Salman Gasim on trailblazing and nurturing hospitality talent in KSA
Salman Gasim is the CEO of the Saudi Tourism Training and Recruitment (STTAR) Institute and the CEO of Swiss Hospitality Company. He also serves as the vice president of the Saudi Regional European Business Council at the Federation of Saudi Chambers. Here, he discusses the Kingdom’s rapidly changing hospitality industry landscape and the key role earmarked for homegrown talent in driving change.
Igniting the six senses with CEO Neil B. Jacobs
Neil Jacobs’ passion for wellness, sustainability and making travel purposeful led him to Six Senses in 2012. Ever since, his focus has been to elevate the brand in terms of responsible design, green initiatives and wellness programming. Under his leadership, the company has opened resorts in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Jacob’s vision extends beyond a super high-end hotel and spa company. He believes in creating demand through constant innovation, initiatives and programming that are meaningful and tailored to each guest’s health and well-being. Here, the visionary hospitality leader shares his thoughts wellness, sustainability and purposeful, out-of-the-ordinary experiences.
Kitchen talk with Lucas Glanville, senior executive chef of Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh
Raised in a “food-focused” family, Lucas Glanville was inspired by his mother to pursue a culinary career while he was still in high school. He studied culinary arts at a London catering college before joining the Michelin-star restaurant Le Gavroche and subsequently joining Browns Restaurant Melbourn, an award-winning restaurant. Here, the senior executive chef of Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre shares his insights into the Saudi culinary scene and how he is tackling the issue of sustainability in the kitchen.
A greener picture of BOCA with Omar Shihab, founder and chief sustainability officer of BOCA restaurant
Omar Shihab, founder and chief sustainability officer of BOCA restaurant, is a versatile professional, who has taken on various roles in the hospitality industry. He has led a team of skilled chefs, managers, designers and experts to create exceptional hospitality concepts in the Gulf. A passionate advocate for sustainability, local sourcing and innovative dining experiences, Shihab has introduced several sustainability initiatives at BOCA, including waste reduction and local sourcing. He has been recognized for his efforts, winning the Gault&Millau UAE 2022 Sustainability Champion award, and is also an advisor to the UAE Restaurant Group and represents Food Made Good UAE, Thriving Solutions and Azraq.
Destination Diriyah with Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo
With over five decades of experience working at the world’s most prominent hotel brands, Jerry Inzerillo, group chief executive officer of Diriyah Company, is responsible for overseeing the development of one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious projects; Diriyah, the City of Earth. In an exclusive interview with HN, we explore the historic city of Diriyah and its transformation into a world-class cultural and lifestyle destination.
Heritage and hospitality as seen by Mark DeCocinis
Mark DeCocinis, chief executive officer of Boutique Group, gives us the lowdown about the new hospitality landscape.
Five minutes with pastry chef extraordinaire Karim Bourgi
Karim Bourgi describes himself as a hard-working, passionate chef, a foodie at heart and a gourmand dreamer. Based in Dubai, he is co-founder of KAYU Bakehouse, a member of Les Toques Blanches du Monde and the International Cheese Guild, as well as a brand ambassador for Elle & Vire, Valrhona, Carpigiani Italia and RATIONAL. Here, we discover what drives his passion.
Chedi Hegra to open in AlUla this year
The Chedi Hegra is slated to open in AlUla later this year, boasting 35 guest rooms connected to the Hegra landscape and three fine-dining restaurants, a cafe, spa and pool.
On the couch with Khalid Saud Abu Haimed, CEO of Al Khozama
We sat with visionary CEO Khalid Saud Abu Haimed to get the lowdown on Al Khozama’s impressive portfolio of hotels and restaurants.
A perfect encounter with hotelier Bastien Blanc, co-founder of Trokadero Management
Bastien Blanc’s decades-long career in hospitality has taken him around the world and placed him at the helm of some of the world’s leading hotel operators, such as Accor and IHG. In this exclusive interview, Hospitality News Middle East reveals what drives the seasoned hotelier and why he’s invested in finding the talents of tomorrow.
