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

“Al decidir qué camino profesional tomar, algo que me llamó la atención es que siempre me gustó interactuar con la gente. 

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.

Luego de completar mi título, estudié un MBA (Maestría en Administración de Empresas), centrado en marketing y gestión hotelera, y también obtuve un certificado en Gestión de Proyectos. Estas acreditaciones ampliaron mis habilidades para ayudarme a desempeñar un papel de liderazgo en la industria.

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. 

Mi primera participación en IHG fue en 2022, mientras trabajaba como representante del propietario para la conversión del primer hotel Vignette Collection en Oriente Medio. Este fue un momento clave en mi carrera y un gran logro, establecer una nueva marca en una ubicación dinámica."

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. 

Como ya trabajó en la compañía, conocía la reputación de IHG en materia de innovación y admiraba su enfoque en brindar experiencias excepcionales a los huéspedes y crear un ambiente de trabajo de apoyo.

Desde el principio, incluida la experiencia de reclutamiento en sí, IHG... El compromiso con el crecimiento de los empleados fue muy claro. Este espíritu se materializa en su iniciativa “Room to Grow”, que prioriza la formación y el desarrollo profesional.

Se ofrecen planes de desarrollo estructurados, oportunidades de tutoría, capacitación exhaustiva y vías claras para la movilidad interna. Como alguien que valora el crecimiento y el avance, así como la capacidad de orientar y desarrollar a mi equipo, esto me resultó muy atractivo.

Desde que me uní, la capacitación que recibí me ayudó a implementar cambios, tomar decisiones creativas y hacer realidad visiones generales.

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.”

Trabajando juntos para hacer la diferencia

“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.

Esto también está en consonancia con objetivos locales e internacionales más amplios, como los de Arabia Saudita y Oriente Medio. Visión 2030 - 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.”

Inclusión y sentido de pertenencia

“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.

Todo lo que mi equipo y yo hacemos, lo hacemos con pasión: trabajando juntos hacia un objetivo compartido y apoyándonos mutuamente en ese camino. Ya sea volver más sustentable y socialmente consciente o brindarles a los huéspedes la mejor experiencia en su clase.

El lema “Room to Belong” de IHG resume esto perfectamente: la compañía ofrece un entorno inclusivo, donde se valoran las diversas perspectivas en el camino hacia el logro de las ambiciones individuales y de toda la compañía.

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.”