CENK UNVERDI
We have talked with Cenk Unverdi, the Regional General Manager at Rixos Hotels UAE, about his passion for the hospitality industry, the latest developments in the region and the highly anticipated Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha.
Mr. Cenk, you have held various positons under the roof of Rixos for many years, can you tell us about your career and your Rixos adventure?
I have always felt a passion for the hospitality industry, and it’s something I knew I wanted to pursue from very early on. I started my career with Rixos Hotels as an intern in 2007 and then moved to Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan, where I worked as a management trainee for 2 years at Rixos President Astana.
My Middle Eastern journey took off in 2011 when I first helped oversee the pre-opening of Rixos The Palm Dubai Hotel & Suites as an Operations Manager. I then eventually worked my way up to General Manager, during which period I oversaw its reconstruction and transiton into a luxury multi-concept resort in 2016. I was then assigned as Project Leader for the pre-opening of Rixos Premium Dubai in 2017. After successfully leading these landmark hotels in the UAE, I was promoted to Cluster General Manager of both hotels in 2017 before taking on the challenge and honour of being Regional General Manager of Rixos Hotels UAE in 2019.
Rixos Hotels is a truly unique Turkish brand; it has a very distinct idendity that focuses on the highest level of service and hospitality, which has always appealed to me. There’s a special thrill in the day-to-day operations where no two days are alike. It has its own set of challenges – whether we strive to exceed customer expectations in a competitive market or focus on the strategic side of revenue, where my passion for numbers comes into play. Seeing the brand swiftly develop its footprint in this region constantly keeps me going, and I look forward to growing in this journey with Rixos Hotels. We’re working as a team to solidify Rixos’ presence in the region with upcoming hotels in the wider MENA region.
The new projects of Rixos Hotels in Qatar are getting ready to open their doors to their guests before the 2022 World Cup. Can you tell us more about these facilities?
We are looking forward to creating our imprint in Doha with the highly anticipated Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha opening in time for the 2022 World Cup Qatar, to be followed shortly by the most-anticipated Rixos Qetaifan Island Doha.
The newly-renovated Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha has been completely revamped on its property. All of its facilities are modernized, including the renovation of guest rooms, public areas, recreation facilities, and conference and meeting areas to meet all the demands of the modern business traveller. Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha perfectly balances the striking contrast between the 1970’s architecture of one of Doha’s most recognized landmarks with all the style and functionality that is expected of a leading 21st-century lifestyle hotel.
Since the initial stages, the goal of this project renovation has been to celebrate the heritage of the state of Qatar and bring back the original iconic identity of the building, which has been implemented successfully. Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha will consist of two distinct towers comprising of more than 350 luxurious rooms and suites.
Rixos Qetaifan Island Doha will be a brand new 345-key luxury resort, part of the Qetaifan Island North project off Lusail City, it is sure to turn plenty of heads with its exceptional design, extravagant facilities and heart-racing activities. Rixos Qetaifan Island Doha will comprise a souq encompassing 118,000+ square meters of beach space, a theme park and one of the biggest waterparks in the region. The resort will also boast panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf.
What are the details that distinguish this waterpark from the others?
The one-of-a-kind waterpark at Qetaifan Island promises to be the go-to destination for adrenaline seekers with its thrilling rides and extensive activities. This will be the island's main attraction, and we cannot wait to have the guests experience the state-of-the-art facilities themselves. All the rides within the waterpark are inspired by the local culture, complementing the theme of the oil and gas industry.
One of the stand-out experiences is the adrenaline rush guests are guaranteed to feel in the Icon Tower, which will be the world’s tallest water slide standing at 85m high. The waterpark also boasts 36 different rides for all different ages over 280,000+ square meters.
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