< Previoushoteliermiddleeast.com May 2023 10 hothothotelielieliermermermermiddiddiddleeleelleeastastaststast.c.c.c.ccococococooooccccococooocoococccoocccomm m m mmmmmmmmmm MayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayMayayyyayayy 20202202020202202002020202202002020020202002202 232323232323232323232323232323233232322 10101010101011 May 2023 hoteliermiddleeast.com Jochem-Jan Sleiffer People call me JJ, I’m absolutely ne with that. It means people feel comfortable talking to me,” said the late Jochem-Jan Sleiffer in his rst interview since taking on the role of Hilton’s president of Middle East, Africa and Turkey. Hotelier Middle East spoke to Sleiffer, with 30 years of Hilton experience, for the cover feature of its September 2020 issue. The industry veteran was described by many as larger than life, not least because of his height, and his sheer presence lled a room. However, he was far from a daunting gure. His natural way with people put everyone at ease, including the Hotelier Middle East team. Sleiffer was a serious hotelier, with big opinions about doing things the right way, from conducting business to treating people with respect. Closer inspection showed a playfulness. From the shape of his spectacles to the bright socks peeping out of his trouser leg, Sleiffer was able to brighten up even the most routine of meetings. Sleiffer dedicated his life to hospitality and his story of working his way up from washing pots to running one of the most important regions for a global hotel giant is an inspiration to thousands of fellow hoteliers. Originally from the Netherlands, over the span of over three decades, Sleiffer crossed continents, rst working at Hilton properties in the UK and Europe before moving to the Middle East at the end of 2019. His rst taste of hotel life was during a family holiday in Austria at six years old. Fascinated by what he saw during the vacation, Sleiffer wrote about it at school and kept the essay with him as a reminder of where he started. At 15 Sleiffer was working in a restaurant kitchen, by 19 years old, he was a trainee at HIlton Amsterdam. From there, Sleiffer transferred to Belgium and a life travelling the world with Hilton began. His rst GM role came at the Hilton Athens and before long, Sleiffer was area manager of France then VP for Northern Europe. That role grew before he was promoted to his role looking after the Middle East, Africa and Turkey. In his three years here, he used his position to turn Hilton into the benchmark for diversity, inclusion and sustainability in the industry. One of his legacies will be the Future Leaders Challenge at Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, which he co- founded. The platform continues to bring together industry leaders, students, and universities to work on collaborations and initiatives, enhancing the quality of education, talent development, and most importantly, inspiring more young people to work in hotels. Living in Dubai and spending much of his time in the Middle East, he championed local employment drives, turning Hilton into one of the leading groups when it comes to hiring more Gulf nationals. He also launched a campaign to employ more disabled people in his hotels, with great success, with Conrad Abu Dhabi partnering with local charity SEDRA to offer disabled people a range of internships in the ve- star hotel. Sleiffer was also a big supporter of gender equality and acted as a mentor to many, not only in Hilton. Whatever the future direction of Hilton, his legacy lives on in the hoteliers he spent his life supporting. The president gave a masterclass in leadership, proved hospitality can be a force for good, and made a name for himself not only as savvy businessman but also as the approachable JJ, a man who touched many lives. Approachable, passionate and an inspiration to many. Jochem-Jan Sleiffer made hospitality a warmer, more inclusive place THANK YOU, JJ Hotelier Middle East, September 2020hoteliermiddleeast.com May 2023 12 Jochem-Jan Sleiffer ISSAM KAZIM, DUBAI TOURISM It is with a heavy heart that we remember Jochem who has left us suddenly. He was an incredible person who touched the lives of many with his unwavering kindness, warmth and spirit. His dedication, determination, and positive outlook on life inspired so many, and his impact will never be forgotten. He was a true friend and will always hold a special place in our hearts. Although he may no longer be with us, his memory will continue to live on in the countless lives he touched. We offer our deepest condolences to JJ’s family and loved ones during this dif cult time. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we are here to offer any support or comfort you may need. AMIT NAYAK, DUBAI HOLDING AND HAMA MEA JJ Sleiffer was a close friend, associate and an iconic gurehead in the hospitality space. A true hotelier who was responsible for the growth of Hilton’s portfolio of hotels in Middle East, Africa and Turkey, we met him rst when he arrived in the UAE in the midst of the pandemic and helped steer the industry through the challenges of Covid with his dynamic personality. He was part of various engagements that we did as HAMA MEA and with his energy and exuberance always made it more special and inclusive. He will be profoundly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his family. AMIR GOLBARG, MINOR HOTELS Just a few weeks back, we had a great laugh and productive discussion around people and future collaborations. JJ was always full of passion, presence and pride towards his team, company and industry. A true hotelier, he will be missed across the industry. On behalf of Minor Hotels, sincere condolences to his family and Hilton for the tremendous loss. CHRISTIAN GRADNITZER, RIKAS GROUP No words can express the sorrow I feel after learning about the passing of our beloved friend and inspirational mentor JJ Sleiffer. He was a unique personality who was always there to guide and inspire me to make a difference. From colourful happy socks, to how to play tennis, share great passion and support towards awesome food and beverage, commercial and operational excellence and so much more, he has built and in uenced thousands of future hospitality leaders through his humble and honest approach. Thank you, JJ for everything, you are a big loss to all of us. We will dearly miss you. CHRIS NASSETTA, HILTON This is truly a heartbreaking loss. JJ was an exceptional friend, a hugely talented hotelier, and above all, a devoted family man. For more than 15 years, I had the great joy of watching JJ grow as a leader and spending time with him in my travels. He was an incredible person, and all of us at Hilton are keeping his family in our thoughts and prayers. JJ will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. DIMITRIS MANIKIS, WYNDHAM The passing of our industry colleague and friend JJ saddens us. He was an inspiring leader and a great human being and will be dearly missed by all of us. It has been an absolute honour to know him for many years. Our Wyndham family sends their heartfelt sympathy to his family, his Hilton family and loved ones. DUNCAN O’ROURKE, ACCOR I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Jochem Jan Sleiffer, known affectionally as JJ. We, at Accor, would Amir Golbarg Issam Kazim TRIBUTES TO A ‘NATURAL HOTELIER’ RAKI PHILLIPS, RAKTDA My deepest love, support and condolences to his wife and daughter and the entire Hilton family. He was such a wonderful ambassador of our industry and a true pleasure to work with. JJ supported Ras Al Khaimah immensely and I truly enjoyed working with him as did so many people in our community. Rest in Peace, your legacy will de nitely live on.13 May 2023 hoteliermiddleeast.com Jochem-Jan Sleiffer like to extend our heartfelt condolences during this dif cult time to the Hilton team and his loved ones. He not only will be missed dearly, but his achievements with Hilton over three decades will go down as one of the most exemplary careers in the hospitality industry of our time. HAITHAM MATTAR, IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS It is painful to lose a dear friend; I am still trying to come to terms with the loss of JJ Sleiffer. His sudden departure is a huge loss to me personally and all those who knew him. I have known JJ since 2011, he was a remarkable man, an inspirational leader and had been a great friend to me all these years. I will miss him deeply and will miss our conversations about family, our journey in hospitality and our indoor cycling rivalry, where I was never able to beat him… JJ was an inspiration to the entire hospitality industry in the region. He was full of faith, courage and strength. On behalf of everyone at IHG, I extend our heartfelt condolences to JJ’s wife Maria and daughter Freddie. Rest in peace, JJ. You will never be forgotten. MARK KIRBY, EMAAR HOSPITALITY GROUP hospitality companies in the city supported each other. He was a person continually on the end of a call or a message and someone that continued to inspire me personally, always guiding me with his straightforward approach. When JJ said let’s do it there was never a question about joining him in the pursuit of another game-changing mission. As co-founder of the Future Leaders Challenge, JJ demonstrated his love for growing and giving opportunities to young talent and, working collaboratively on this project, I was privileged to see his unequivocal passion and drive for making our industry even better. My thoughts and prayers go to all of the team at Hilton who he spent so much time working with and of course his family during this very dif cult time. MARK WILLIS, FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS JJ’s passion for the industry was undeniable, and his contributions to areas such as diversity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability were truly inspiring. He led by example, always remaining open to new ideas and perspectives, and never hesitating to share his expertise and support others. JJ’s presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this most dif cult time. Rest in peace, JJ. SANDEEP WALIA, MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL JJ was an incredible leader and human being who was admired and respected by many across the industry. He was passionate about his work and even more passionate about his people. He leaves behind an inspiring legacy. Personally, I was honoured to know JJ as a colleague and friend and will deeply miss him. On behalf of Marriott International, I would like to extend our condolences to JJ’s loved ones and the entire Hilton family. SIMON CASSON, FOUR SEASONS HOTELS & RESORTS We talked work, of course, but more so family, our kids, life, the journey and what’s next. He was full of plans, full of life, passion and genuinely excited for the future and what lies ahead. To learn the next day that he was gone is devastatingly sad. A life was taken way too soon. A good man, you will be dearly missed JJ. SIMON VINCENT, HILTON Anyone that knew JJ will agree that he was a remarkable, larger-than-life individual, both in stature and character. He had a big heart and always did everything with a smile. Hospitality came naturally to him, and he truly lived our Hilton values every day of his career. A true hotelier at heart, JJ had a profound impact on our organisation and his extraordinary career and contributions left an incredible mark on the lives of so many people around the world – we will all miss him greatly. TIM CORDON, COO MEA, RADISSON HOTEL GROUP It is with great sadness that I have learned of JJ’s passing. Despite the shock and sorrow, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know him. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family during this dif cult time. JJ’s departure is not only a signi cant loss for Hilton, but for our entire industry. His unwavering commitment to our shared values was truly admirable. He was an inspiration to all of us in the hospitality industry, embodying the very essence of what it means to be a true hospitality professional, and his legacy will continue to inspire and in uence us all. He will be deeply missed, may he rest in peace. Mark Kirby Tim Cordon It is with a very heavy heart that the hospitality industry learnt of the very sad and shocking news of our good friend. JJ was, without doubt, a true hotelier, a leader, a colleague and a friend, who’s energy and personality saw him achieving so much not only for Hilton, but the whole industry. His ability to collaborate and bring people together, ensuring that the very best of leading hoteliermiddleeast.com May 2023 14 Partner Content Exactly a year ago, Gerrit Gräf had a weight on his shoulders. Not only was he opening a brand-new ve-star hotel (challenging at the best of times), he had to do so in time for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in a brand-new city, standing as the rst international hotel brand to enter the city. Le Royal Méridien Doha Hotel and Residences has gone on to exceed expectations, standing as one of the icons in Lusail and setting the pace for Marriott’s ambitious future As Le Royal Méridien Doha turns one, Gerrit Gräf re ects on the hotel’s strong start and bright future BUILDING ON SUCCESS when it comes to Qatari luxury. Directly connected to the palatial Place Vendôme Mall, Le Royal Méridien Doha Hotel and Residences has the duty to serve international visitors and loyal locals alike, doing justice to the architecturally- remarkable mall and making the most of its gravitational pull as well. The system of luxury only continues to grow, with Gräf also leading the Agora, Doha, Autograph Collection, Qabila Westbay Hotel (soon to become another Autograph Collection) and the upcoming Palais Vendôme, A Luxury Collection Hotel opening next year. Sitting with Hotelier Middle East, the multi-property general manager and Marriott stalwart re ected on a full-year of excellence at Le Royal Méridien Doha, his approach to managing vast portfolios, and the bright future of his properties and hotel teams. “Opening Le Royal Méridien Doha in a highly competitive environment at a very busy period and surviving the year whilst achieving our nancial goals is Le Royal Méridien Doha15 May 2023 hoteliermiddleeast.com Partner Content one of our greatest achievements,” Gräf explained. “Le Royal Méridien Doha’s location makes it a unique hotel. Its connectivity to Place Vendôme Mall is one thing bene ting from the local and international exposure it gets, and being located in Lusail City is another signi cant factor especially being the rst ve-star hotel from a global chain that has opened in Lusail prior to the World Cup. Lusail itself being tagged as the future smart city of Qatar.” Suited for a wide range of travellers, including the ‘bleisure’ group, the property has proven a hit with Qatar’s fast-growing business travel segment. With over 1,000 square metre of exible indoor meeting space, a dedicated entrance as well as a theatre style open kitchen connected to the main ballroom, complemented with a full and state-of- the-art conference facilities including cutting edge AV technology and an innovative event management team through the hotel’s Le Caractère team of event specialists, Le Royal Méridien Doha has become an ideal MICE hotel. Not only has the hotel succeeded thanks to its enviable location and array of facilities, it has bene tted from strong leadership as well. Previously Marriott’s area VP for premium and select brands in the UAE, Gräf is an expert when it comes to juggling multiple hotels at once. Despite working with several brands at once, the hospitality veteran explains it is his teams that unify everything he does. He explained: “I’m a people person, hence, a people leader. Echoing one of Marriott’s core values of ‘Putting People First’, it is vital for me as a leader that I take care of our associates as they take care of our guests, and ultimately, as a responsible business unit, we take care of our stakeholders, such as the community where we operate and our owners. Taking care of people also means investing on them by providing them the necessary learning and development programs that will sharpen their skills, not only bene ting them personally but also professionally meeting the expectations and demands of the continuously evolving travellers and guests.” With Le Royal Méridien Doha continuing to soar, and the Agora Doha also doing exceptionally, Gräf is turning his attention to his next two hotels. Qabila Westbay Hotel will undergo a full renovation this year as it prepares to run the Autograph Collection ag, and the Palais Vendome, A Luxury Collection Hotel will open in the near future. Looking at the year ahead, he said: “Having been experienced working in global markets with different types of products, doing pre-openings, hotel conversions, hotel positionings, product launches and innovations. My focus is really to take care of the current projects, ensure completion of the enhancements/renovations required for the two Autograph Collection hotels and a successful opening for the Palais Vendome, A Luxury Collection Hotel. “Ultimately, what’s important is that the businesses that we do are sustainable and exible to cater to various opportunities and needs of the market whilst navigating the years ahead.” Qabila Westbay Hotelhoteliermiddleeast.com May 2023 16 Regional vice president of Madinat Jumeirah, Roth discusses balancing heritage and modernity PETER ROTH IN CONVERSATIONIn conversation 17 May 2023 hoteliermiddleeast.com sense of creativity. We have 20 years of experience, so there’s legacy, there’s tradition but there’s also youth. “Everybody ages, every product ages. You can’t stop that but you can age gracefully. Jumeirah is really good at reinvesting into its product and upkeep. Secondly, we’re great at refreshing and introducing new concepts.” AN INTERNATIONAL MINDSET Prior to the role in the emirate, Roth was a long-time Hyatt leader, acting as area VP and GM of Park Hyatt New York. He has also served as VP of operational experiences across Park Hyatt Andaz, Centric and Unbound Collection across the Americas. New to Dubai, Roth attributes his successful rst months to the efforts of his wider team. He says: “It was easier than I thought [joining Jumeirah] but that’s not my merit, it was the team. The team here made it easier. “To join a new company and enter a new country requires a degree of open- mindedness, curiosity and humility. “Everybody came from the outside at one point, right? You should always ask questions: Question the things around you, re ect on what is there, question how things are done. That’s a mindset you can bring.” Even when he was based in the US, Roth had a focus on GCC business, opening up to Hotelier Middle East in 2019 on how the lauded New York hotel made itself attractive to GCC guests. The experience he brings to Madinat Jumeirah is his understanding of global cities and global hospitality. He explains: “Basics are always the “Surround yourself with good people and ask questions” Peter Roth describes his rst few months at Jumeirah as like “jumping onto a moving train.” The Madinat Jumeirah regional VP ew into Dubai as it came out of the pandemic, becoming one of global tourism’s great success stories. His rst time working in the emirate and rst role in Jumeirah, Roth describes himself as a “fresh pair of eyes” for the quartet of luxury hotels. He heads up Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf, Jumeirah Al Qasr, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam and Jumeirah Al Naseem. He is also GM of Jumeirah Al Qasr. JOINING MADINAT JUMEIRAH AT THE RIGHT TIME Speaking to Hotelier Middle East at Jumeirah Al Qasr, he begins: “This resort is already a well-oiled machine. So when a newcomer like me comes into it, it’s a privilege, but it was also like hopping onto a moving train. I’m not so much building here as I am ne-tuning. “I joined the party at a very good point, so the immediate question was ‘now what?’. I need to come in and ask the right questions.” Jumeirah Mina A’Salam recently completed its wide-scale refurbishment, balancing modernity with heritage, and Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf unveiled a refurbishment of its top-end villas. Roth’s hotels have also introduced new F&B such as Blind Tiger at Al Naseem, a new Indian restaurant at Al Qasr and a new Italian spot to come soon in Mina A’Salam. AGING GRACEFULLY The approach, Roth states, is to “rejuvenate from within” as not to alienate long-time guests but also still keep up with the times. He re ects: “Jumeirah has a really strong perspective on food and beverage experiences, on upkeep and interior design and on guest experience. “We relentlessly focus on these things with discipline, but also with a basics. Hospitality is always going to be a people business where you connect with others. That you can do in China, Dubai, New York or wherever, and it will always work. The essence of what makes hospitality great is that you can take it from one country to another. “Different places in the world have similarities. If you think about my last assignment in New York, it’s an international city much like Dubai. Certainly they are wildly different cultures, but I am using many of the same skills. “There are things you just don’t know, too. That’s why you need to surround yourself with good people and ask as many questions as you can. “Hospitality, in general terms, is the same, but the beauty shows itself in the little details.” THE BEAUTY OF DUBAI HOSPITALITY So, what are those little details in Dubai’s hospitality market? Roth shares: “I believe that added ‘beauty’ is in the delivery of things. Our colleagues connect with customers in a very natural way. I think that makes a huge difference in Dubai. Moreover, the UAE is a very friendly place for people from all over the world. We have so many diverse and different nationalities working here, and they can each add a little ‘something’ for those customers hailing from all over the world.” Impressed by Dubai, with a strong team backing him, and a string of successful uplifts already completed, Roth is already thinking again, asking himself what his cluster should do next. He said: “It’s a real privilege and honour to be here. I’m more aware of it every day. All our staff feels the same way. It’s not only a wonderful job; it gives you a meaningful connection to the history of Jumeirah and Dubai as a whole. “These resorts were what Jumeirah wanted to be, they are what Jumeirah became and they will become what Jumeirah is projecting to be. We have momentum with us.”hoteliermiddleeast.com May 2023 18 Gaurav Bhushan19 May 2023 hoteliermiddleeast.com Gaurav Bhushan Ennismore’s combination of entrepreneurialism and individuality has become the envy of the hotel world. Valued at more than US$2.2 billion, the group has moved away from being known as a ‘hotel group’, it’s too cool for that, instead calling itself a “lifestyle collective,” of more than 15 brands, each entirely different from one another and each challenging how hospitality has been done for decades. The London-born business has grown from a single budget-hotel-turned-hipster- magnet known as The Hoxton to a global force, backed by the world’s wealthiest governments, all of which see Ennismore as the new baron of entertainment, able to ip not only tired properties but also whole communities. From the rst Shoreditch hotel in 2012, Ennismore has now created an empire of more than 130 hotels after the group was merged with Accor in 2021 and Ennismore became the umbrella for various Millennial-favoured brands such as 25hours out of Bavaria and the glitzy SLS name from Miami; along with many others that Accor acquired over many years. Other ags include Mondrian, SO/, Hyde and non-hotel brands such as Working From_ for co-working and Paris Society and Carte Blanched for food and beverage concepts. The original Ennismore, Hoxton mastermind and centi-millionaire Sharan Pasricha remains the co-CEO of the group after its merger with Accor, involved in the creative direction and overall tactility of his company. When it gets down to business and pulling every lever being part of Europe’s largest hotel rm, Accor, has provided Ennismore, the man to go to is Gaurav Bhushan. Accor’s top development boss for years, he is the one responsible for Accor’s ambitious ‘open one hotel a day’ feat. These days, he’s co-CEO of Ennismore (and Accor CEO of lifestyle & entertainment brands) alongside Pasricha. Together, they are helping turn the founder’s bright and bold ideas into business decisions which garner investment deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “We have vision and we always make things happen” LED BY FOUNDERS “Accor is there to turn it [Ennismore] into a scalable business,” Bhushan tells Hotelier Middle East in our interview within the towering SLS Dubai hotel. Pasricha handles what guests “touch, feel and see,” while Bhushan works on building the business and brands. “We make all our big decisions together, it’s very much a partnership,” he explains. Ennismore is made up of many founders of all the brands Accor put into the super group. The likes of Christoph Hoffmann from 25hours, Serge Trigano from Mama Shelter, and Sam Nazarian from sbe are all part of Ennismore. LIFESTYLE LUMINARE How co-CEO Gaurav Bhushan turns Ennismore’s bright and bold ideas into a reality “All of these founders created amazing products, Accor is there to turn it from eight or 10 hotels to a truly global brand,” says Bhushan. “Pretty much all the brands Ennismore works with have their own founder. That’s probably one of the biggest reasons for our success. We work collaboratively with these founders, we let them do what they are best at: Creating.” A self-confessed “obsessive” type, his approach when it comes to programming hotels is to “curate every square inch of space.” That holds true, as Hotelier sits with Bhushan in Smoke & Mirrors, a cigar bar which used to be a storage room of the SLS Dubai. Using his own example, he says: “People can spend a whole day in the 25hours lobby, why? We curated it to perfection. It is thanks to Hoffman, who curated every square inch of that hotel. He knows what makes people happy, he knows how to put people at ease.” This sort of reactiveness and exibility showcases another reason Ennismore is seeing so much success, it always carries out its plans, big or small. “Everyone has vision. What it really comes down to is execution. That’s one of our key differentiators. We have vision, but we then always make things happen on the ground,” Bhushan explains. “The experiences you create have to be distinct. The challenge, the obsession, is to ensure we don’t start replicating ourselves.” This is the balancing act Bhushan must maintain. A development expert, he is more than capable of signing property after property, but that isn’t the Ennismore way. Grow too fast, and you dilute the brand. But grow too slowly and you aren’t Next >