Dubai, UAE, November 04, 2018:  Surrounded by history and culture, in the heritage precinct ‘Heart of Sharjah’ stands the region’s most ambitious projects – ‘Al Bait Sharjah’. Developed to restore Arabian heritage and Emirati hospitality, Al Bait, literally meaning ‘the home’, is a unique collection of four heritage houses once owned by local families who impacted Sharjah’s history with innovative achievements in business, government and publishing. The heritage resort deeply inspired by its own past, comes together in a collection of 53 luxurious guest rooms and suites, which can be booked through the resort’s website from December 1, 2018. Al Bait Sharjah is carefully re-modelled and designed to provide world-class hospitality services and luxurious guest experiences, never witnessed before in the emirate.

Great ideas come to life when great minds work together in perfect symphony. Meet the miscellany of talents behind this tour de force, led by the maverick manager at the helm. With more than 18 years of demonstrated success in hospitality and wealth of expertise in exclusive high-end environments, Patrick Moukarzel leads the team as the resort’s General Manager. 

Patrick returns to the United Arab Emirates after spending early years of hospitality career as restaurant manager at the Hotel InterContinental Dubai back in 2001. He moved on within the same company to Egypt and returned to Dubai with a project for Park Hyatt. Patrick then started his journey with GHM as a food and beverage manager at The Chedi Muscat and later with general manager positions at the luxury hotel group’s properties in Thailand and China. After his last role within the company as a general manager in Suzhou, Patrick managed luxury properties in Penang, Malaysia and in Maldives where he is best known for shepherding the Soneva Jani from the final stages of construction to a successful launch and operation. A skill set that led him to take charge of GHM’s second project in the region after The Chedi Muscat. Patrick’s out of the box creative thoughts and refreshing sense of humour cannot be camouflaged by his sense of professionalism and mammoth sense of responsibility as he approaches his seventh pre-opening project with a fresh sense of creativity. 

Like all good leaders, Patrick is backed by a dynamic senior executive team with world-class talent and experience. Meet the team that leads the grandiose vision of Al Bait Sharjah to fruition. 

A creative and entrepreneurial approach is critical to fully blossom in the modern world, and no one epitomises this better than Tetyana Polunina, Director of Sales and Marketing. Atenaciouswork philosophy, a creative approach and an irrepressible drive to contributeto her professional environment have led to some wonderful milestones in Tetyana’s career. Armed with a multitude of passions including art and fashion, culture, technology and an innate skill of networking and people management, Tetyana is a hard-nosed travel industry professional with a sharp eye for new revenue opportunities. An asset to every company she has served at, her extensive work experience includes working with luxurious names such as Raffles Singapore and Seychelles, Sofitel and Pullman. One of the longest serving member on team Al Bait, Tetyana knows every new (and old) brick of the heritage resort. A storyteller of sorts, she is a treasure of all things Al Bait. 

Head Chef Ashish Deva, called“Chef” by all team members, is a serious foodie, and it shows. Highly adept in culinary expertise, Chef comes to Al Bait with heavy-weight names of the industry such as The Chedi (GHM hotels), Alila, Carlson and Marriott. While his body of work and demands from his team could intimate a newbie, at the same time his friendly and approachable demeanour relaxes the environment, creating the perfect recipe for creativity. With an enviable repertoire of world class cooking techniques, menu creation and team management, Chef is an invaluable asset to the company.  

With vocals to challenge Pavarotti, there’s no doubt Chef Tareq was an opera singer in some past life. His ability to entertain team mates in the kitchen is a skill mastered by only a few. He is one of the most dedicated chefs in the kitchen with a die-hard passion for his craft. Chef Tareq will be leading the team at The Arabic Restaurant and dish out his own twist on one of the healthiest, freshest, most delicious and most ancient fare – Levantine cuisine. 

With an artist’s eye for detail, art, and the finer things of life, Executive Housekeeper NezhaMemarian defines luxury, eternal style and fashion. Following her experience at ultra-luxurious properties such as Burj Al Arab, Nezha took a sabbatical and pursued her Diploma in Interior Design at the reputed SWZ University of Art, Switzerland. She returned to share her ample gifts with the luxury industry. Having joined the pre-opening team, she has Nezha-fied not only her colleagues but added her own unique touch to define uber-luxury at Al Bait. A woman of the world, Nezha is a multitasker, multilingual and mother of two beautiful children. 

Another power-woman on team Al Bait is the highly accomplished human resources leader with more than twenty years of experience across luxury hotel brands in UAE.Anjali Masih serves as Director of Human Resources & Training at Al Bait.Her expertise in strategic human resources, succession planning and talent development as well as inherent understanding of a multicultural environment has brought out in the best people, shaping Al Bait Sharjah into an exemplary heritage project

The resort’s Spa Manager Hapsari Tri, or Sari as she is known as, is a true hidden gem and adored by all. She juxtaposes bonhomie and extreme professionalism with her inimitable charm and flair.  Her massive personality makes up for her petite frame as she stands tall to charge the reigns of the resort’s spa services as well as pool and fitness centre facilities. Sari comes from a luxurious spa background, in primarily senior spa roles in Maldives and Bali, where she worked for The Chedi Club in Ubud. Her calm and gentle demeanour creates the perfect vibe for a team that handles a delicate guest area like the spa. 

Popularly known as Mr Joseph, Director of Finance Mr Joseph Louis has a best friend in Microsoft Excel. With a true love for the numbers, Mr Joseph does not part with money easily, which works well for the company. With close to three decades in the hospitality sector, and more than fifteen years within the UAE itself, Mr Joseph has seen the nation evolve in front of his eyes and has remained as relevant as the years have passed. His intricate understanding of the business, and of life itself, makes him one of the team favourites, and everyone looks forward to receiving daily motivational quotes from him. 

Chief Engineer Mohammed Azharuddin has worked as chief engineer at The One & Only resort in Dubai before joining the Al Bait family. He also filled in similar roles at Kempinski and Ritz-Carlton in Dubai, Le Royal Meriden in Bahrain and Crowne Plaza Dubai. His attention to detail and thoughtful management is impressive and inspiring to the people around him.
                                     
Al Bait’s formidable team stands together through diverse hospitality experiences and world-class talent. Together, it is their vision to bring a sense of luxury to Sharjah, that has never been imagined before.