The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah is pleased to announce the appointment of Karim El Ghandour as Director of Human Resources.

Bringing more than 25 years of hospitality and HR leadership experience across the Middle East and Africa, El Ghandour joins the five-star resort to lead its human resources strategy, with a focus on strengthening colleague engagement, talent development, and workplace culture while supporting the continued growth of the property.

In his new role, El Ghandour will oversee the resort’s human resources function, drawing on extensive experience in talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, compliance, leadership development, and workforce optimisation. His appointment further supports The Cove Rotana Resort’s commitment to building a strong, people-focused culture and recognises the important role colleagues play in delivering the warm and genuine hospitality for which Rotana is known.

Commenting on his appointment, El Ghandour said: “I am pleased to join The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah and become part of the Rotana family. Throughout my career, I have seen first-hand the important role that people and culture play in the success of a hotel. I look forward to working closely with our colleagues and leadership team to build a strong and supportive workplace, develop our talent, and ensure our people strategy continues to contribute to the growth and performance of the resort.”

El Ghandour joins The Cove Rotana Resort following more than 15 years with IHG Hotels & Resorts, most recently serving as Cluster Director of Human Resources in Kuwait. In this role, he led the full HR function across a cluster of properties with a combined workforce of 800 colleagues and served as a member of the Executive Committee. He also led the HR pre-opening of InterContinental Kuwait, IHG’s first luxury property in the country.

His career in hospitality began in hotel operations, with early roles spanning front office and operational management before he moved into training and development and, subsequently, senior human resources leadership. He has also worked in convention and catering sales and co-founded and managed a travel business, giving him a broad understanding of the operational and commercial realities of hotel performance.

This combination of operational and HR experience has shaped his approach to leadership, centred on people, performance, and a first-hand understanding of hotel operations. At The Cove Rotana Resort, El Ghandour will bring this perspective to the continued development of its colleague culture, supporting high-performing teams and aligning the resort’s people strategy with its wider business objectives.

Visit The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah for more information and The Cove Rotana Resort on Instagram @thecoverotanaresort for the latest news and updates

A Little India, A Little Middle East: How Food Is Bringing Cultures Together in the UAE

The UAE’s food culture is a reflection of the many communities that call the country home. Indian, Middle Eastern and international flavours have become part of the everyday food landscape, with familiar dishes often picking up new influences along the way. For Za’atar Day on 23 September, iD Fresh Food is bringing two of these food cultures together with its Za’atar Parota.

The idea is simple, a familiar Indian staple meets one of the region’s much-loved flavours. The result is a crispy, flaky, layered parota with aromatic za’atar, bringing a distinctly Middle Eastern touch to an everyday favourite. It is a combination that fits naturally into the UAE, where different food traditions regularly come together.

iD Fresh Food’s Za’atar Parota

The Za’atar Parota brings the bold, aromatic flavour of za’atar inside a hot, flaky and layered parota. At iD Fresh Food, clean label is an uncompromising standard – no preservatives, no artificial colours, no artificial flavours, no emulsifiers, no stabilisers, no raising agents, no anti-caking agents and no unnecessary chemicals. The same standard applies to every ingredient that goes into making the product.

The Za’atar Parota can be enjoyed straight off the pan with hummus, labneh or your favourite dip. It also reflects iD Fresh Food’s approach to building its presence in the UAE. The company entered the market in 2013 and has since expanded its portfolio to suit the tastes and eating habits of a diverse consumer base, while continuing to follow its clean-label approach.

The product is one example of how familiar food formats can be adapted for the local market without losing what makes them familiar in the first place, bringing together the comfort of a parota with a flavour that is already well known across the region. Availability: The Za’atar Parota is available across selected hypermarkets in the UAE and on noon.

IDeaS, a SAS company and the world’s leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, has deployed the G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) at Giza Palace Hotel & Spa in Cairo, Egypt.

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Giza Palace Hotel & Spa is a brand-new luxury hotel in a prime location in West Cairo. The grandiose hotel features 560 rooms, eight distinctive dining venues, a spa, and extensive conference and meeting facilities. Blending architectural excellence with a curated art collection, the hotel is renowned for its exceptional service and guest experience.

The hotel is owned by Travco Group International, whose hospitality arm, the JAZ Hotel Group, is one of the region’s most prominent hotel operators, with a growing portfolio of over 68 hotels and resorts across Egypt and Zanzibar.

The deployment of IDeaS G3 RMS enables the hotel team to optimize revenue management decisions through precise forecasting, dynamic pricing, and inventory management, as well as streamlined group displacement evaluations and the automation of routine tasks.

A key factor in Giza Palace Hotel & Spa’s selection was IDeaS’ ability to effectively manage the complexity of its inventory. With more than 11 room and suite types across three room categories and eight suite configurations, the property requires advanced predictive analytics to position each room type competitively in one of the region’s most dynamic markets.

IDeaS’ Group Pricing capability addresses another critical segment of the business – the projected impact of displaced demand across their diverse inventory mix – by delivering real-time insights into the value of group business. Designed for speed and simplicity, the feature enables better-informed decisions that account for the full depth of the hotel’s offering, while preserving commercial flexibility.

Alaa Akel, CEO & Chairman JAZ Hotel Group commented:“Giza Palace was created with a clear ambition to set a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in Cairo.  Our partnership with IDeaS supports that vision bringing advanced revenue management capabilities to our commercial strategy, allowing us to make smarter decisions, respond to market demand and drive sustainable growth.”

Ibrahim Saba, Principal Sales Director – Europe, Middle East & Africa at IDeaS commented: “Giza Palace Hotel & Spa is exactly the kind of landmark property where intelligent revenue management makes a measurable difference. With a large inventory and a significant conferencing operation, the team is managing considerable complexity across multiple revenue streams. G3 RMS gives them the forecasting precision and group pricing intelligence to ensure every booking reflects the true commercial value of each piece of business.”