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

“Ao decidir qual carreira seguir, algo que me chamou a atenção é que sempre gostei de interagir com as pessoas. 

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.

Após a conclusão da minha graduação, passei a estudar para um MBA - focado em marketing e gerenciamento de hospitalidade - além de obter um certificado de gerenciamento de projetos. Esses credenciamentos ampliaram meu conjunto de habilidades, para me ajudar a exercer um papel de liderança no setor.

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. 

Meu primeiro envolvimento com o IHG foi em 2022, quando eu trabalhava como representante do proprietário para a conversão do primeiro hotel Vignette Collection no Oriente Médio. Esse foi um momento importante em minha carreira e uma grande conquista, estabelecer uma nova marca em uma Locais dinâmica.”

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 já havia trabalhado com a empresa, eu conhecia a reputação de inovação do IHG e admirava seu foco em oferecer uma Experiência do hóspede excepcional e criar um ambiente de trabalho favorável.

Desde o início, incluindo a própria experiência de recrutamento, o IHG o compromisso com o crescimento dos funcionários era muito claro. Esse ethos está incorporado em sua iniciativa "Espaço para crescer", que prioriza o treinamento e o desenvolvimento de carreira.

Planos de desenvolvimento estruturados, oportunidades de orientação, treinamento extensivo e caminhos claros para a mobilidade interna são fornecidos. Como alguém que valoriza o crescimento e o avanço, bem como a capacidade de orientar e desenvolver minha equipe, isso me atraiu muito.

Desde que entrei, o treinamento ministrado me apoiou na implementação de mudanças, na tomada de decisões criativas e na concretização de visões abrangentes.

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.”

Trabalhando juntos para fazer a diferença

“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.

Isso também está de acordo com metas locais e internacionais mais amplas, como as da Arábia Saudita e do Oriente Médio Visão 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.”

Inclusividade e sentimento de pertença

“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.

Tudo o que minha equipe e eu fazemos, fazemos com paixão: trabalhando juntos em prol de um objetivo comum e apoiando uns aos outros nessa jornada. Seja para se tornar mais sustentável e socialmente consciente, seja para proporcionar aos hóspedes a melhor experiência da categoria.

O ethos "quarto to Belong" do IHG resume isso perfeitamente - a empresa oferece um ambiente inclusivo, onde diversas perspectivas são valorizadas no caminho para alcançar ambições individuais e de toda a empresa.

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.”