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HOTELS
ON THE PULSE WITH KOSTA KOUROTSIDIS “Do small things in a great way” is Kosta Kourotsidis’s mantra. The seasoned hotelier, who has spent the past 25 years working in hotels across Germany, Ireland and the Middle East, gives us the lowdown on what he has planned for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts’s Dubai, Ajman and Fujairah as properties Cluster General Manager. What does your new role as cluster general manager for Fairmont’s Dubai, Ajman and Fujairah properties entail? I will be working closely with the commercial team to drive the successes of the three properties and create opportunities to cross-promote the destinations.
BEN WOZNY'S LIFE-LONG JOURNEY WITH HYATT HOTELS Having joined Grand Hyatt Berlin in 2000, then fulfilling various roles for the brand across the globe, Ben Wozny has a longstanding relationship with Hyatt Hotels. In his latest appointment as GM of Grand Hyatt Amman, he reflects on his journey with the group and his plans for the future. What is your vision for Grand Hyatt Amman? Grand Hyatt Amman is a property imbued with history, stories and opportunities. Coming in with a fresh mindset and fully energized after my Covid-19 sabbatical, I aim to help all of our team members strive for excellence and, most importantly, experience joy and pride in their daily duties.
What added value does your experience as an operations lead of digital transformation bring to your current position? The digital transformation within Hyatt is all about sparking new ideas and bringing
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together personnel from corporate, regions and hotel teams to see what it is we all want to do. Sometimes it is as easy as listening to everyone, finding the one goal everyone is after and helping the teams understand other points of view before going into piloting and testing. I have always been a strong believer in trying new things and testing out boundaries, so I guess the change management portion of my past assignments will help us bring even more creativity to life at Grand Hyatt Amman.
What is it about Hyatt Hotels that has instilled such loyalty in you? I have been very lucky; Hyatt has offered me great opportunities around the globe over the past 20 years, and because of this, it has never felt as though I was with one company for too long. It has felt more like a life-long journey with never-ending discoveries. Hyatt has always been a very flexible and open company, and given Hyatt’s past growth and future growth plans, I am happy that we are still one big family and very approachable. Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com
What are the biggest challenges in overseeing these properties? The biggest challenge is keeping pace with our success. To tackle the travel restrictions, we created a niche in the market for staycations and, with the rise in demand for new experiences, we enhanced the idea by creating “destinations” for domestic travelers.
How will you reposition Fairmont’s Sheikh Zayed Road property and refresh its offering? Fairmont Dubai is an icon and is considered a landmark by many. By refurbishing the rooms, we were able to offer business travelers a fresh, new experience, catering to both their business and culinary needs. This can be seen in the extensive dining and lifestyle options available at the property. Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com
