bahrainthismonth.com | AUGUST 2025 HOSPITALITY 71 Aiming for Excellence Abdulrahman Alabbasi, Director of Sales at Mövenpick Bahrain, talks about his hospitality journey, the hotel’s evolving guest experience and how his team is redefining luxury near the runway. From Passion to Profession Mr. Alabbasi’s career path was driven by passion, even if the road wasn’t always direct: “I was always interested in working within the hospitality industry, even though I graduated from the Business School sector and continued my postgraduate degree in Business,” he explains. “This led me to start my professional career in banking instead of hospitality. However, I ended up fulfilling my passion when I started my hospitality career 13 years ago at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain.” Today, he leads with insight and innovation. He describes the hotel as: “A unique product with special features, offering luxury hospitality services and amenities that accommodate both leisure and business travellers. It carries a distinguished identity since it is located within the airport hub. Simply put, it’s a luxury airport hotel.” Tailoring the Guest Experience When it comes to current guest expectations, Mr. Alabbasi notes three key drivers: “Personalisation is key. Travellers today are looking for experiences that match their preferences, and we offer tailored packages for both leisure and business travellers. Technology also plays a big role, with services like smart room controls and contactless payments. But more importantly, sustainability has become essential. With growing environmental awareness, guests now prefer eco-friendly practices such as reusable amenities, waste reduction efforts and locally sourced food. We are proud to be Green Globe certified, which is part of our brand standard under Accor.” Mövenpick Bahrain’s setting is also part of its unique appeal: “One side overlooks the airport, giving guests a dynamic scene of airplanes taking off and landing. The other side is calm and peaceful, with a view of the lagoon and its naturally growing mangrove trees, which attract flamingo birds nesting around the lagoon.” Driven by Strategy and Teamwork Behind the scenes, Mr. Alabbasi ensures sales strategies are tailored and data-driven: “We identify our customers based on market segments and provide each group with customised packages. We also stay updated on current economic trends, financial overviews, competitor behaviour and profit forecasting to guide our strategy.” Recent accolades reinforce the team’s hard work: “Mövenpick Bahrain continues to hold a strong position in the hospitality sector, winning back-to-back Skytrax awards and being recognised as the Best Airport Hotel in the region,” he proudly exclaims. “We also proudly maintain our reputation for offering the best Friday Brunch in town.” - Abdulrahman Alabbasi Ultimately, what motivates him most is leading with purpose: “Every challenge brings a new learning opportunity. The true reward comes from achieving goals together as a team, leading by example and supporting others. Recognising each person’s effort and guiding them along their career development path is something I genuinely value.” Watch the Video
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