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ONE of Bahrain’s top hotels is undergoing an expansion programme under a new general manager as the competition in the travel and tourism sector continues to heat up.
The Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain is following in the path of the recently-revitalised Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa by investing huge sums to keep customers happy and attract new business as hospitality newcomers start to jostle for a foothold in the market.
Daniel Kaan, the recently-appointed GM, said: “I am very lucky to arrive in a hotel where certain plans are already in the execution stage. At the moment we are constructing a beautiful new gym and spa facility and at a later stage we will start working on a fantastic new restaurant. Besides these new projects we will continue to build on the existing quality and offerings in the hotel.”
Dutch national Mr Kaan, 34, is married to Gooske and they have two children, Bram, seven, and Tess, four. He has taken over from Heinz Krähenbühl, who is returning to his home country of Switzerland to take up a new challenge in a business hotel right in the city centre of Zürich after a successful five-year spell in the kingdom.
He leaves behind a hotel with a glowing reputation for its sell-out family Friday brunches and recently launched unique Thursday night party brunch which appears to have captured the imagination of the island’s party people.
Mr Kaan is sure to enjoy the buzz. He has spent the last four years at the Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam – initially as director of F&B before being promoted to hotel manager.
He participated in the company’s Talent Development Centre in 2013, and company executives say he is yet another example of their commitment to ‘nurturing and developing internal talent’.
Prior to Mövenpick, Mr Kaan had worked in food and beverage with InterContinental, Radisson and Grand Hyatt in locations such as Beijing, Nairobi and Dubai.
He said: “I like to build the teams and ensure that my colleagues have all the tools and knowledge to perform their duties. I am ‘hands on’ and like to be amongst the teams and the guests. I have a strong F&B background which will definitely come to good use in this hotel.”’
The hospitality sector is buzzing again in Bahrain after bouncing back from the 2011 unrest. The Ramee Grand recently opened in Seef and the Four Seasons on Bahrain Bay is set to unveil its upmarket credentials in December.
The newcomer will be busy studying the scene in the days ahead but is confident the Mövenpick has something special to offer. He said: “I do believe that every hotel has its positives and negatives and will attract its specific target group. In our case I do like the unique mix of being an airport hotel combined with a boutique feeling and resort facilities. I have been too short in the country to assess the hospitality sector in total.”
The spa will have a European theme with a touch of Arabia and is set to open around Eid and the new proposed steak restaurant, Mr Kaan promises, will be stunning.
Although no figures have been revealed it is believed that the investment is ‘significant’.
One of Mr Kaan’s favourite ways to relax is ‘riding motorcycles’ although he says he is ‘not sure’ if he will pick up this hobby again in Bahrain. The thriving Harley-Davidson Club on the island, however, may take up to the challenge of changing his mind.
Otherwise you’ll find him cooking up a feast at home. “Having spent some years in restaurant kitchens during my studies I am a fond hobby cook and enjoy cooking for the family and friends,” he explained.
As for the coming World Cup Finals there is only one outcome, according to Mr Kaan. “As a Dutch Patriot I can obviously only say that Holland is going to win!”
