When you love what you do, success is never far behind

For Walid El Haddad - General Manager, InterContinental Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia - a driving force in his career journey in the luxury hospitality industry has been passion.

“If you love what you do and you have a vision for what you want to achieve - that’s an ideal recipe for success” says Walid.

With a career spanning 25 years, Walid’s hands-on experience, education and training has helped him implement new initiatives, bring creative ideas to life and introduce the InterContinental brand to a whole new generation of guests.

A dynamic combination of education and experience

「在決定選擇哪個職業道路時，我一直很喜歡與人互動。 

I decided to study for a BA in hospitality at university, while also working part time in a restaurant to gain experience in the industry. During this time, I realised that providing exceptional experiences, bringing customers joy and making them smile was my true calling.

畢業後，我繼續學習 MBA 學位（專注於酒店營銷和管理），並獲得項目管理證書。 這些認證擴大了我的技能，幫助我在行業中扮演領導角色。

I began my full time career in luxury hospitality as a Director of Food and Beverage in 2006, before taking on my first General Manager role in 2016. 

我第一次加入洲際酒店集團是在 2022 年，當時我擔任業主代表，負責中東第一家洲至奢選酒店的改建。 這是我職業生涯的關鍵時刻，也是一個巨大的成就，在一個充滿活力的地方建立了一個新品牌。」

Growth, training and implementing new ideas 

“After completing the Vignette project, I decided to join IHG in my current role as General Manager, InterContinental Al Ahsa. 

由於已經與該公司合作過，我熟悉洲際酒店集團的創新聲譽，並欽佩其致力於提供卓越的客房體驗和創造支持性工作環境。

從一開始，包括招聘經驗本身，IHG 對員工成長的承諾非常明確。 這一精神體現在「創造長」計劃中，該計劃優先考慮培訓和職業發展。

提供結構化的發展計劃、指導機會、廣泛的培訓和明確的內部流動途徑。 作為重視成長和前進，以及指導和發展我的團隊的能力的人，這對我非常吸引。

自加入以來，所提供的培訓支持我實施改變，做出創造性的決策，並實現全面的願景。

One of our ambitions has been to introduce a new generation of guests to the InterContinental brand in Saudi Arabia, including both international and local visitors. 

The tourism landscape in the region is continually evolving, so it’s important that our property and services maintain the highest standards, while also catering to emerging trends and demographics.

This includes young, affluent travellers who may not have considered visiting an InterContinental before. By focusing on their needs and interests, we’ve been able to implement a number of upgrades to ensure our property is a destination of choice for these guests.

One example is the food and beverage ‘landscape’ the property offers. When our chef creates a menu for example, he will include details from local cuisine and culture, while also maintaining a fresh and modern influence.

As well as this, we’ve opened an entertainment space showcasing sport and live music, which serves as a social hub and we have also established a retail experience, where guests can purchase gifts to take home, including local produce.”

共同努力創造改變

“My team and I have also been focusing on sustainability, in line with IHG's mission to implement more planet-friendly solutions globally and as part of its ‘Room to Make a Difference’ ethos.

這也符合更廣泛的本地和國際目標，例如沙特和中東 2030 年願景 - which aims to unite stakeholders in the fight against climate change.

Some of the improvements we’ve made include: switching to LED lighting; upgrading our taps to more water efficient models; and cutting down on plastic and paper usage in the process of preparing the property for Green Key Certification.

All of these upgrades not only benefit the environment but have a positive impact on the property’s operational efficiency and reputation. It’s both a practical choice and a crucial component of long term success in the luxury hospitality sector. 

We have also forged partnerships with local food banks to help reduce waste and support community welfare, reflecting our commitment to social responsibility. 

My team and I also take part in IHG’s ‘Giving for Good’ month in September, which is a wonderful chance to contribute to charity initiatives. Last year, we worked with local children’s charities and the experience was an extremely rewarding one.”

包容性和歸屬感

“It’s inspiring to work for an organisation with a clear vision and I see my General Manager role as a pivotal one, in terms of helping to bring this to life. It’s achieved through the positive changes and initiatives we implement, as well as fulfilling day to day tasks with a sense of pride.

我和我的團隊所做的一切，我們都充滿熱情地完成，共同努力實現共同的目標，並在旅程中互相支持。 無論是變得更永續和具有社會意識，還是為房客提供一流的體驗。

洲際酒店集團 (IHG) 的「歸屬感客房」精神完美地概括了這一點——公司提供了一個包容性的環境，在實現個人和公司整體抱負的道路上，不同的觀點都受到重視。

The future will always bring unpredictable challenges and opportunities, but I can be certain that whatever my next steps are with IHG, I will always feel that sense of belonging and an unwavering passion for what I do.”