The Saudi Woman Leading Ascott Sari Jeddah to Success
Having an educational background in Biology and Neuroscience, Reham Bahauddin, tells us how she became the Operations Manager to the luxurious Ascott Sari Jeddah, managed by international lodging owner operator – The Ascott Limited, at the age of 27.
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What inspired you to work in hospitality?
Through the years, I have been fascinated by buildings and architecture in general. The minute artistic details of hotel interiors have always captivated my attention. As a matter of fact, at some point in my life I aspired to be an architect.
Growing up, whenever I travelled with family and friends, I would actively participate in selecting the hotel stays. Eventually new ambitions came to fold, and I went on to pursue an alternate education in biology and neuroscience from Lewis & Clark in Portland. Parallelly, I began to focus my extracurricular activity on leadership and management, a field I was much interested in. After graduation, I established my career in leadership and management positions.
When I decided to come back home, I realized that the hospitality industry was beginning to flourish in the KSA. I saw this as an opportunity to reignite an old dream, and this was when I came across a brand that truly inspired me – Ascott.
Tell us more about the Ascott training program you were admitted to.
The Ascott’s ‘Saudi Graduate Programme’ initiative in the KSA was a year-long extensive programme, whereby we were trained in the skills needed to take on managerial leadership positions within Ascott’s dynamic hospitality career path. The training programme was excellent, and the results incredible. On completion, I went on to receive further trainings in Dubai and Bahrain. These trainings are the pillars on which I confidently lead today.
What are the key elements of your role?
My role as an Operations Manager assumes responsibility for the overall property management. From supervising day to day operations, to overlooking housekeeping and service engineering, to budgeting and ensuring great guest experience, the roles are ample.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Due to its scope of work, I would say that ‘passion and patience’ are key to successful hospitality management. The job is not linear; so, you will find yourself being challenged and surprised from time to time, stay strong. Also, the hospitality industry is ever transforming, which makes it important for one to stay up to date.
What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?
Operational wise, the crisis of COVID-19 came in too early in my career, and it was indeed tough in the beginning, but I got through it. Addressing guests’ problems and materializing solutions, especially during the curfew was quite challenging. Today, I can undoubtedly say that these challenges have made me stronger.
On the personal side, being a young woman with a senior position raised a few eyebrows. However, I have had the generous support and encouragement from my upper management that has helped me grow confident.
Talk us through your daily routine.
Even though I am not a morning person, the enthusiasm of a new day, of unknown challenges, wakes me up. A black coffee is a must. Once I am in office, we start the day with a morning briefing. I believe it’s crucial to understand where we stand and how far we can go.
While the day is spent in planning & assessment, motivating my teams and materializing plans, most evenings are mine to revive my love for snorkelling, board games, sports and outings.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received? And what is the worst?
'When you come to a new place, don't take any action, take your time, see how everything works, and then make up your decision.'
What is your next step?
Learning is never-ending, and so I aspire to continue working on my skills as I personally prepare for more significant roles, while adapting and adding freshness to the work environment around me. On the academic front, I am keenly looking into pursuing additional professional and specialized diplomas to expand my knowledge and portfolio.
Image Source: Supplied