Cover Story

In Hospitality, You Need to Have a Love for People

Published

1 year ago

September 16, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Exclusive Interview with Philip Barnes, CEO, Rotana Hotel Management

What inspired you to pursue a career in the hospitality industry?

My first introduction to hospitality was what I would classify as a summer job before I finished school. I went to a hotel that had opened in the village where my parents lived in England. I took a job there for the summer, doing anything and everything I was told to do. This involved everything from making beds to answering phones, helping cook breakfast, serving, stocking the bars—you name it. I loved it. I fell in love with this industry because it was so diverse. Every day was different, and it continues along those lines, being different every day.

Something that has kept you motivated all these years to remain in this industry.

I think that when you’re in this industry, you have to have a love for people, first and foremost—whether it’s your guests or your colleagues. That’s where it begins and ends. Hotels, otherwise, are just bricks and mortar. The reality is you have to bring them to life through the people who work there, and that’s what stimulates me the most. How do you energize a hotel? How do you energize a business? That’s the piece that gets me out of bed every morning—thinking about what we are going to do today, where we are going today, and how we are going to bring a level of excitement into what we do. There is something exciting every day, and it’s not always something you want to deal with—it’s not always pleasant—but it’s the reality of the world in which we live. There’s always something that needs attention. I think if you have a passion for excellence, which I certainly believe that I do, then this comes to the forefront in everything that I do.

As you stepped into this position at Rotana, what is your main priority for the company?

So, really, what happened in the first 90 days after I arrived was that the first thing I needed to do was get to know the team, understand what we have, and go around the hotels. I’ve covered most of the hotels now in the UAE. I’ve met the general managers, I’ve met their teams, and I’ve spent time with all the corporate VPs. I’ve looked at everything they’re doing, and I’ve challenged everything we’re doing—not to challenge for the sake of it, but because I want to understand why we do things the way we do. When you come from outside a company, you bring a fresh perspective. I told the corporate office team, for example, on day one, that I would bring change. I wasn’t brought in to maintain the status quo; I was brought in to bring a different perspective. There are a whole series of things that you will learn about me, and they’re not designed to be challenging or difficult, but they are designed to bring a different thought process. That’s what I brought to Rotana, and that’s basically the premise upon which I was hired. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman wanted somebody from outside Rotana to be the CEO—someone who brings a global perspective, who brings knowledge from other companies I’ve worked for, be it Fairmont, Four Seasons, or Shangri-La. They wanted all of those things brought to the table, and that’s what I’m doing.

With your experience across five continents, what cultural traditions do you believe impact hotel management?

I think the first thing you need to learn as you go from culture to culture is that you need to adapt and adopt what you do to suit the culture that is present. You can’t go into a place thinking you know everything or try to impose your culture on them. I was just in Pakistan this week in Islamabad, and I ignored the media portrayals of Pakistan because I wanted to go there with a fresh approach. They have the most wonderful hospitality and are the most exciting partners to deal with. The worst thing you can do is go into something thinking you know it all. Years ago, when I was with Fairmont, I was looking after Saudi Arabia. I had the benefit of a wonderful VP in Saudi who would say to me, “Yes, Phil, I understand, but in Saudi, this is the way we look at things.” So, as someone in hospitality or in any industry for that matter, you have to go into a culture with a fresh perspective and understand what they do. You have to take that around the world with you. For example, when I was in Vancouver, and a member of the Royal family came from Abu Dhabi to Vancouver, the team was unsure of what to do. I brought in someone I knew to help the operational team understand the differences and variations because that’s what you have to do. You can’t just do business as usual—you have to adapt and adopt. I think understanding cultures is key to doing business.

People look at you as a role model, is there any advice you would like to give to hotel managers on how they can be effective in their roles?

I think the most important thing for anybody in any world is to be authentic and genuine. If you’re paying lip service to something that you don’t really believe in, people can see right through you. Do what you believe is right. Follow your instincts, follow your passions, and understand what the guest is looking for. Understand what the customer is looking for. I’ve met countless chefs who told me, “Well, this is my specialty.” And I say, “Great, that’s terrific. What does the guest think? What does the customer think?” Because it really doesn’t matter what the chef thinks. If the customer doesn’t like it, then it’s irrelevant. The same applies to everything we do. I’ve said this many times since I’ve been at Rotana: I don’t really care what we say about ourselves—it’s what other people say about us that matters. So, when you’re looking at your business, understand what other people’s expectations are of you and focus on that. If you look around and see a dozen different things that need attention, every guest, every colleague—everybody—I have a philosophy that says I can’t walk by any problem. I cannot. I was in our office this morning and I was talking to our head of engineering and said, “We need to fix these tiles on the floor because they’re cracked.” You can’t say, “This is not my job.” You don’t have that luxury. When you get into a senior role, it’s your job, whatever it may be, and you can’t walk away.

Looking into the future, where do you want to take Rotana from here?

Rotana is a tremendous regional company now with 76 hotels. I have tremendous ambitions for the company. You mentioned Pakistan—our hotel in Islamabad is a franchise operation with wonderful partners there. I’d like to see us have 10 hotels in Pakistan. We’re opening two hotels in suburban London later this year. I’d like to see us have 10 hotels throughout the UK. I’d like to see us continue to grow the Rotana brand throughout the region. There are opportunities for us still remaining within the UAE, but also a lot of other opportunities in Qatar, Egypt, and other parts of the world. I’d like to see us growing, but with substance. It’s easy to put pins on a map, but that’s not what this is about. We have to go, deliver a quality experience, and take care of our owners. We have a lot of issues to address as part of who we are right now. There has to be depth. I’ve said when people have asked me to compare us to the big brands—the global multinational companies—I tell them they’re in the business of hotels. I’m in the hotel business. There’s a big difference. We have a depth of brand, we have a DNA, and that’s what we bring to the table.

Automotive

Goodyear continues support for Team De Rooy in the 2025 Dakar Rally

Published

2 weeks ago

January 2, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Goodyear continues its partnership with Team De Rooy for the upcoming Dakar Rally 2025. As the official tire supplier, Goodyear will equip the Dutch team with its high-performance Goodyear OFFROAD tires and advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), helping to ensure reliable performance throughout the rally’s demanding stages. This collaboration highlights Goodyear’s dedication to truck motorsport, combining innovation with proven durability on some of the world’s toughest terrains.

Dakar 2025: new challenges await

The 2025 Dakar Rally, running from January 3 to January 17, will cover nearly 8,000 kilometers, including over 5,000 kilometers of competitive stages, starting in Bisha and finishing in Shubaytah. This edition ramps up the difficulty, featuring an early 48-hour chrono stage that flows into the marathon stage, setting a challenging pace from the outset. In the second week, competitors will tackle the demanding dunes of the Empty Quarter, with over 45% of the course on separate tracks for different vehicle classes, enhancing safety while complicating navigation.

Goodyear OFFROAD tires and TPMS: performance in challenging conditions

Team De Rooy relies on Goodyear OFFROAD tires for their durability and reliable traction across different conditions. Designed to handle heat and challenging surfaces, these tires help reduce heat buildup at high speeds and provide consistent performance on sand, rocks, and steep slopes.

Goodyear’s TPMS offers real-time monitoring of tire pressure and temperature, helping the team make quick adjustments and avoid potential issues. This advanced system helps to minimize downtime and supports better strategic decisions—crucial for maintaining momentum during the rally.

A Legacy of motorsport excellence

Goodyear’s continued support of Team De Rooy highlights its long-standing commitment to truck motorsport. As the title sponsor of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC), Goodyear uses motorsport as a proving ground for tire technology advancements. The partnership with Team De Rooy reflects this commitment, driving innovation and performance in demanding environments.

Maciej Szymański, Marketing Director Commercial EMEA at Goodyear, commented:

“Our continued collaboration with Team De Rooy for Dakar 2025 underscores our commitment to supporting motorsport teams in extreme conditions. With Goodyear OFFROAD tires and TPMS, we aim to provide the reliability needed to tackle the rally’s challenges. We wish Team De Rooy all the best and look forward to another exciting competition at this iconic rally”.

Cover Story

PLAUD Note Pro: This Tiny AI Recorder Might Be the Smartest Life Upgrade You Make!

Published

2 weeks ago

December 31, 2025

Integrator Web-Editor

By Srijith KN

I’ve been using the Plaud Note Pro for over three months now, and this is a device that has quietly earned a permanent place in my daily life now. Let me walk you through what it does—and why I say that so?

Well at first I thought this wasn’t going to do much with my life, and by the looks of it Plaud Note Pro looks like a tiny, card-sized gadget—minimal, unobtrusive to carry it around.

With a single press of the top button, it starts recording meetings, classes, interviews, or discussions. Once you end your session, the audio is seamlessly transferred to the Plaud app on your phone, where it’s transformed into structured outputs—summaries, action lists, mind maps, and more.

In essence, it’s a capture device that takes care of one part of your work so you can concentrate on the bigger game.

Design-wise, the device feels premium, it features a small display that shows battery level, recording status, and transfer progress—just enough information without distraction. The ripple-textured finish looks elegant and feels solid, paired with a clean, responsive button. It also comes with a magnetic case that snaps securely onto the back of your phone, sitting flush and tight, making it easy to carry around without thinking twice.

Battery life is another standout. On a full charge, the Plaud Note Pro can last up to 60 days, even with frequent, long recording sessions. Charging anxiety simply doesn’t exist here.

Well, my impressions about the device changed once I had an audio captured. I tested this in a busy press conference setting—eight to ten journalists around me, multiple voices, ambient noise—and the recording came out sharp and clear. Thanks to its four-microphone array, it captures voices clearly from up to four to five meters away, isolating speech with precision and keeping voices naturally forward. This directly translates into cleaner transcripts. It supports 120 languages, and yes, I even tested transcription into Malayalam—it worked remarkably well, condensed the entire convo-interview that I had during an automotive racing show that I was into.

Real meetings or interviews are rarely happens in a neat environment, and that’s where I found the Plaud Note Pro working for me. It captures nuances and details I often miss in the moment. As a journalist, that’s invaluable. The app also allows you to add photos during recordings, enriching your notes with context and visuals.

I tested transferring files over 20 minutes long, and the process was smooth and quick. Accessing the recordings on my PC via the browser was equally intuitive—everything is easy to navigate and well laid out.

Now to what is inside this tiny recorder. Well, the core of the experience is Plaud Intelligence, the AI engine powering all Plaud note-takers. It dynamically routes tasks across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s latest LLMs to deliver professional-grade results. With over 3,000 templates, AI Suggestions, and features like Ask Plaud, the system turns raw conversations into organized, searchable, and actionable insights. These capabilities are available across the Plaud App (iOS and Android) and Plaud Web.

Privacy is what I happen to see them look at seriously. All data is protected under strict compliance standards, including SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and EN18031, ensuring enterprise-grade security.

What makes the AI experience truly effective is the quality of input. Unlike a phone recorder—where notifications, distractions, and inconsistent mic pickup interfere—the Plaud Note Pro does one job and does it exceptionally well. It records cleanly, consistently, and without interruption, delivering what is easily one of the smoothest recording and transcription experiences I’ve used so far.

I’m genuinely curious to see how Plaud evolves this product further. If this is where they are today, the next version should be very interesting indeed.

“The Plaud Note Pro isn’t just a recorder; it’s a pocket-sized thinking partner that captures the details so you can think bigger, clearer, and faster.”

Plaud Note Pro is now available for pre-order at https://uae.plaud.ai/pages/plaud-note-pro
Plaud Note and NotePin are available at https://uae.plaud.ai

Cover Story

ICT CHAMPION AWARDS – 18TH EDITION

Published

2 weeks ago

December 30, 2025

Integrator Web-Editor

The ICT Champion Awards return with their 18th edition, continuing a long-standing tradition of recognising excellence across the Middle East’s ICT landscape. The awards bring together industry leaders, technology innovators, and decision-makers for an evening dedicated to celebrating impact, leadership, and progress across the region’s digital ecosystem.

ABOUT ICT CHAMPIONS AWARDS

This programme is designed to highlight and honour exceptional achievements across the Middle East’s ICT ecosystem, celebrating organisations that continue to demonstrate excellence in innovation, growth, resilience, and leadership. The ICT Champion Awards aim to inspire progress while recognising sustained contributions that have shaped the region’s technology landscape over time.

Integrator Media proudly presents the ICT Champion Awards – 18th Edition, recognising distinguished technology organisations across enterprise solutions, critical and public infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. More than an awards platform, the ICT Champion Awards represent a long-standing commitment to acknowledging industry leadership and real-world impact. The programme serves as a trusted stage to honour innovation, reliability, and the organisations addressing the evolving demands of today’s interconnected and security-driven digital environment.

AIM OF ICT CHAMPIONS AWARD

HONOR INNOVATION: Mark major milestones in the Middle East in the technology domain.

BENCHMARK SUCCESS: Highlight significant technology innovations and achievements in the Middle East landscape.

ACKNOWLEDGE KEY CONTRIBUTIONS: Honor and value key contributions made by leading technology organizations in the Middle East.

AWARD EXCELLENCE: Acknowledge and award accomplishments made by organizations to address the increasing demand in the technology domain.

PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Establish a platform for the technology community to unite, celebrate successes, and inspire future accomplishments.

WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?

STATEGIC NETWORKING: Connect with top experts and decision-makers in the ICT industry. This is your chance to build valuable relationships and expand your professional network.

MAXIMUM EXPOSURE: Aligned with INTERSEC 2026, the event ensure unparalleled exposure as the entire ICT community gathers in one place. Your brand will be in the spotlight, drawing high impact from the audience that are aligned with security, technology, and enterprise transformation industry.

CHANNEL & PARTNER ENGAGEMENT: Promote your brand directly to prospective partners and clients. This platform provides a unique opportunity to discuss your offerings and build new connections.

BRAND AMPLIFICATION: Participate and leverage multi-level branding opportunities through our extensive print, digital, and social media coverage.

HIGH-PROFILE BRANDING: Gain high-profile branding before, during, and after the event across multiple mediums, including print and online platforms.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: 28^th January 2026
Venue: Shangri – La Dubai Hotel, Al Nojoom Ballroom, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. (nearest landmark: Near Financial Metro Station)
Time: 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Map Location: HERE
Event Registration Link: HERE
Event Agenda: HERE