Expanding Careers in the United Arab Emirates
IUBH Alumni’s successful paths into luxury hospitality and banking
It is Friday night in Dubai. Friday is a day off in the UAE. The European Football Championship is about to start. At the Grand Hyatt Dubai and under an air-conditioned white tent, a group of IUBH Alumni and lecturer Willy Legrand are about to watch the opening game on a giant flat screen. The football games were really secondary to the get together, the evening was the opportunity to see each other, catch up on the latest career moves and exchange contacts in a great atmosphere. So what are the IUBH alumni up to?
Ms. Antonia Felgner had the idea to meet at the Grand Hyatt Football Tent. Ms. Felgner, who has worked for Hyatt Hotels in Dubai for the past 4 years, has recently moved from the position of Assistant Marketing Communications Manager for the Grand Hyatt Dubai to F&B Marketing Manager for all Hyatt Hotels in Dubai. From Football Championship to Oktoberfest, Ms. Felgner is always up for challenges and look forward to potential IUBH interns.
Ms. Janet Blasius knows how to match the right candidate with the right position. In Ajman for the past 3 years and currently working as a Junior Consultant for the recruitment experts Konen & Lorenzen Recruitment Consultants, Ms. Blasius understands the hospitality work dynamic in the UAE.
Ms. Daniela Weissinger started off with Four Seasons Hotels in Geneva, but shortly after moved on to being a Hotel Asset Manager for a private investor in London. The recent change of location to Abu Dhabi also entailed a career change - Daniela now works for BHF-BANK, a German private bank.
Mr. Tobias Weissinger, Daniela’s husband (yes both met at IUBH a few years ago), also moved from London to Abu Dhabi. He spent the last four years with a hotel asset management company and now works as an Associate for the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, within ADIA’s real estate and infrastructure team, again with a focus on hotels.
Mr. Peter Lederer has been in Abu Dhabi for the past 3 years and is currently the Assistant Human Resources Manager at the Westin Hotel & Spa Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa. The Westin has recently been voted in the top 5 hotels in the review Best of Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Sebastian Schwetje has been with Kempinksi Hotels for numerous years, working between the headquarters in Geneva and Abu Dhabi. He is back in the UAE, based at the Emirates Palace currently as the Manager of eCommerce.
Mr. Hubertus Meier-Kulenkampff has been working with the best catering companies in Europe and the Middle East since his graduation. He recently accepted the challenging position of General Manager Operations for Royal Catering based in Abu Dhabi. His clients include the Formula One racetrack as well as the major shows and music concerts coming to Abu Dhabi.
IUBH Lecturer Willy Legrand was in the UAE meeting industry players on the subject of ‘Implementing Sustainability in Hospitality: practices, measurement and reporting’ and held a lecture on the subject at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.
The games were okay.
The evening was fabulous.
Searching for an internship abroad:
the Grand Hyatt in Dubai may be a great opportunity
