DECEMBER 2022 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION How Simon Casson empowers staff to drive success DARING TO LEAD In association with Four SeasonsVisit one of the participating restaurants to be part of the “ DINE . FEED . EDUCATE” campaign. Your support will be directed towards Dubai Cares’ school feeding programs. DINE . FEED . EDUCATE Supporting Partner IACAD Permit No. PRHCE-000318472 ﺢﻳﺮﺼﺘﻟا ﻢﻗرIn this issue 3 December 2022 hoteliermiddleeast.com Features 16 Hilton’s Emma Banks delivers a rallying cry for the betterment of hotel F&B. 20 A look at some of the incredible hotels opening in Saudi Arabia’s city and mega developments. 26 We get to know Four Seasons president EMEA Simon Casson a little better. 30 A chat with the man charged with making Raf es Doha’impact in Qatar a massive one. 34 Find out what the future of sustainable hospitality looks like, with KSA as the driving force. Four Seasons president in the region, Simon Casson THIS MONTH Developments in KSAIn this issue hoteliermiddleeast.com December 2022 4 Regulars 06 Checking In 08 Trending 10 Careers 40 Suppliers 48 Checking Out 50 Secret Hotelier Checking out a new hotel in Havana Pallavi Dean talks Metaverse In conversation with a Sheraton legendThe word 5 December 2022 hoteliermiddleeast.com Hello, As we approach the end of a year, it’s natural to look back and reflect on the 12 months we’ve just experienced. I can’t remember a year quite like 2022. From Expo 2020 Dubai to an incredibly busy summer and through to the World Cup in Qatar, the calendar has been jam-packed with events and reasons to travel. There have been more signings and openings across the region than I’ve ever witnessed, with the promise of even more, especially in Saudi Arabia, in 2023. One hotel group that picks and chooses its projects carefully is Four Seasons, and while it will never compete on scale with the likes of Marriott and Hilton (and doesn’t intend to), there are some fantastic properties in the pipeline, as we hear from president of hotel operations in the EMEA region Simon Casson. His candid interview in this issue shows the same drive and determination that is evident across the region, and is why each year, the hospitality industry seems to be better than the last. See you in 2023. Published by and © 2022 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. 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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 Deputy Editor 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 Advertising Director Richard Mobbs Tel: +971 4 444 3592 email: richard.mobbs@itp.com Sales Manager Shrief Ali Tel: +971 4 444 3989 email: shrief.ali@itp.com International Sales Manager Amanda Stewart Tel: +44 7908 117 333 email: amanda.stewart@itp.com ITP Live General Manager Ahmad Bashour Art Head Of Design Rita Ghantous Designer Johnson Machado Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Group Video Editor Bharat Tahiliani Video Editor Hana Morsy Videographer Ajith Narendra Production & Distribution Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Balasubramanian Ponnan Circulation Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Marketing Director of Awards and Marketing Daniel Fewtrell Events & Marketing Manager Eleanor Ashton Events & Marketing Executive Kate Galaktionova ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Paul Clifford, group editorhoteliermiddleeast.com December 2022 6 Raf es and Fairmont Doha The properties in Katara Towers are playing host to FIFA guests and delegations during the World Cup CHECKING IN7 December 2022 hoteliermiddleeast.com Luxury hotels Raf es Doha and Fairmont Doha have opened in Qatar, exclusively welcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 guests and VIP delegations during the rst weeks of operation. The dual-branded ve-star properties are housed within the striking Katara towers building. Seven food and beverage outlets and restaurants have also opened to the public, through advanced reservation only. Four are located within Raf es Doha, and three are in Fairmont Doha. Raf es Doha is home to Alba, the rst overseas outpost for the celebrated Italian chef Enrico Crippa, L’Artisan, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Blue Cigar, a lounge that boasts 6,000 literary classics, including some rst editions, and a bespoke cigar collection, and Malaki Lounge, which spans the atrium lounge and the ground oor. At Fairmont Doha, foodies can choose to indulge in progressive Indian cuisine at Masala Library, the concept by restaurateur, television host, and author Jiggs Kalra, or Latin American cuisine at Vaya, where south American-inspired dishes are prepared table-side. Guests can also stop by Dôme, a Tea lounge serving afternoon tea and French- inspired bites and sips. Raf es Doha is a 132-key property and Qatar’s only all-suite hote. Each suite offers personalised butler service and bespoke amenities, including an exclusive scent from Frederic Malle, a gallery wall with curated books and an in-suite boutique. It also features events space Katara Hall, one of the largest ballrooms with daylight in the country. The hotel also has nine spa and tness suites, each equipped with its own treatment rooms and some offer private outdoor terraces and plunge pools. Fairmont Doha contains 270 rooms, 92 suites, four themed suites and one presidential suite, all inspired by the interiors of luxury yachts. There is also an exclusive lifestyle hotel oor, Fairmont Gold, a privileged hotel-within-a-hotel experience. Featuring gold mosaic wall tiling and rich wood panelling, inspired by Qatari design. Both the properties will welcome regular guest room reservations post-FIFA World Cup 2022. A Raf es suitehoteliermiddleeast.com December 2022 8 Couqley French Brasserie has opened for business in Business Bay. Occupying a space far larger than its original JLT location, the laid-back French bistro promises the same “casual charisma” which has made it so popular. Located in the Pullman Dubai Downtown, the French restaurant spans an area of more than 6,250 sq ft, with an outdoor terrace of 2,150 sq ft and a total of 255 covers. The restaurant replaces the hotel’s former all-day dining restaurant, a decision which Couqley founders and Pullman bosses took immensely seriously, as they sought to buck the trend of uninspiring hotel restaurants. Like the original JLT location, the new Couqley French Brasserie will offer Couqley’s Business Lunch, Steak Frites Pullman Dubai Downtown launches Couqley in place of all-day dining spot Mondays and Ladies’ Night. Value for money is one of the brand’s core tenants. “Since the launch of Couqley, we have been overwhelmed with the love the concept has received owing to our three main foundations: our memorable personalised service, our value-led premium-casual proposition, and of course, our consistently great food,” explained founder and CEO Ziad Kamel. “We’re excited to enter the dining scene of Downtown Dubai to provide an experience that offers our casual charisma, culinary consistency, and a lot of value to guests – in addition to a few new distinct elements at our gorgeous brasserie. Every inch, xture and nail has been detailed to match the spirit of the electric locality while maintaining the very basis of TRENDING Couqley’s ethos in the foreground of our bespoke new location. Dining at Couqley French Brasserie Menu-wise, the beefed up Couqley Brasserie is similar to the original. Alexander Musch, general manager, Pullman Dubai Downtown, said: “Adding Couqley Brasserie to Pullman Dubai Downtown has de nitely added to the allure of our hotel. “With Couqley bringing fuss-free, high-quality French fare to Business Bay’s dining scene, we look forward to welcoming a parade of diners wanting rst-hand experience the essence of the ultimate dining destination of the neighbourhood. Our vision to bring the same loved charm here in Downtown has come to life.”Trending 9 December 2022 hoteliermiddleeast.com Radisson Individuals grows with addition of Nova Vista hotel in Turkey Radisson Hotel Group continues to fuel its expansion, aided by Radisson Individuals, a conversion brand. The group has now taken on Nova Vista Deluxe & Suites Eskisehir. Yilmaz Yildirimlar, area senior vice president, Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group, said; “We are proud to open our rst hotel in Eskisehir and continue to expand our Radisson Individuals brand across Turkey. This new opening complements our existing portfolio of over 45 hotels in operation and under development in the country and is a great representation of our Radisson Individuals brand in the Turkish market.” The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort has of cially opened. The property is maanaged by General Hotel Management (GHM) and developed by the Qatari real estate consortium Triple A Holdings in partnership with Katara Cultural Village. It is a 91-key resort with 59 rooms and suites boasting views of the Arabian Gulf. The resort is also home to 32 villas, each extending into its own private garden and pool. The Hills of Katara surround the property and, located along a 300m shoreline, the resort offers guests a fully serviced private beach. The hotel and resort’s artistic sense and interiors represent a blend of Moghul architecture and Ottoman in uence. “We are thrilled to welcome guests at GHM’s newest beachfront landmark, in line with the brand’s 30th anniversary and ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022,” said Morton Johnston, the hotel’s general manager. GHM opens The Chedi Katara in Qatar with Triple A HoldingsNext >