Head of Cluster Procurement
Al Seef Hotels (Meraas Holding)
Total years of experience :11 years, 4 Months
The Al Seef project, a 1.8 km development along the Dubai Creek is being developed as a destination; besides numerous tourist attractions the project will be enhanced by the presence of a 200-key heritage hotel, a 150-key contemporary upscale urban hotel, and a 200-room contemporary luxury lifestyle hotel.
Reporting to Senior Management, chartered to partner with the business leaders to structure a center-led, best practice strategic sourcing and procurement department capable of delivering cost reduction and related efficiencies for the Al Seef Hotels project
Besides setting up the pre opening and post operational centralized procurement function, I was working closely with the appointed procurement agent for budgeting and ordering of the OS&E package for the hotels.
The Hospitality Procurement Department has been established as a corporate function, responsible for the complete procurement, supply chain, warehousing & logistics of all hotels, golf courses and other hospitality projects. My current role has provided me with the opportunity to:
• Establish and implement all operational and strategic functions associated with the setting up of the procurement department for DAMAC Hotels & Resorts
• Develop and implemented best practice procurement policies and innovative procurement solutions with a focus on process optimization/automation and digitalization to minimize transaction and resource intensive processes and to further drive efficiency
• Setting the OS&E and FF&E brand standards for each hotel brand and establishing global price agreements with reputed manufacturers and suppliers resulting in substantial cost savings
• Prepared the OS&E budget and brand grid for 823 key Paramount Hotel and 1200 key Damac by Paramount Hotel Apartments scheduled to open end 2017
• Established all pre opening contracts and agreements for the properties including negotiating and concluding the CRS, Booking Engine, OTA contracts, outsourced manpower and all supply and service contracts from pre opening to operational requirements
Headed the procurement department of Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Park Hyatt Dubai.
• Assisted the Director of Procurement in the smooth and efficient running of the Shared Procurement Division for the three hotels in Dubai
• Assisted the DOP in devising, reviewing and implementing the purchasing practices and procurement strategy to reflect the changing market dynamics
• Responsible for driving the shared procurement activity to ensure that it is effectively operational and well aligned with the company objectives
• Achieved 90% product and supplier standardization across the three hotels, thereby generating a cost reduction of approximately 20%
• Reduced the transactions costs by 10% on a year to year basis for the managed spend of the department by consolidating the inventory ordering and establishing an OS&E ordering cycle
Assisted the Director of Finance in handling the cost audit function for the F&B outlets and rooms operations in the hotel.
Masters in Business Administration with Finance and Marketing as major fields of study.
