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The Mövenpick Bahrain is going completely Yankee-Doodle Dandy this month by staging its fourth consecutive American Festival … before preparing for a major refurbishment in the near future.
And it’s also a case of ‘howdy partner’ as the award-winning hotel in Muharraq introduces newly-appointed operations manager Adil Soute and director of sales & marketing Karim El Berkchi.
The annual popular US extravaganza kicks off tomorrow evening. The dynamic duo, stepping out in style in Stetson cowboy hats, has joined the team just in time for the Wild West promotion which continues under the direction of Pasquale Baiguera, who arrived as general manager in May.
“It was clear straight away that the American Festival was a much-loved feature in the kingdom’s calendar of events,” explained Pasquale. “Hosting it at the Mövenpick Bahrain has become a tradition and this coming weekend’s celebrations are generating a huge amount of interest.”
The promotion was initially staged as a ‘thank you’ gesture to the many Americans who regularly visit the hotel but it quickly drew in locals and other expats alike keen to sample a traditional hoedown and dust off their cowboy boots.
The ultimate Wild West weekend starts on Thursday night with cowboy rides, a live band and mechanic bull rides to be followed by a special US-themed Friday Brunch.
Karim has more than 15 years in the hospitality industry and brings a wealth of knowledge to the award-winning five-star hotel, including a solid GCC background and strategic sales experience.
He was previously the cluster director of sales and marketing for the Radisson Blu Hotels in the Omani cities of Muscat and Sohar. This appointment also marks a personal return for him to the hotel group of Swiss origin, as he worked with Mövenpick Hotel Kuwait as sales manager in 2006.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to be back at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, especially at this well-reputed property with its strong hold in Bahrain’s market,” he said.
Adil also arrives with vast hospitality sector experience. Prior to his move to the Middle East, he started his career in London in 1997 and worked with several large hotel chains including the Hilton, Accor, Rotana and Radisson Blu.
He also worked as the food and beverage director for the impressive Southern Sun hotel Abu Dhabi and is well-known for his dynamic leadership and being an integral part of the opening team. He acquired unique skills in the setup and management of restaurants, bars, banquets and hotel operations which included the award-winning likes of Prego’s Italian restaurant, Blu Sky, the Foundry steakhouse, Certo Italian restaurant and Nelson’s, Dubai.
“We’re all looking forward to the American Festival – it’s great to ride into town in time for a big party!” he told GulfWeekly.
“Mövenpick Bahrain is about to undergo an extensive refurbishment. Guests and regulars will enjoy a new set of fresh F&B venues, concepts and experiences. It’s exciting to be a part of this project and my aim is to direct the team efforts for the ease, comfort and convenience of all our valued guests.”
Just a two-minute walk from Bahrain International Airport, the 106-room property was voted the Middle East’s Best Airport Hotel for three consecutive years by The Skytrax Awards.
The Wild West Weekend entertaining Thursday night out from 7pm - 11pm costs BD32net and Friday Brunch from 12.30pm to 4pm includes ‘explosive fun indoors’ with a live band performance from BD36 net. For bookings, call 17460017 or email hotel.bahrain.fb@movenpick.com
