager Evijin Pathrose Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Marketing Director of Awards and Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davieshoteliermiddleeast.com August 2021 6 Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island The new hotel’s lobby CHECKING IN The world’s largest Hampton hotel opens in Ras Al Khaimah7 August 2021 hoteliermiddleeast.com The past 16 months have been a rallying success for Ras Al Khaimah’s hospitality sector. Dynamic, adaptable and always looking ahead, the northern emirate has consistently looked like a place barrelling towards the future. But take a closer look and you’ll come to the surprising realisation that no new hotel has opened in the emirate since the pandemic. That is until now, with the lanch of Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island. A Hampton for the record books Entering an industry as competitive as RAK, Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island had to do so with a bang. And with 515 rooms, the most of any Hampton in the world, it has certainly done so. It is also one of the rst beachfront and all-inclusive Hamptons in the world, boasting a 750m private beach. Other facilities include a wellness centre with seven treatment rooms, a gym, and six F&B outlets. As a hotel primed and ready for families, there’s also water sports facilities and a kid’s club to leave the little ones while the parents hangout poolside. Top dining venues from Dubai Restaurants in the property include all-day dining spot Flavors, the Surfs Up food truck; pool bar H2O and lobby café The View. However, there is also a CLAW BBQ and Karma Kafe (which will open in October). CLAW and Karma Kafe are two to keep an eye on, both standing as Dubai concepts brought over to RAK for the rst time. It is hoped both create a nightlife perspective to the resort (and the emirate), helping turn Hampton by Hilton into not just a place for families, but for friends, too. Located on Marjan Island Sitting on the Arabian Gulf, Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island nds itself brushing shoulders with other top resorts at the destination. Also on the island is the Hilton Marjan Island, DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, Rixos Bab Al Bahr and more. In total, the island provides almost eight kilometres of pristine beachfront, giving travellers plenty of area to roam around after sunset. Moreover, Jebal Jais, the UAE’s highest peak, is located 86 kilometres inland from the property.hoteliermiddleeast.com August 2021 8 Guido de Wilde, the chief operating of cer for Marriott International in the Middle East, has of cially retired. Wilde rst announced his retirement in March this year, with the end of last month being his nal days at the company. The COO spent the past 35 years within the group, working across ITT Sheraton, Starwood and then Marriott. In a heartfelt farewell message, the powerful hotelier said he never imagined he would reach the COO position. He said: “After a 38-year career in hospitality, of which 35 years with Marriott International (ITT Sheraton, Starwood, Marriott), I have decided to retire and to close this chapter of my life. “I am writing this message with mixed emotions. On the one hand I know I am doing the right thing by giving my life Guido de Wilde retires from Marriott Fairmont Taghazout Bay has opened on 18 hectares of beachfront land in Morocco. It is the rst time Accor has taken the Fairmont brand to the sandy Moroccan shores. The resort has 146 keys, spread across rooms, suites and villas. All rooms have views of the Atlantic Ocean. Accor described the resort’s design as ‘semi-nomadic’, drawing inspiration from Amazigh cultures. The hotel has four restaurants, two themed bars and a tea lounge. They include The Commons, Beef and Reef, Jazz Bar Nola, and a Japanese outlet. Fairmont Spa is a 1,400 sq m space dedicated to all things wellness, including traditional hammam rituals. Fairmont Taghazout Bay opens in Morocco a new direction but on the other hand I will miss working for Marriott International and with the fantastic teams and colleagues.” He went on to say that he plans to live in the UAE with his wife, but will spend more time in his home country of Belgium. Replacing De Wailde is Sandeep Walia. Walia joined Marriott in 2005. He was rst an EAM F&B at The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh, then GM at The Ritz-Carlton in Moscow. Since then he has held a variety of VP roles across the globe. With Walia’s move up to COO, Michel Nader has stepped up to take the role of area VP for the UAE. TRENDINGTrending 9 August 2021 hoteliermiddleeast.com Hilton Garden Inn Bahrain Bay has of cially opened, becoming the rst Hilton-branded hotel in the Kingdom. Connected to Avenues Mall, it is close to Manama’s business district and shopping areas, as well as being 15 minutes away from the airport. It has 192 rooms, including 35 suites. All include a desk, 55-inch LED TV and free wi . Seventy percent of the rooms offer Hilton’s con rmed connecting rooms. The property also has exible meeting spaces, a tness centre with Jacuzzi and an in nity pool. F&B includes room service add all-day venue Together& Co. “As Hilton Garden Inn continues to expand, boasting more than 900 properties around the world, we’re thrilled to be the rst Hilton-branded hotel to open in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Alan Roberts, global head, Hilton Garden Inn. “We First Hilton-branded hotel opens in Bahrain couldn’t dream of a more idyllic location for this property, overlooking the beautiful Bahrain Bay and Manama skyline, and we’re delighted to bring our world-class IHG opens ve-star Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah IHG Hotels & Resorts and Ishraq Hospitality have partnered to open Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah. The property has 252 keys across rooms and suites. It offers views of Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Beach, and the city skyline. Featuring 32 family connecting rooms, it comes with a number of technology- driven features to improve guests’ stays. Enhancements include USB outlets throughout the hotel, unlimited high-speed wi , and Chromecast-enabled TVs. Alexander Suski, acting CEO of Ishraq Hospitality, said: “Ishraq Hospitality is proud to add this property to the Crowne Plaza family, further cementing Ishraq’s reputation in the hospitality industry. We are committed to accelerating the growth of our portfolio, and we look forward to expanding our footprint in the Middle East. With the opening of Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah, Ishraq once again demonstrates its ability to elevate properties in the region to ve-star status.” It’s the latest IHG hotel to open in Dubai, following Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina and Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, which both opened in 2020. hospitality to this part of the world.” The hotel will feature Hilton CleanStay, developed in collaboration with Reckitt, maker of Lysol and Dettol.Next >