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ORYX ROTANA OPENS DOORS The LaTesT enTranT TO The hOsPiTaLiTY inDusTrY By Sindhu Nair
the world, the fact that he is still holding onto his dream profession with the same ardour or even more, is indeed no small achievement. He sits down to chat with Qatar Today on the latest entrant in the MICE sector in Qatar, the Oryx Rotana. Qatar, which he feels is a balanced country, has potential for a solid growth especially in the hospitality sector. And Oryx Rotana, owned by Qatar Airways, being the first Rotana property here, is an important milestone for the hotel brand. “For Rotana, it is the launch of a brand rather than the hotel. So the challenge is quite high,“ he says. The Rotana group is a Middle Eastern company with aggressive expansion plans that has seen the company grow from two properties in 1993 to a total of 70 in the Middle East and Africa region today.
Location is the key
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evork Deldelian, General Manager (GM) at Oryx Rotana, loves to be in touch with his clients, “Give a lollipop to a kid crying in the lobby and bring a smile to the child's face. Because to me, service is all about that smile. GMs are supposed to be with their guests, not sit in their suits in their private offices, working on profit figures.”
Kevork Deldelian, General Manager at Oryx Rotana And doing this, which is also part of what the Rotana brand philosophy is all about, gives Deldelian great satisfaction. This is also one of the reasons why he joined the hospitality industry. The other he says, was for the glamour the profession offered. For someone who has worked in the industry for more than 25 years, in 13 different countries but mostly in this part of
For any hotel, there are three important factors that can be called the formula of success. “It is location, location and location,” laughs Deldelian, for the Hotel has clinched the ‘perfect’ one, situated right across the Airport and bang in the middle of Doha’s business area. The hotel is deliberately slanted towards the demands of the modern, tech-savvy business traveller, for whom time is money. Major investment was poured into the property to include all the technological capabilities needed for the busy business traveller. “We wanted to have everything and something beyond what you would typically find in a business hotel. We asePTember 10
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market watch wanted to maximise the business traveller's comforts while making sure that none of his needs would be sacrificed, nor his privacy intruded upon.” Oryx Rotana features the latest hightech facilities including nine fullyequipped meeting rooms with stateof-the-art audio-visual equipment, two ballrooms and a dedicated professional team to aid in hosting business events and meetings. “It provides business travellers with the ultimate services in getting their work done efficiently, while giving them the chance to wind down and relax at any of the numerous leisure facilities that include a comprehensive fitness centre, Jacuzzis, steam rooms, saunas, swimming pool, and massage rooms .” The gym that Oryx Rotana has on offer, is “the largest and the most high-tech”, says Deldelian. You're actually able to check flight details on the fitness equipment, so if you want to squeeze in an additional hour at the fitness centre to your schedule, you can be sure you won't miss the flight. A fleet of courtesy minibuses also make it effortless for the traveller to get to the airport, though it is but a trot away.
The doors are open...
The hotel was opened to the public with a soft launch last month. But what efforts are being made to announce the arrival of this new member in the hospitality sector? “Media was invited to the soft launch and the sales team are active in the market, meeting local businesses heads. The owners, the Rotana brand, also have been quite supportive, an-
nouncing to the world about the launch of their new property in Qatar.” A grand opening is being planned for after Eid.
Supply and demand
What does Deldelian have to say about the low demand and the high supply of hotel rooms here in Qatar? Does the country need this many new rooms, in a country that doesn't have much to offer in terms of entertainment? “Occupancy levels are at a low, but it is still better than last year. And the prospects for the coming years do look very encouraging,” he says. With the kind of development that is being projected, the high GDP rates indicated and the ‘good’ business environment that the country reflects, a demand is seen for more hotel rooms, he says. An optimistic outlook, one might say, but time will soon provide the answer. Meanwhile with the opening of the Rotana brand, an additional 400 hotel rooms have been added to the four-star segment in Qatar, though Deldelian believes that “the brand is on par with other five-star hotels in the region”.
The brand USP
Ask about the unique selling points of the hotel, other than the location, and Deldelian has quite a list of them. “We are a brand from the region and that gives us a lot of understanding of the communities and the traditions. Our food and beverage operations are unique. We have two signature outlets, The Jazz Club, has an exclusive jazz band and an Asian fusion kitchen and cuisine while The Cellar, which serves a wide range of Mediterra-
These are big numbers A total of 4,689 new hotel rooms are expected to be added to the Qatari hospitality market during 2010, according to a data released by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). Fortyone new hotels will be operational by the end of 2010, the QTA reported. Last year the number of available hotel rooms in the country in-
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creased by 25% compared to the 2008. According to the data the total number of three-star hotel rooms in Qatar rose from 964 in 2008 to 1,084 in 2009. During the same time the number of four-star rooms also increased from 2,155 to 2,760, and the number of five-star rooms grew from 3,056 to 4,059.
nean food in a casual atmosphere, with a wine expert on board to brief the clients on what to choose. Our atrium is beautiful; it brings in the outdoors without its discomforts. It is the best place to sit and chat at night. We have the provision to accommodate around 300 delegates in our conference rooms.”
Experiences that matter
For someone who has moved once in every couple of years from one brand or country to another, Deldelain has a wealth of experience to share. “I came here for the glamour this industry offers,” he says, “and it is much more glamorous than I ever imagined it to be.” This is a profession for “a people person”, he says, “and there is never a lonely moment in the industry. You work as a team, acquire a lot of patience and understand the importance of working together for the success of a brand that is all about service to its clients.” Brands drive businesses and each brand that Deldelian worked in had a distinct individuality. He talks about the brands he has worked with identifying each through his experiences working with them. “Holiday Inn was a fantastic brand to work with, which taught me to do business economically as it was not a high-end luxury brand. Crowne Plaza had a more crisp way of doing business; it served the young executive, who is keen on doing his business while enjoying his evenings. Intercontinental was a traditional, more mature age bracket, the consistent brand. It was slightly rigid with its brand principles and values. “And then I joined Rotana, which is a more active, vibrant, demanding place to work in, which gives you all the flexibility to be creative. Be in touch with the client and evolve according to his needs. The brand allows me to come up with new ideas; I am heard and hence make me feel more energised.” How would he describe the Middle Eastern client? Is he more demanding? “No, he is not demanding,” he says, “The ME client is more aware, more knowledgeable. He knows what he wants and what he deserves to get.” n