The Hilton Kuwait Resort hosts F&B Workshop for Arabian Peninsula hotels

The workshop was attended by Hilton executives and managers from the region, as well as third party international corporate executives. The agenda of the workshop focused on Hilton brand standards, key messages and icons, team and talent building, and third party corporate partnerships.

'The purpose of the workshop was to refresh and re-invigorate the F&B operations of Hilton International MEAP (Middle East Asia Pacific). Forty percent of hotel revenue can be generated by F&B operations. F&B operations are especially important in the Gulf region, with hotels playing a central role as the venue for casual and formal social meetings, as well as business gatherings,' said Paul Hutton, general manger of the Hilton Kuwait Resort and area coordinator for F&B Arabian Peninsula, Hilton International.

The workshop had a number of speakers including Hutton, Maher Husseini, business alliance manager, Starbucks-Middle East, Rudi Jagersbacher, vice president, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton International, John Gallacher, area purchasing manager, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton International, Guy Epsom, regional director of sales and marketing, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton International, Ivor McBurney, director of finance, Middle East, Hilton International and Peter Goddard, managing director of TRI Consulting.

'This workshop gave our F&B teams a more macro look at the operations we have, with contributing information from all of our outlets. An important goal of the workshop was also for us to share our best practice and network, and of course enjoy our time working together,' Hutton continued.

Hutton went on to say that there was 100% attendance at the workshop and conference from the invitees. Focus of the workshop sessions was on topics including crafting work environments that encourage creativity and growth, the 'depth of the bench', purchasing procurement, and talent assessment.

In addition, as a trained occupational assessor, Hutton has a particular interest and investment in mentoring talented young managers. 'Kuwait has a particularly discerning and well-travelled clientele, and the young people working here at the Hilton have to be good at what they do. Particularly in Kuwait your reputation as a hotel depends on your creativity, quality and consistency. We work very hard to foster those characteristics in the people we employ and train, thus ensuring our future success and excellence,' says Hutton.

'We were thrilled to host this event here at the Hilton Kuwait Resort. It is very exciting for us to have a regional Arabian Peninsula event held here in Kuwait, and we believe that it is a strong indication of Kuwait's emergence as a destination of choice for the region, 'added Hutton.