Speaking exclusively to Tatiana Tsierkezou, chief operating officer – Middle East and Africa, Kempinski Hotels, Henk Meyknecht grants some insight into the upscale hospitality company’s milestones, latest projects and much more.
TTG: What is new with Kempinski Hotels?
Kempinski Hotels has reached a momentous milestone this year as we celebrate 120 years as a pioneering luxury hotelier. We are incredibly proud to remain Europe’s oldest independent luxury hotel company. What began in Germany in 1897 has grown into our current portfolio of properties in more than 30 countries, from Berlin to Beijing.
In the Middle East our latest openings include two stunning properties – Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort Beirut in Lebanon and Kempinski Al Othman Hotel Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia. The next highlights will be the opening of Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai on the Palm and Kempinski Hotel Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman.
TTG: Reflecting on 2017, how has this year been for Kempinski Hotels in the Middle East region? Have there been any challenges?
The Middle East is a dynamic region where the travel and bookings patterns from feeder markets are affected by a rapidly changing landscape. This year we’ve seen that bookings are increasingly made at the last minute, making it more challenging to forecast. What helps Kempinski stand out is that we’re an independent luxury hotel operator with a long-term approach to growth and an agile business model that allows us to adjust swiftly to these market cycles.
TTG: With competition ever-growing in Dubai, how is Kempinski Hotels working to stand out and differentiate itself from everyone else? What will Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai bring to the table?
Our 120-year strong heritage and exclusive focus on the luxury segment gives Kempinski a competitive advantage, particularly in a market where guests seek an authentic and personal experience. We stand out because our underlying operating model is designed to deliver a crafted luxury guest experience with this personal touch, amidst an industry of increasing consolidation and standardisation.
The opening of Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai on the Palm confirms our commitment to launching luxury hotels in the Middle East and Africa region. This 389 villa, suite and room property has a unique design feature, going back to 18th century European architectural features, with an impressive selection of restaurants, including MIX from Alain Ducasse.
TTG: When it comes to hiring the appropriate staff members at any Kempinski hotel, what are some absolute musts in terms of character, mentality and state of mind?
Luxury hospitality is an exacting craft. It demands constant attention to detail from people committed to delivering service from the heart. We look for entrepreneurial spirit and our team members are authentic people who care deeply and personally about the well-being of guests.
We treat each colleague as an individual and invest substantially in training so that our teams are educated to entertain and deliver consistently great service – or ‘beautiful performance’ – for our discerning clientele.
We have a new internal information system to strengthen connections between our managers and employees to share career opportunities across the globe and boost talent mobility. As an employer, we pride ourselves on developing our team members and offering opportunities to work internationally in exciting destinations, such as Dubai.
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