A penchant for building fish tanks and speaking Greek are just some of the things we discover about Khaled Al-Idrissi, cluster director of sales and marketing, Fairmont Fujairah Beach Resort and Fairmont Ajman
What’s the best thing about your job? The fact that every day is different and the opportunity to work with a very diverse team of individuals who bring together a wealth of knowledge. The ability for us to create something from the ground up is truly inspiring.
What made you choose this role? My role chose me. I didn’t intend to work in the hotel industry. The hotel sector found me at a very young age, and I slowly grew in sales and marketing. I enjoy interacting with people and am driven by the competition to perform and being able to deliver an effective response to any challenge.
What do you do when you’re not working? I build fish tanks and record music in my studio.
What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever received in the workplace? What is measured is value and what is value is measured.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Vice president of sales and marketing for an international brand.
Tell us something that none of your colleagues know about you? I’ve lived in Cyprus previously, so I speak fluent Greek.
If you could stay in any hotel in the world right now, where would you go? The Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada.
Can you tell us why you wanted to join this industry? The industry is very much about being hospitable. Anyone interested in joining the hotel sector has to see it from two major angles: first as a business and second as being host to guests from all corners of the world, both of which are equally rewarding.
What would you say to anyone who is starting out in your sector? Hard work, tenacity and the willingness to deliver on both product and service will ensure that you grow in a very quick manner.
What’s the worst thing about your job? Having to occasionally terminate the employment underperformers.
