Tag Archives: Iftikhar Hamdani

HMH Hospitality appointed Iftikhar Hamdani as Chairman of the Green Council in addition to his current position as Area Manager for Bahi Ajman Palace and Coral beach Resort Sharjah. Michael Zager, Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) on Hamdani’s appointment commented, “I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations and high regard to Iftikhar Hamdani for the additional role which is not new at all to him. His impressive experiences in overall corporate social responsibility, his ingenuity and commitment to the environment will give the HMH edge in its responsibility to continuously contribute to preservation of our environment and aim to encourage many to do the same.” Hamdani has revolutionized the hospitality industry over the past ten years with his ground breaking green initiatives such as in-house compost machine project, an Urban Farm and numerous notable community-related activities and charities. Bagged various sustainable and professional accolades by the different award-giving bodies. Known as the initiator of green programmes in Ajman, Hamdani has made his mark to engage many through his endless campaign for sustainability by participating in various forums within and outside UAE.

Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman, Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman and Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, organised a roundtable with a focus on the correlation between sustainability and profitability. The panel, composed of seven experts in the field of sustainability and hospitality shared their respective insights on the topic. With the theme ‘Sustainability: responsibility or profitability?’, they discussed the commercial advantages of different eco-friendly practices, and deliberated on the challenges of getting all industries on board. The discussion also included the importance of creating awareness across all stakeholders, aligning the company’s vision vis-à-vis the projected benefits, and the long-term financial gains of sustainable schemes and their effect on overall business model.   Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, The Ramada Hotel and Suites by Wyndham Ajman, highlighted, “Ramada Ajman has been campaigning for sustainability since 2012 and we have established an outstanding case study on its commercial benefits within our operations. We have an annual savings of AED120,000 from our zero landfill initiative, and  have proven that it is possible to have a profitable and socially-responsible business. Another point that we want to highlight is the value of staff retention in the success of any campaigns related to sustainability, which equates to higher profit for the business.” The other panellists are John Arnold, director of GreenGood Eco-Tech; Harbinder Singh, managing director of Sudeku; Rafik Kamel, director for franchise operations for Middle East and Africa of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Khadeeja Balkhi, CEO and editor-in-chief of The CSR Journal; Fraz Ajmal, chief services officer of Qissa’ Go.

Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager for Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman and Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, has been chosen for the DDP Game Changer award. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he moved to the UAE in 2000. He joined R Hotels in 2009, where he was named Brand Ambassador of Wyndham Hotel Group for his various charitable and sustainable initiatives. A true champion of green hospitality, he has won accolades from all corners for projects like the Zero Landfill Project and Urban Farm.

Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche extends wishes on the occasion of the 47th UAE National Day. Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman, Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche, said, “On behalf of our properties, we would like to extend our greetings to our leaders on the 47th UAE National Day. We are proud to be part of this nation-wide celebration as the UAE has achieved quite a feat in just a short span of time. This is an exciting time for all of us – both locals and expats – as we are presented with a bounty of opportunities and enjoy high standards of living. We are all thankful to our leaders for making all these happen and look forward to a brighter future ahead, especially in our beloved emirate of Ajman.”

Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche will exhibit as part of R Hotels stand alongside Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, which are also owned and managed by the same group. The first Wyndham Garden hotel in the UAE is slated to open in the last quarter of 2017. The four-star hotel will feature a total of 179 rooms and suites, an executive lounge on the top floor with panoramic sea views, two restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, gym and spa, separate health clubs for men and women, and a kids’ play area. Iftikhar Hamdani, the cluster general manager for the three properties, commented: “We are excited to introduce the new Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche. On top of the Middle East market, we are also eyeing Baltic, Balkans, East Europe, Germany, and Central Asia during the exhibition. Along with our two Ramada properties, the group is expected to accommodate the growing number of guests in Ajman, thus reinforcing our status as the leading group in terms of number of rooms and occupancy in the Northern Emirates.” R Hotels stand will be at HC0425 of the hotel pavilion. Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche will also be joining the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) stand.

Seeking to provide a more efficient and prompt service to its guests, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman recently inked a partnership with ProntoResolved, a software which manages propriety complaints and handles special requests. The contract was signed by Iftikhar Hamdani, general manager of Ramada Ajman, and Franco Moline, president of ProntoResolved. ProntoResolved allows hotels to have a paperless operation by electronically streamlining guest service issues and requirements. The software takes in and resolves the requests in a timely manner; then generates reports and tracks the proficiency of response of the departments involved. Hamdani commented: “Our property is pleased to partner with ProntoResolved in providing enhanced service to our clients, thus generating higher ratings in several platforms. In addition to its systematic and effective process, the software also enables us to have a paperless, sustainable operation, which is in line with our green vision.” Moline enthused: “ProntoResolved is happy to help Ramada Ajman take customer service experience to advanced level. We are confident that this will be a fruitful partnership, and boost the property’s satisfaction ratings in various booking engines and review websites.”

International Roundtable Conference by Future Leaders with the topic Climate Change – A sustainable thought of our future leaders was organised and facilitated by Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager of Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and his efficient team at the Penthouse, Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman. At the opening Sumair Tariq, Managing Director of R Hotels stated the high value placed by R Hotels in its Corporate Social Responsibility and the reason behind this roundtable to engage the younger generation by discussing the impact of climate change, conveying the importance of sustainable actions and generating ideas on how they can play a part in protecting the planet. Hamdani, Cluster General Manager of Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman reiterated that the outcome and suggestions by the future leaders will be finally collated as a white paper and passed on to the relevant authorities for action. Chief Guest for the event His Highness Sheikh Dr.Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Green Sheikh shared thoughts on the environment by engaging the future leaders in conversation as well. A very good initiative by the dedicated team at Ramada Ajman, R Hotels and their partners.

Al Wasl Dhow has launched its new biggest dhow in Dubai Marina, in partnership with Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman. Al Wasl, owned by Ishrat Ali Khan and comprised of Al Wasl Dhow, Al Wasl Yachts, Asia Pacific Travel and Tourism, and Oasis Palm Tourism, is a prominent excursion provider in Dubai. Under the supervision of Hamdani, internationally reputed chefs will create masterpiece dishes for guests onboard the Al Wasl, so that they could enjoy the dhow cruise dinner along Dubai Marina. These chefs will create fusion dishes from European, Asian, and Arabian cuisines which offers a five star dining experience, having multiple choices from salads, soups, main course, desserts, and beverages. Al Wasl Dhow is the first five-star dining dhow which is the perfect match for Dubai Marina. Combining sophisticated class with modern facilities. It is an ideal venue for wedding parties, family get together events and business launches/events. It is operated on daily basis in the evening.

In line with its aim of attracting new markets, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman will take part in the roadshow in East Europe organised by UAE National Council of Tourism and Antiquities. The week-long roadshow will cover the cities of Prague, Czech Republic; Warsaw, Poland; and Budapest, Hungary. The delegation seeks to reinforce the UAE’s position as the leading travel destination in the Middle East, by showcasing the diverse offerings and attractions of the seven emirates. Iftikhar Hamdani, Cluster General Manager, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman and Ramada Beach Hotel Ajman, commented that they are keen to diversify the guest nationality mix by tapping tourists from East Europe in their properties. As these markets have excellent potential; they have seen an increase in arrivals from Hungary and Poland in 2015, and they have already started to sign contracts with some tour operators for the summer period.  Currently there is a robust competition within the hospitality sector therefore they will continue to explore new markets to maintain their strong performance.