Qatar
Highly energetic, passionate and entrepreneurial Professional in the Luxury Hospitality and Real Estate Business. Founder & Managing Partner of J&A Properties, a bespoke Luxury Real Estate Company in Dubai, serving a discerning clientele in search of a company built on in depth market insights, trust and integrity. Looking back at over 35 years' experience in top international luxury hotels including Corporate Executive positions in the Headquarter of Asia's Leading Cruise Company. In depth experience in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management as well as Hotel Development. Holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool with specialization in Entrepreneurship as well as a Certification in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management from Cornel University.
Founded by seasoned professionals, drawing upon over 35 years of international expertise in luxury hotel real estate investment and asset management including 8 years of real estate management within the Gulf region. Witnessing a predominantly sales centric approach to real estate within the UAE region, we saw an opportunity, to establish a bespoke luxury real estate company in the UAE, serving a discerning clientele demanding in depth knowledge about selected key locations, high level of personalized service, and most importantly, trust and integrity. Beyond sales, we build lasting relationships, tailoring each interaction to our customer’s unique investment objectives.
Leading all Hospitality aspects of a prestigious 350 room and apartment internationally branded luxury hotel development, that is part of an interconnected mixed use development within a prime location at the Corniche in Doha, Qatar.
Reporting directly to the Chairman of the holding company. Overseeing and leading the strategy and operation of 3 hotels as well as the development and strategy of new domestic and international hotel projects. • Successfully restructured the Best Western Hotel Doha within the first 18 months to increase revenue and reduce costs whilst increasing profit by 40% • Managed successfully the Best Western Hotel Doha ( 4* Hotel with 168 Rooms and Suites, later rebranded as Plaza Inn Doha) to be consistently the Market Leader in its 4 star competitive set in Ocupancy, Average Rate and Revpar from 2011 until its rebranding in 2014. • Managed successfully the Al Seef Hotel ( 3* star Hotel later rebranded as City Inn Doha) to be as well consistently the Market Leader in the 3star competitive set in Ocupancy, Average Rate and Revpar from 2011 until 2015 • Developed two hotel brands , the 3* brand ( CITY INN HOTEL) and the 4* brand (PLAZA INN HOTEL) with the objective to rebrand our company’s existing owned and managed hotel properties as well as driving the brands for future expansions in the gulf region as well as internationally where and when applicable. • In May 2014, rebranded the 4 star BEST WESTERN DOHA to “PLAZA INN DOHA” and the 3 star AL SEEF HOTEL to “CITY INN AL SEEF”. • Throughout the more than 6 years, I was intensively engaged in sourcing and presenting new hotel investment projects, developing feasibility studies including 5 year P&L (Profit and Loss) projections and financing strategies for various top 5 star international hotel acquisitions in France and UK. Due to a steadily diminishing investment appetite of targeted co-investors in Qatar, these highly lucrative investment opportunities did finally not materialize
Pre-Opening General Manager, reporting directly to the President of Aspire In charge of the pre-opening project of the new 167 room and suite ultra-luxury hotel in the Aspire Zone Doha, Qatar, prior to its handover to the newly appointed Management Company, Grand Heritage, in June 2011. • The hotel was poised to be the most high tech and state of the art hotel in Doha opened within the iconic landmark Torch Tower in the center of the Aspire Zone. • 167 futuristic rooms and suites boosting the latest in LED light design and IT technology as well as audio visual tecnology throughout the hotel. • State of the art Video Conferencing technology • 3 Restaurants and 6 Bars & Lounges • 3 Banquet Rooms Responsibilities and Achievements • Leading the preopening team in all strategic and operational preopening tasks • Design the operations concept to meet envisioned ultra luxury level of product service • Set up of operational departments and recruitment of key managerial positions • Selection of operating equipment in all operational departments
ROSEWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’. 224 Rooms and 6 F&B outlets.(www.alfaisaliahhotel.com ) Hotel Manager, reporting to the Managing Director Rosewood hotels MEA. • 224 rooms and suites, 6 outlets, market leader in the ultra luxury competitor set. • Only hotel in KSA providing butler service for all 224 rooms and suites with 31 fully trained Butlers by Robert Watson Butler School in London. • Largest pillar less Ballroom in Riyadh and the KSA hosting most of the Royal Weddings in the region. Responsibilities • In charge of day to day operation of the hotel. • Leading 558 staff, I was given the task to improve the overall service level of the ultra luxury property having the lowest ‘Market Metrix ‘guest survey ratings in the Rosewood group when I started. Major achievements: • Implemented within the first three months powerful quality management systems and programs allowing the team to increase the hotel “Market Metrix Guest Satisfaction Score “from the lowest in the group to be consistently 8-10% points higher and be placed in the top tier of the Rosewood group. By far the highest increase in the hotel groupworldwide. • Initiated with Director of Training programs and trainings for staff to reduce turnover. • The hotel successfully managed to maintained the highest GOP in the group by lowering the overall expenses through effective human resources and cost management whilst achieving the service improvements above.