EBROCHURE - Middle East update Q2 (210x297)

Middle eastUpdateQ2 - 2012

we are now more than half way through the year and we’ve had some exciting developments over the last few months. as you would have heard, we have a new member to our Middle east family, i extend a heartfelt welcome to Gordon Mackenzie and his team at the radisson Blu hotel, doha, which officially became ‘Blu’ on July the 1st. turn to page 6 to find out more about the hotel and the team in doha.

over the next few pages you can read a round-up of regional news, including awards, achievements, new appointments, as well a great events taking place over the coming months.

we hope you enjoy reading the up-date. whatever your plans are this hot summer, enjoy yourself and for those celebrating this holy month we wish you a ramadan kareem.

all the best,Mark Willis

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Middle East Update Q2 - 2012 1

02 dress for success

04 home is where the heart is...

06 introducing... doha

08 awards and achievements

09 responsible Business

10 yes i can!® star

11 appointments

12 events and activities

contents

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elie adds perosnality to his outfits through patetrn and colour.

rana helps poonam pick out which clothes will flatter her the most whilst still being comfortable.

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Middle East Update Q2 - 2012 3

Many staff within rezidor hotels wear a uniform but for those who work in the back office, striking the perfect balance between practicality, comfort and style can be tricky. last month, two of our colleagues, poonam dabur, director of hr at radisson Blu hotel, Media city and elie Milky, Manager of Business development met with stylist to the stars rana saab to have a ‘make-over’ and get some top tips on dressing for the office.

here we talk to rana as she describes her top tips for dressing in the office and the process she goes through with each client.

what eleMents should you consider when dressinG For work? when dressing for work, you should keep in mind the general dress code for your industry, you don’t want to risk showing up underdressed for a meeting or projecting the wrong image. that said, to look comfortable in your own skin, you shouldn’t ignore your individual style personality. injecting some of your own style into your corporate look will make your wardrobe more interesting and reflect a more confident you.

what is the Most coMMon proBleM people have with work clothes? Most commonly, people either get stuck into a work uniform where they blend with the crowd or they dress inappropriately for their position and industry.

what are your top tips when it coMes to dressinG For work?a rule to always consider while dressing for work is the “top”, keeping in mind to always dress for the time of the day, the occasion and the people you’re meeting with.

explain your process when you work with soMeone?i have a methodology i follow where i learn about the style personality and lifestyle in the first consultation in order to translate it into a signature individual style reflecting your current image. it’s very important that you step out of your safe zone but still feel you’re in your own skin while updating your look or going for a makeover.next i do a body shape assessment and colour analysis, where you learn about the best cuts, styles, colours and fabrics that suit you. learning how to highlight your assets and camouflage your flaws will make it much easier to dress for your body type. then we can move on to the wardrobe audit, organizing your outfits in a manner that suits your current image, figure and lifestyle. you will also learn how to mix and match items and create new outfits, allowing you to spend less time looking for an outfit where you will never have a “nothing to wear” day again.

so what did elie and poonaM have to say aBout their experience with rana? elie Milky: how do you feel about the new clothes rana has picked out for you? i feel really good wearing them! i believe they give out a fresh look something different from what i normally wear; they certainly add and reflect a very positive mood.do you think it would work in reality? absolutely. you are what you make of it. Grooming and fashion is not natural to me, i needed this help, an education if you like.

poonam dabur:how do you feel about the new clothes rana has picked out for you? rana herself has a great style which is glamorous with a touch of class. she does not impose her style or her feelings onto the other person but allows them to choose their own styles and then refines.

do you think it would work in reality? yes i love the business outfit that rana has put together for me. it is business like but it has a touch of style. even with earthy and classic colour like black she creates a stylish look through the cut and quality of the clothes.

rana saab is an aici certified image consultant and has worked with the likes of hollywood actress, eva longoria. you can find out more information about her services and what she can offer your hotel and staff at www.ranasaab.com

A big thanks to Ted Baker at Dubai Mall for the clothes and location.

dress For sUccessworking within the hospitality industry means that we all pay a lot of attention to the smaller details, from the presentation of a meal on a plate, to the perfectly placed pillows on a bed, but what about our own appearance? it can be quite the chore to decide what to wear for work each day, add in the year round summer and cultural sensitivities in the Middle east and getting dressed for work can be quite the dilemma.

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One of the best things about working in the hospitality industry is that you get to experience living in different countries around the world.

Over the coming months, we ask people in our hotels to give us their opinion on where they live, why it’s special and most of all what makes it home to them.First stop is Bahrain where Marina Krez from Belarus and Wendy Debove, originally from France, both work in the Sales & Marketing department at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, Bahrain.

“A lot of people must wonder what first enticed two European women to seek a new career in a country like Bahrain. Well the answer is something we both have in common - a passion for a challenge and adventure!!

We had heard very little about Bahrain when we were growing up but the island has now become the centre of our world! Bahrain is

a great combination of modernity, diversity and Arab culture. Life is easy going and people are truly friendly and genuine.

33% of the population are expats, which creates a melting pot of different cultures, making it easy to make friends from all over the world. This diversity is even found within the hotel itself, our 240 colleagues come from 21 different countries. Most of us came to Bahrain alone but being away from home has made us closer and helped us to support each other like a family would. This is the kind of amazing spirit that you don’t find in Europe or Russia.

As single women living in Bahrain we have never felt insecure or unsafe. In fact we were stunned to see the respect and kindness given to women compared to other countries. This has dispelled any prejudices we may have had and has made us appreciate and value the local culture and traditions even more.

For us the biggest advantage, and yet, disadvantage of Bahrain is the weather...sunshine is guaranteed throughout the year and painful sunburn is the penalty if you don’t pay attention. Unfortunately Marina has experienced the” lobster look” many times and now keeps a stock of lotions and

potions always at the ready just in case.

2011 was a tough year for the hospitality industry given the civil unrest that took place – which was considerably heightened by some inaccurate reporting by the international media. It’s now time for us to prove Bahrain is a safe place to visit for both leisure and business. This is not an easy task but we believe that our efforts will have an impact in the recovery of the hospitality industry in Bahrain. Every day is a new challenge and an opportunity to make a difference so our Yes I Can! vision has never been stronger! We never felt this kind of excitement back home and it’s a great feeling to know our efforts can make a difference.

If anyone is looking for a new challenge we would gladly recommend Bahrain as a great place to work and live. It won’t be easy every day but it will be a great experience and will help broaden your horizons. Many people came to Bahrain expecting to complete a one or two year contract but be careful - most of them fell for Bahrain’s charm and are still here ten years later…”

HoMe is WHere tHe Heart is...

Middle East Update Q2 - 2012 5

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For the people who haven’t had a chance to visit the radisson Blu doha, can you tell us a Bit aBout the hotel and its history? the hotel was opened on the 7th July 1979 as ramada renaissance hotel, it really was in the middle of the desert back then! with 320 bedrooms at that time, we employed roughly 250 members of staff, and saw this drop to 220 during the Gulf crisis in 1990.through the wise counsel of the hotel’s owner, sheikh Ghanem Bin ali al thani, and his clear vision for future requirements of the hotel business in doha, we planned to expand our wonderful property. we broke ground on 10th March 2005 and had our grand opening of the hotel’s ‘east wing’ on the 6th June 2006. the

extension saw the hotel double in size, introducing another 237 guest rooms and six restaurants, along with state of the art meeting and events facilities. now, in 2012, we have entered another exciting chapter by joining carlson rezidor hotel Group and becoming radisson Blu hotel, doha. with 583 guest bedrooms and 20 food & beverage outlets spanning over both our east and west wings, each and every one of our 1087 members of staff are incredibly proud of our hotel and the history it holds.

you’re the coMpany’s First hotel in doha; can you tell us soMethinG we MiGht not know aBout the city?doha really is history in the making! it’s such an exciting place to live in, watching the whole country grow and develop. it is a city seeped in culture with beautiful old market places, a stunning mixture of old and new buildings, wild oryx, the list could go on and on.

what are you Most lookinG Forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? this is a question i’ve been asked many time recently, and each time i’ve given a very honest answer – seeing an increase in referred business into the hotel, and of course, an increase in average rates. i’m, of course, also looking forward to being part of the carlson rezidor family.

what’s your Favourite part oF the hotel? My favourite part of the hotel has to be our 2 foyers – it’s where everything happens. i love the hustle and bustle of people coming and going. it’s both the welcome

and the farewell of the hotel, the first impression and the last.

when you’re not Busy BeinG GM at the hotel, what do you like to do in your spare tiMe?i love to play golf, when i get the time – i wish i had more spare time to spend there. i’m also passionate about motor sports, i spent many years racing rally cars, but now i’m happy to watch it on the tv! another favourite past-time would have to socializing – doha is a very social city!

where is your Favourite place totravel and why? without a shadow of a doubt, it has to be the borders of scotland. the stunning scenery, beautiful woodlands and rivers – what is there not to love? the river tweed is 97 miles long, and runs through the whole breadth of the Borders. it is one of Britain’s great salmon rivers, and runs through a place called abbotsford, which is the home of sir walter scott the famous novelist and playwright.

outside of scotland, my next favourite place would have to be Jaipur – “the pink city”. to be so close to so much of humanity is just wonderful! i love the hustle and bustle, the shopping, the elephants and camels, the whole buzz of the place.

what does ‘yes i can!’ spirit Mean to you? affirmation and confirmation – of the “spirit” that we have had in this hotel since 1989. we have 1087 members of staff here at radisson Blu hotel, doha, and each one of them has exactly this yes i can! spirit.

introdUcing....in early July we welcomed the radisson Blu hotel, doha into the carlson rezidor family. the legendary hotel, formerly known as the ramada plaza hotel has been completely rebranded and officially became Blu on the 1st of July. here we talk to Gordon Mackenzie, General Manager at the hotel for 20 years.

General Manager,Gordon Mackenzie

Middle East Update Q2 - 2012 7

at the radisson Blu doha, we welcome over 1,000 new staff to the team. here’s your chance to put a few names to faces.

name: simon ramsayoccupation: executive assistant Managerwhat are you most looking forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? as a “yes i can & rB trainer” i have been training a lot of our staff over the past 6 weeks and am looking forward to all the positive changes we will see moving forward.

name: Magdi abdallaoccupation: senior outlet Manager - hyde park coffee shopwhat are you most looking forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? i’m excited to be part of the carlson rezidor family, meaning i have the opportunity to grow within the group. i’d love to travel, to experience new things and learn new languages.

name: thusitha abrewoccupation: Front office shift leaderwhat are you most looking forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? the 100% Guest satisfaction guarantee is great! i really want to ensure that all our guests are 100% happy with their stay, if guests are happy – they come back!

name: prexy pagalilauanoccupation: Meetings & events coordinatorwhat are you most looking forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? i am grateful for the training radisson Blu offers, and look forward to the opportunity for further e-learning in order to ensure self-progression and ultimately contribute towards the brand name.

name: ransom pereiraoccupation: corporate sales Managerwhat are you most looking forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? i’m really looking forward to interacting with, and being part of, the whole carlson rezidor sales team. i’m confident it will enhance our services and open new avenues for international business.

name: Josephine Moralitaoccupation: housekeeping supervisorwhat are you most looking forward to now you’re a radisson Blu? i’m really happy that we are going to be helping the environment, i’ve already learnt so much about responsible business. changing the linen in guest rooms every second day, instead of every day will save so much impact on water consumption and also help make our job a little easier. having iron and ironing boards as standard in each room will cut down drastically the amount of guest requests we get.

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over a 1,000 staff recieve their yes i can pins

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hotEL MISSonI KUWAItBest hospitality coMpany oF the year 2012

hotel Missoni kuwait was awarded the Best hospitality company of the year 2012 at the arabian Business achievement awards ceremony that took place in kuwait in May.

each year, the awards celebrate the very best in business achievements, both on a corporate and individual level. the number one business magazine in the Middle east, arabian Business, returned to kuwait to reward the outstanding performers of business across various categories.

radisson Blu hotel, duBai Media city, celeBrates Green achieveMent

radisson Blu hotel, dubai Media city came second in the category of “sustainable initiative” at the recently held Middle east hotel awards 2012 (Meha). the hotel came a close second thanks to its varied sustainable initiatives from its eco-roundabout to its ac water recycling programme.

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RADISSon BLU hotEL, CAIRo hELIoPoLISwins platinuM award at Mena travel awards 2012

radisson Blu hotel, cairo heliopolis has won a platinum award at the annual Mena travel awards 2012 for the ‘Best price value hotel.’the Mena travel awards are hosted by cha under the coordination of president dr. sam saker, the awards hounour the top performers in the hospitality industry throughout the Middle east and north africa region. a total of 53 awards were given out in 16 selected industry categories, which included categories for five and four-star hotels, golf courses and spas. the award for ‘Best price value hotel’ was picked up by director of sales & Marketing Mohamed idris on behalf of the radisson Blu hotel, cairo heliopolis property at a prestigious event held at the al Meydan hotel in dubai.

RADISSon BLU hotEL, MUSCAtwins award For “Green caMpaiGn oF the year”

the radisson Blu hotel, Muscat was awarded with a “special commendation” at the 3rd annual oman Green awards in the category “Green campaign of the year” beating other major hotel chains and brands. the hotel was short listed in 2 other categories Green Foot print and the Green Guardian award.commenting on the award General Manager Marius wolmarans said: “our responsible Business and green ethos are ingrained into our everyday operations in the hotel. thanks to carlson rezidor projects like “think planet” we are leading the way in this area in oman and we continue to be recognized for our ongoing efforts”

hotel Missoni

radisson Blu heliopolis

radisson Blu hotel, dubai Media city

radisson Blu hotel, Muscat

Middle East Update Q2 - 2012 9

sharJah suMMer caMpthe radisson Blu resort, sharjah hosted a day summer camp for children with special needs. organized by al wafa school of development training with the support of sharjah city of humanitarian services, the programme was specially designed to encourage the children to be independent and increase their confidence when interacting with other people.

the afternoon began with various pool and beach activities before a fun packed reception serving different types of snacks at the hotels’ all-day dining restaurant cafe at the Falls. a certificate of appreciation was awarded to the radisson Blu resort sharjah from the sharjah city of humanitarian services.

‘children helpinG children’, atradisson Blu hotel, kuwaitthe radisson Blu hotel, kuwait hosted the 17th art competition for schools in kuwait under the theme – ‘we are the world’. over 350 complimentary canvases were distributed to the students of 21 foreign, private and special needs schools, participating in the competition.

the hotel aims to encourage young artists to enhance their artistic skills and to take social responsibility by donating their artwork for a charity sale. the paintings submitted were colourful vibrant, encompassing a range of ideas and cultures. the children in kuwait came together to help support the hotel to collect funds for less-fortunate children around the world. the hotel collected approximately euro 1550 with the proceeds being donated to the world childhood Foundation.

radisson Blu hotel, tripoli orGanizes special aFternoon For children with cancerthe responsible Business team at the radisson Blu hotel, tripoli visited the tripoli Medical center where they organized an afternoon of entertainment and games for children suffering from various forms of cancer. the hotel donated toys and gifts to the children as well as a special guest visit from a clown. Furthermore, all the staff from various departments in the hotel donated money, the equivalent of 2000 euros, which will go some way to helping them with the costs of their critical treatment.

responsiBle BUsiness

afternoon for children with cancer children helping children

children helping children children helping children

sharjah summer camp

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this quarter our nominated yes i can star! is shashank sinha from the radisson Blu hotel, Muscat. he was nominated after the hotel received several letters and emails from guests praising shashank’s positive attitude and service.

‘Mr. sinha is a major asset to this hotel, because of him, i am certain to return and furthermore, i will recommend this hotel to my wide network of partners, mainly due to Mr. shashank´s high level of service.”

please congratulate shashank on his great yes i can! attitude, truly a worthy candidate for this month’s yes i can star! can you tell us a Bit aBout your BackGround? i was born and raised in oman, although i hold an indian passport and completed my education at the indian school Muscat. after i graduated from high school, i left for switzerland in 2008 for a Ba (hons) degree in hospitality and events Management. over my four year course i completed internships in the us and india. i joined radisson Blu in January, 2012 as my first job.

what does your JoB as Guest service aGent entail? as a Guest service agent, i have to ensure the guest’s comfort at all times, seeing

to it that all the guest comments and complaints, and / or recommendations are taken seriously and into account. communication with the guest is one of the key aspects, anticipating guest needs and wants, in order to provide a special service to all guests which will ultimately lead to their satisfaction.

what’s the Favourite part oF your JoB? My favourite part of the job would be the positive relationships i build with our guests and fellow colleagues and communicating with them on a daily basis. i like to challenge myself and spend time thinking of ways i can go above and beyond the guest’s expectations, this makes it fun and exciting.

iF you were Made GM For a day what would you do? if i am to be a GM for a day, i would focus on doing lots of green activities not just within the hotel but in the local community, especially with the schools. i would also take the chance to introduce a food festival concept in our olivos restaurant which would include delicacies from all the staffs’ home countries and even include food art as well.

what’s the Most unusual or Funniest thinG that has ever happened to you at work? there was a couple who was checking in for 3 nights and inquired about things to do in Muscat. they like sports, so i suggested diving, snorkelling, while explaining the prices and the yachts that

will take them. the next question they asked was quite hilarious and i shall never forget it.”do these yachts go on water?” i was confused on how to react to that one!!!

what does the yes i can! spirit Mean to you? yes i can spirit is the yes i can attitude you carry with you wherever you go. pushing yourself into unknown territories and trying to gain that extra experience. the yes i can spirit can be applied to everyday life. it’s the confidence about yourself and the belief in your skills gained from everyday learning.

what was your dreaM JoB when you were GrowinG-up? i dreamt of being an air force pilot as a child. planes have always fascinated me and the thought of defending something that means a lot to others greatly interested me.

in your spare tiMe what do you like to do? when not at work, i like to relax, meet friends and go swimming, i enjoy sports in general and any adventurous activity with friends as it’s a good past time and keeps me fit. i also love reading and of course spending time with family.

if you would like to nominate someone in your hotel for the next yes i can! star please contact your hr with the name, job title and the reasons why.

yes i can star

Middle East Update Q2 - 2012 11

Q2 has seen a mix of people join the team, some promotions, and some internal moves. please congratulate and/or welcome everyone to the team.

in the dubai, regional support office, two new members joined the team. Marc descrozaille (1) as regional director for uae, egypt and Jordan, and shabana Beg (2) as the area director of revenue optimisation for Middle east and sub-saharan africa.

an exciting development in istanbul has been announced, hakan alakus (3) has

been appointed as a dedicated director of sales for turkey, he will focus on expanding our growing operations in this key feeder market.

in egypt, the radisson Blu hotel, alexandria recently promoted ahmed diab (4) to the position of director of sales & Marketing, Badr a.aziz (5) to the position of F&B Manager and tamer salem to the position of Front office Manager.

we’ve also had two new chief engineers appointed, david hussy (6) at the radisson Blu hotel, dubai deira creek and shan

sirajudeen (7), at the park inn by radisson, Muscat.

hotel Missoni kuwait announced the appointment of wassim tarabay (8), who joins the executive team as director of sales & Marketing. wassim was previously at the park inn, al kohbar. Finally, our newest hotel has a new recruit. Martin Baeuerle (9) has joined radisson Blu hotel, doha, as training Manager.

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your lead your rewards is Back!

due to popular demand the successful, your lead your rewards has returned. this means you have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes by generating Mice leads for any carlson rezidor hotel. plus, now you can get douBle points for leads to any of our listed** focus hotels!

you could be in with the chance of winning one of these fantastic prizes:

1st prize – one week holiday for two in a private villa in radisson Blu plaza resort phuket panwa Beach, including business class flight tickets, and full board accommodation.

2nd prize – a 4 night stay for two at radisson Blu ambassador hotel, paris including economy flight tickets, half board accommodation + euro 1,000 shopping money.

3rd prize – 3 nights stay for two in radisson Blu Bosphorous hotel, istanbul including economy flight tickets & half board accommodation.

istanBlu

radisson Blu hotels have teamed up with radio 2 to send 40 very lucky winners to istanbul on a once in a lifetime trip with the radio 2 breakfast presenters, kenny and acalia. the campaign started in June and will run until october. each day listeners can win on the spot prizes from the hotels taking part and at the end of the week one person is put through to the final draw.listeners have to ‘like’ the hotel of the week’s Facebook sites to find the song of the day to win daily and weekly prizes. it’s that easy. Make sure you tell all your friends, family and guests to tune in and enter; you never know they might be one of the lucky winners!

EvEnt of thE Month

radison Blu hotel, aBu dhaBi yas island hosts raMadan art show

during the ramadan season, radisson Blu hotel, abu dhabi yas island is hosting a unique art exhibition. various artists, local and international, will exhibit their arabic inspired art covering various disciplines including photography, painting and calligraphy.

held in conjunction with the hamad centre, a newly opened non-profit organisation for children with autism and related disorders, the artists will donate 10% of their sales to the centre.

the emirates Fine arts society, abdul Gafoor, pankaj sha from Gulf images and many others will exhibit from the 20th of July until the 20th of august 2012.so head down to the radisson Blu hotel, abu dhabi yas island and check out this amazing event, it’s free entrance for all and then you can break your fast in style and treat yourself to an authentic iftar for only aed 105 ++.

events and activities

For any enQuiries reGardinG the next Middle east up-date please contact [email protected]

to Find out More aBout carlson rezidor loG on to carlsonrezidor.coM