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THE face of a Hollywood great which tickled a Bahraini businessman on a trip to Europe inspired him to snap it up and place it in the foyer of his own hotel back home.
Now the colourful caricature of legendary American actor Jack Nicholson is the main talking point when guests check into one of the newest hospitality hotspots in the kingdom.
Entrepreneur Dr Adel Bukhowa, chairman of the Bukhowa Investments Holding Company and well-known for his Yum Yum Tree food court enterprise, was convinced it would work wonders the moment he set eyes on it.
“The painting first caught my eye during an exhibition at the hotel in Germany and I just knew exactly where it should go when I opened a hotel of my own!” said Adel. “For some reason it just makes you want to smile.”
The Hollywood star’s portrait was painted by German artist Bernhard Prinz and Adel spent around 3,000 Euros to secure it. It already appears to have been a wise investment bringing instant positive feedback from visitors to the Ramada Manama City Centre.
Adel said: “In the hospitality business you need to greet people with a smile and what better smile than Nicholson’s? It still makes me smile whenever I see it!”
The German artist has become internationally-acclaimed for his photographic portraits and has picked up numerous prizes and awards over the years. He often presents his series of works, some with installation elements, at solo and group exhibitions at leading venues such as the Serpentine Gallery, London, Vienna Secession and Museum Folkwang Essen.
As predicted, his colourful painting, perhaps inspired by Nicholson’s role as The Joker, the principal Batman movie villain, has become a major source of conversation when visitors approach the front desk to check-in at the Ramada Manama City Centre.
The hotel’s general manager, Urs George Platz, said: “Guests love it and it’s a constant source of laughter. Dr Bukhowa also has a joke attached to it saying that Jack is his ‘secret business partner’ … he just doesn’t know it yet!
“Dr Bukhowa has such a wonderful sense of humour and simply wanted his guests to have a great time too at the hotel. He always dreamed about having a hotel one day and has put a lot of effort and paid such attention to detail to make his dream become a reality.
“He wanted to create an outstandingly beautiful hotel that offered excellent value for money without cutting down on the quality or visitor experience. In my opinion, he has accomplished his vision perfectly.”
Mr Platz, who boasts more than 23-years’ experience in the hospitality industry, having held managerial and operational positions at international properties such as Hyatt, Hilton and Novotel in the UK, Germany and Croatia, is thrilled to be part of the new venture.
He is confident the four-star property will prove a winner and provide another boost to the island’s expanding hospitality sector. The 44-year-old German said the hotel’s soft opening in April had allowed the business to gradually build a solid reputation and it recently celebrated the launch of a signature restaurant.
“We are close to the diplomatic and financial area as well as to all the major shopping destinations such as the City Centre Bahrain, Seef Mall and Al A’ali Shopping Complex,” he said. “The location is ideal. You can actually walk to these attractions. We aim to cater to everyone, offering free Wi-Fi, a business centre, a gym and a rooftop leisure swimming pool with a BBQ area, as well as a health club and spa.”
The building, which Mr Platz describes as a ‘cosy fairy-tale castle’, houses 140 rooms of various sizes, featuring business, junior and pool suites, alongside king-size, twin, superior and deluxe accommodation.
The owner has also revealed plans to transform an area by the hotel into a swimming pool and expand the reception & lobby area.
Much of the hotel’s wooden furniture has been designed and made locally with tiles imported from Italy and marble from Spain. There will shortly be three Ramada named properties on the island under the Wyndham Hotel Group umbrella, which is one of the largest hotel groups in the world.
Mr Platz added: “The design is outstanding in a classical, Arabic sense. I always say our public restrooms are the most beautiful in town! We have art everywhere to help make people feel at home and alive.
“I have visited many hotels in the kingdom and honestly believe we really stand out. We have quality furniture and an interesting interior design. I am proud of this hotel. I really love it and think it’s so beautiful.”
The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant called Emporium serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner and its recently-opened Lebanese eating place has quickly made an impression on the dining out scene. UAE-based Marka opened Bahrain’s first Reem Al Bawadi Restaurant and Café there. The new franchise in Bahrain represents the 11th across the GCC.
It celebrated its unveiling in Arabesque-style with folk dancers and musicians as Adel’s son, Omar, MD of Bukhowa Investments, manager Urs and Hesham Almekkawi, Group MD - hospitality at Marka Holding, staged a cake-cutting ceremony.
One guest at the opening said thankfully the Jack Nicholson painting at reception was a lot less frightening a face than the famous one the actor portrayed in one of his most famous ‘hospitality sector’ roles, in The Shining.
In the 1980 film, he played a writer who took a job as an off-season caretaker at an isolated hotel. It is now widely-regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made.
But no joke, smiling Jack’s face promises to deliver only sweets dreams, assured Adel and Urs.
