You currently head one of the world’s leading hotel companies, IHG® Hotels & Resorts. Did you have your sights set on this position from the start of your career?
I have a long history with IHG, and the company has always been very special to me. I joined in 2000 and spent 11 years with IHG in various roles, including operations and sales and marketing across the MEA region. It was a combination of experience and admiration for the company’s rich history and legacy in the IMEA region that led me to this position. Additionally, the strategic role of managing director, to drive growth and performance in the region felt empowering. My vision for managing IHG’s business and growth strategy across the region is focused on delivering value to our team members, partners and owners, thus growing our business while maintaining IHG’s legacy of excellence.
How would you describe your experience as managing director of India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), a position you assumed just under a year ago?
The experience has been very rewarding, and an expert team of hoteliers and partners supports me. However, no adventure is complete without challenges, and a few of my earliest days as managing director were in the midst of the pandemic. Due to the strong collaborative culture that’s intrinsic to the company, we have managed to navigate all challenges together and position ourselves for success.
What do you have planned at IHG?
Listening to our stakeholders, we’ve evaluated what’s most important, not just to IHG’s growth but also how we grow. Considering everything we’ve learned dealing with Covid-19 and planning for strong recovery, our priorities put our brands at the heart of our business, and our owners and guests at the heart of our thinking. They recognize the crucial role of a sophisticated, well-invested digital approach and ensure we meet our growing responsibility to care for our people and make a positive difference to our communities and planet. Uniting our efforts as a company behind our priorities is helping us create a competitive advantage, build stronger guest and owner relationships, and enhance a culture that brings the best out of our talented teams. As we develop and grow, it’s fundamental that we operate in the right way for our people, communities and the planet. We have a series of ambitious commitments to help us achieve this through our Journey to Tomorrow 2030 responsible business plan. Our goal is to help shape the future of responsible travel together with those who stay, work and partner with us — supporting and developing our people, making a positive difference to our local communities and preserving our planet’s beauty and diversity, not just today but long into the future.
Can you please tell us about IHG Hotels & Resorts plans in Saudi Arabia?
The company is complementing its KSA plans with a strong talent agenda, with a keen eye on hiring and developing Saudi talent to ensure that the company delivers authentic Saudi guest experiences and upskills in the communities they operate in, especially in secondary and tertiary cities. IHG is working with the Ministry of Human Capital development to develop the hospitality talent pool in the Kingdom and ensure they have the right talent to cater to the expected future demand.
IHG has a long-standing history of operating in Saudi Arabia, and we have been a firm partner and contributor to Saudi ambitions in tourism and hospitality. Our growth over the last year is a testament to our commitment to investing in the hospitality sector and developing local talent to showcase true Saudi hospitality to guests coming to the country from across the world. In line with the Tourism Development Strategy, we will continue to bring our brands to various locations within the country, as we commit to introducing new hospitality experiences and further cement our role as a member of the Saudi community. With Saudi Arabia moving at pace to achieve its Vision 2030 goals, developing its much-anticipated giga megaprojects, we are working to roll out our full portfolio in destinations ranging from global metropolitan hubs such as Riyadh, Jeddah and Makkah to emerging destinations such as Al Khobar, Abha and Dammam.
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.
