Novotelling it how it is

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Yasser Ahmed.

Director of Operations

Director of Operations Yasser Ahmed is new to Dubai, having joined Accor just six months ago.

"I've been in the UK for the past 10 years, but Dubai is a place I've been looking at for a while," says Ahmed. "I was just waiting for the right opportunity - and working at Novotel and Ibis for Accor was an opportunity not to be missed."

Ahmed describes his role as maintaining standards and ensuring that the properties deliver the brand promise - a "very hands-on role".

"I work closely with all the staff; I'm the link between our promise to the guest and putting that into effect on a daily basis," continues Ahmed.

"The challenge to improve on this product is an interesting one; right now the properties are earning guest satisfaction scores of 96% and 95.2% respectively, which indicates guests who stay here would either come back or recommend us," he says. "So it's going well so far!"

According to Ahmed, his current key focuses are IT and F&B.

"A lot of guests are travelling with various gadgets and one of their prime concerns is how they will connect - broadband, WiFi, interactive televisions providing information and so on. So those are a few areas that we have been working on," he reveals.

"On top of that, another focus has been to strengthen the food and beverage offerings that we have. Considering this year quite a few hotels have opened up and there are many more to come next year, the focus really is on how to enhance what we have and make it an identifiable brand in the market."

Ibis' F&B offerings comprise popular Italian restaurant Cubo; Chianti, a small bar; and Le Gourmand, a multi-purpose function room used as a restaurant during peak demand periods.

Meanwhile Novotel boasts Blue Bar, a live jazz venue; Café Cream, an outlet for people on-the-go offering drinks and light snacks; and Entre Nous, the main restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The outlets are performing well but there are still plans for change, confirms Ahmed.

"There are so many properties opening that as a leading brand we have got to consistently review our offerings," he explains. "I don't mean we must go for a hard refurbishment - we're only five years old - but regarding the soft decoration, the branding of the offering and so on; that is a key element," he asserts.

"And there are definitely plans to introduce new offerings, bar- and restaurant-wise, enhancing the identity of the properties' F&B offerings."

Keeping up with all the new outlets in Dubai may be a challenge, but it is one that Ahmed relishes facing - and one which he says will be made all the easier by his team.

"The easiest way to describe the team is to point out guest satisfaction levels," he says.

"I've walked into a team that's motivated, passionate and headed by a young group of department heads who have got total commitment from their associates - I'm extremely lucky!"

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