Page 34 - Special Issue QTM 2021

P. 34

Etienne-Charles Gailliez

(General Manager – Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas Country General Manager – Qatar)

“ QTM is the initiative that we need ”

Etienne-Charles Gailliez, General Manager of Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, has over 30
years of experience in international hotel management and has worked at Hilton for over 25
years. He began his career in food and beverage and has taken on several leadership roles within
Hilton across North and Central Africa and Egypt. One of Hilton’s top performers, having been
given the group’s President’s Award in 2014, Gailliez’s vision for Hilton Salwa Beach Resort &
Villas is to secure its place as the preeminent leisure destination in Qatar and the Middle East,
offering world-class services to guests. Hilton Salwa Beach Resort is a unique and innovative addi-
tion to the Hilton portfolio in Qatar and contributes immensely towards achieving Qatar’s 2030
vision of strengthening the country’s position as a leading destination for domestic and interna-
tional tourism. Al Bayan Magazine met Gailliez and following is the interview conducted.

* Can you give us an idea about your ¯¯¯ sures and precautions taken. Also, with all
hotel? the preparations for Formula One, Arab Cup
- Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas The World Cup and World Cup, we see a pickup in trend.
opened its doors on the first of February of
this year; it is across 3.5 kilometers of pri- will put Qatar on * What is the purpose behind your par-
vate beaches and set in lush gardens with ticipation in QTM?
Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park, the the map of the - QTM is really the initiative that we need, it
largest waterpark in Qatar. Our restaurants allows us to connect to the whole world, we
and lounges offer everything from authentic world see a lot of tour operators from London,
Tuscan cuisine to Middle Eastern, Asian Russia, Germany, etc… so it is refreshing to
and Western favorites. We also have the 84 ¯¯¯ see their interest in Qatar especially with the
beach villas with private pools as well as 31 vision 2030 which focuses on expanding
Arabic villas inside the Arabic village as well rate to leisure travel especially staycations. and going for diversification through tourism
as 246 hotel rooms and suites with a mag- Travel patterns are shifting and here in as well as cultural exchange. The World
nificent lobby, luxury spa and much more. Qatar we had a very good summer period Cup will put Qatar on the map of the world
Therefore, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort is a obviously with people choosing to do small for this kind of activities and no doubt that
unique and innovative addition to the Hilton escapes in the hot weather and come to the QTM will help build strong partnerships with
portfolio in Qatar and contributes immense- waterpark as well as the hotel. Also in the the world players in terms of tour operators
ly towards achieving Qatar’s 2030 of month of October, our occupancy levels and travel agencies.
strengthening the country’s position as a were high because people want to escape We are looking forward to have such kind of
leading destination for domestic and inter- in short distance and we are only 50 min- activities in the future where we can show-
national tourism. utes’ drive from Doha. In Qatar, we position case Qatar in a different way.
ourselves as the first resort where people
* How do you evaluate the tourism sector can enjoy beach, pool, spa and waterpark.
in Qatar during 2021? The government, hospitality and hotel sec-
- Globally, 2020 was a bit of a downhill trend tors have played a vital role of safe guarding
and we see 2021 as going back upward. travelers and residents with all the mea-
The main difference is the shift from corpo-

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