Abdulla bin Sulayem is chief executive of the hospitality development company Seven Tides and of property company Asteco. After completing his degree in business at Middlesex University, the Emirati joined Dubai-based property developer Nakheel in 2005 as director of operations. Mr bin Sulayem, 31, spent six years with the company before joining Seven Tides as chief executive in 2011. In 2012, he was given the added responsibility of running Asteco.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
People say you should never mix business with pleasure. However, the two are synonymous for me. At the weekend I like to take the opportunity to check out our hotels for myself and experience them as a regular guest would, visiting different restaurants and trying out the various leisure activities on offer. As someone who likes to be involved in all aspects of the business, visiting our hotels and seeing them from the perspective of our customers helps to generate ideas and develop better ways of working to enhance their stay.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
I like nothing more than doing some stand-up paddle boarding early every morning. It’s the perfect time to gather my thoughts for the day ahead. I also enjoy cycling for the health and fitness benefits it brings. Although not a hobby as such, I’m intrigued by food from around the world. When travelling I’m always on the lookout for something new or unique and how it can be developed or used within one of our properties.
What can’t you live without?
I always have to keep busy. I’m definitely at my best when I’m on the go – moving around and getting results.
What do you consider the secret to your success?
Passion and enjoying what I do. Turning a problem into an advantage and achieving something really excites me, and this is what drives me. Generating revenue is the lifeblood of any company – without it, we simply cease to exist, so the sales and marketing teams are crucial in any successful hotel. Much has been made of high-profile tools like social media and the benefits of using revenue-generating platforms such as booking.com, which are truly international. For me, this is only half the story. Traditional sales, marketing and PR initiatives are still exceptionally effective, but only if you have invested in the process and it is managed properly.
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