Five minutes with Ron Pohl, president of WorldHotels
Ron Pohl, president of WorldHotels and international operations at BWH Hotels, is navigating the competitive hospitality landscape, focusing on its unique strategies, evolving consumer demands and expanding market potential, particularly in the MENA region. We learn more about his work and how consumer demand is affecting the hotel industry.
The changing face of Oman’s hospitality sector with James Reeves
Much like the rest of the world, Oman’s hospitality sector is being transformed by technology. We spoke with James Reeves, GM of Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort & Spa in Oman, to learn more about how digitization is improving efficiency and enhancing the guest experience.
Rising to the challenge with Bassam Zakaria of Dusit International
An award-winning hospitality professional with over two decades of experience at prestigious hotels across Europe and the Middle East, Bassam Zakaria is passionate about fostering teamwork, particularly in his current role as area general manager of Dusit International. We caught up with him to learn more about his responsibilities, how he handles challenges and the trends shaping decision making at Dusit.
Women leaders in hospitality with Maram Kokandi, hotel manager at JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh
Maram Kokandi, who achieved recognition as KSA’s first female general manager, is now hotel manager at JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh. In this exclusive interview, she discusses the key challenges, opportunities and developments regarding women in hospitality leadership positions.
Welcoming Mama Shelter Dubai with general manager Monica Metzger
Dubai’s hospitality scene recently welcomed Mama Shelter, a trendy and vibrant hospitality brand known for its eclectic and fun approach to the hotel experience. Here, Monica Metzger, general manager of Mama Shelter Dubai, explains how the hotel effortlessly blends the brand’s bold spirit with the local culture.
Forging IHG’s success in the region with Haitham Mattar, MD for IMEA at IHG
As a seasoned business leader with extensive experience in driving growth and innovation across various sectors, Haitham Mattar is known for his leadership roles in the travel and tourism industry, particularly his work at the helm of global organizations in the Middle East and beyond. We caught up with him at the newly opened voco Beirut, an IHG property, to learn about IHG’s growth strategy, its focus on sustainability, digital transformation and brand expansion.
Getting to know James Knight-Pacheco, co-founder of Group JKP
With over 20 years of culinary expertise, James Knight-Pacheco has worked alongside world-renowned chefs, including Raymond Blanc, Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines. His television appearances on the BBC have further cemented his reputation in the culinary world. We explore Knight-Pacheco’s journey, driven by innovation, mentorship and a passion for storytelling, and his responsibilities as co-founder of Group JKP, a leading hospitality consultancy firm.
Get to know Tripadvisor with senior key manager Ahmed Madkor
Ahmed Madkor, senior key account manager of TripAdvisor, discusses its place in the travel equation, the travel trends and its cultural adaptation to the Middle East.
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat’s executive pastry chef Pierre-Jean Quinonero brings flavor to Dubai
Acclaimed executive pastry chef Pierre-Jean Quinonero from Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat was recently hosted by chef Nicolas Lambert of Four Seasons Dubai for a bespoke afternoon tea and limited-edition vitrine creations. We caught up with Quinonero to learn more about his culinary style, the latest pastry trends and which ingredients he likes to experiment with.
Shaping Kuwait’s culinary future with chef Faisal Al Nashmi
Chef Faisal Al Nashmi, co-owner and executive chef of AlMakan United Co., has played a pivotal role in transforming Kuwait’s culinary scene. Not only has he redefined dining through innovation, storytelling and bold creativity; he has also inspired inspiring the next generation of chefs. We learn more about his achievements in this exclusive interview
