Hotelier Charbel Hanna is riding high after taking over the reins of a top five-star hotel in Bahrain and is storming ahead with his endurance hobby.
The 43-year-old father-of-two was recently-appointed Crowne Plaza Bahrain’s general manager.
“My entire career has always been full of challenges and I like challenges,” said Mr Hanna, who added how he was born in 1979, the same year that the hotel was opened on the island – so it was definitely meant to be!
Prior to his post, he was the deputy general manager at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa in 2019. He also enjoyed a five-year spell at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa before being enticed back to the Gulf Hotel, winning business accolades on the way such as the CEO’s Award at the company’s annual gathering.
The chance of leading the Crowne Plaza, itself owned by Gulf Hotels Group, was too good an opportunity to miss as the hospitality sector recovers from the global pandemic.
“It’s a challenge that I’m up for,” he said. “My aim, along with the entire team, is to reposition the Crowne Plaza Bahrain in the market as one of the best hotel destinations.”
First on the agenda has been the relaunching of its seafood restaurant Waves, bringing back the five-star property’s popular brunches in a redesigned space and, next, comes a new promotional campaign for its Indian restaurant, Spices.
As for business conferences and weddings, the focus will be on providing the perfect setting and service possible to ensure meetings and events run smoothly and are hassle-free.
“We’re also working on repositioning the Crowne Plaza as a wedding destination for the local market and we are offering great packages,” he added. The complex has partnered with one of the key wedding planners in the market too.
Fun and games can also be had at the hotel with its new luxury tent offering, ideal for the football season and future occasions such as Ramadan.
“When it comes to design or the way a hotel looks, it’s really a matter of taste,” Mr Hanna added. “But what people really care about is the service provided.
“It’s all about how we can make people feel at home. It doesn’t matter if you are sitting in a classic sofa or a modern chair, it is the ambience, the atmosphere and that comfortable feeling that wins hearts and loyalty.
“That’s what people want and my team must offer this with passion. I’m focusing on developing this culture of serving from the heart – to create that emotional moment with the guest.
“I’m very excited to help bring things to the place where everybody is expecting it to be – from a guest’s perspective, as well as the management and owner’s perspective. After all, it’s an endurance race to success.”
And, that is exactly what he will be doing this weekend, riding his Anglo-Arab horse Altusse in his first ever 100km National Day Endurance Championship event.
“I’m happy that I have completed all my racing qualifications at 40km and 80km level and now I’m looking forward to participating in the 100km challenge,” said the avid rider who finds inspiration from His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is the Royal Endurance Team captain.
He has loved horses since childhood having grown up around them in his home village in Lebanon.
Mr Hanna took up endurance racing in 2019 and trains with Altusse five days a week for up to 15km and gives her a lot of tender, loving care starting at 4am before he heads out to the hotel. Fortunately, the stable is near his home in Barbar.
His wife Georgette and children Anthony, 12, and Cyrine, 10, are very proud of all his achievements and will be cheering him on at the big race.
“It’s not about winning; it’s about achieving and completing the race,” he said. “It’s all about having the heart, being patient and working together in perfect harmony and synergy with your horse.”
And, they are the values he is determined to install at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain.
mai@gdnmedia.bh
* See our sister newspaper Gulf Weekly for a Waves restaurant review.
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