INTERVIEW: Fairmont Dubai |W| www.fairmont.com/dubai |E| dubai@fairmont.com
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
20
Robert-Jan Woltering General Manager of the upscale Fairmont Dubai
“Dubai is a cosmopolitan city of diversity and contrasts at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa”
A firm fixture in the bustling Dubai
Tell us about your history?
What motivated you to move from Europe to run a hotel in the Middle
cityscape, the iconic Fairmont Dubai is renowned as a flagship property within
I worked in the hotel Industry for the
East and take on the challenge of VP for
the global portfolio of Fairmont Hotels &
past 28 years, having held progressive
Fairmont in the UAE?
Resorts since its debut over 14 years ago.
management
Designed with business in mind, this
hospitality companies, including over 20
UAE has emerged as one of the world’s
multi-use
minutes
years with Accor Hotels. Hospitality is my
leading international business centers
from Dubai’s key attractions, shopping
passion in life; I am totally excited to do
and regional hubs. With state-of-the-
facilities, golf clubs and beaches and is
the job that I am currently doing. I always
art
directly linked to the Dubai International
consider myself as an innkeeper which is
professional environment, the country has
Convention
dedicated
the pure sense of a real Hotelier; this is
fast become the best place to do business
covered walkway. Modeled after an
what drives me. Of course in the last few
in the Middle East. The government here
Arabic wind tower (barajeel), this 34
years this has slowly drifted away from
is pro-business with the most transparent
story property features 394 spacious
me in my previous role as Area General
business regulations in the region, first-
guestrooms (including 128 suites and
Manager in Germany where it was more
class physical infrastructure, and access
luxury penthouses) offering the perfect
as a visionary role and my job was focusing
to an experienced and skilled labor force.
blend of amenities, location and gracious
more on coordinating the actions of the
All these factors, along with the country’s
hospitality, a spa, two terraced rooftop
troops. It is actually what I am doing here
leaders vision to uplift the tourism and
swimming pools and 10 contemporary
as well and I totally find this fulfilling and
especially the hotel industry, made me
dining
full of passion to create a common vision
eager to always come back and work here.
complex
and
Centre
is
by
just
a
entertainment
venues
including the award-winning first blind dining restaurant in the middle east, Noire.
roles
within
and get the team behind it.
leading
infrastructure
and
world-class