You were the first female to be appointed general manager for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in the region in 2015. What did this title mean to you?
It was so motivating to see the impact that my appointment had on my female Omani team members. They felt inspired to have a woman at the top, and it was incredible for me to see how much it encouraged them to grow and reach managerial posts.
How are you empowering other women?
I have a gender-balanced team and am a true believer in the benefits that equality has on the business. I also mentor aspiring general managers through the IHG Rise initiative, a program to support EXCOM team members reach GM positions.
What have you accomplished in your current position?
I’ve accomplished many things, but I think I’m most proud of the fact that we opened during Covid-19 and actually performed much better than anticipated. We were also the best Hotel Indigo globally last year in terms of guest experience scores, which was unexpected for a hotel in its first year of operation.
What are your plans for the future?
I always look to the future, and I have many goals and expectations both personally and professionally. For the immediate time, I’m really enjoying Hotel Indigo Dubai and feeling incredibly fortunate that I get to work with the best team.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
