Alpine Success Story| Georges Al-Hayek

Georges Al-Hayek, Swiss Alpine Diploma, and BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management

In 2007 Georges Al-Hayek graduated with a BA International Hospitality & Tourism Management. After working as a bartender at the Le Meridien Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus, Georges was appointed as the Bar Manager at the InterContinental Mzaar Lebanon Mountain Resort & Spa. Five years ago he moved to the cosmopolitan city of Dubai where he started his own entertainment company. We sat down with Georges to talk to him about his  memories of Alpine Center,  passion for music and what led him to starting his own business in Dubai. 

You have completed you studies in Hotel Management, why did you choose this industry in the first place?

I have been in this industry since I was a young boy. It all started from our house, where we would host guests and then continued with my passion to become a bartender, a profession which I followed for almost 10 years that later on led me to a new and advanced experience of obtaining a degree in hospitality management. So this is how I ended up completing a full package of hospitality experiences, by assembling pieces of a puzzle — the small things and circumstances which added up to the valuable knowledge which I hold today. 

What skills did you learn at Alpine Center which have helped you in your career?

Skills, manners, hygiene, punctuality, grooming, elegancy and many more things to count which I really appreciate. The valuable life lessons  that I have learned at Alpine Center since day one. Even the theory taught at Alpine Center was applicable to everyday life. It wasn’t only a theory to learn in class and then to go out into the industry, to discover the reality by ourselves.

I remember every single moment I spent at Alpine Center, from the duties we had to the responsibilities, from the good times to better ones (not to forget that we were a bit naughty and broke a few Alpine rules and regulations) — thus it was more fun and memorable.

I have learned different things, like dealing with diverse cultures and making friends with all the international students whom I met throughout the 3 years I spent at Alpine, the various positions we had the chance to cover from being a waiter in the beginning of our studies  to becoming the manager on duty. We applied our professional knowledge into practice during the course of our studies and had the opportunity to reflect on where we had first started by teaching and evaluating the new students on their first year of studies at Alpine Center.

I learned a lot, to be honest, from the professional tutors we had who guided and taught us during our academic year and were always present to help us like Desiree Baroudy, Harry Mitsidis, Yannis Megaloeconomou, Eleni Binga……etc. Each and every one of them holds a special place in my life and they taught me a lot of things, helping to shape me into the person I am today and the person I was meant to become.

Mrs Sybil Hofmann was always there, from day one —  with the smile on her face that can teach you a lesson as well, because every smile had a meaning, like when you would ask her if you have done well in your exam and you will get the smile that translated into — “you are on average plus or minus that can be balanced with your attendance sheet and how many absences you have”, this is one of the smiles that can help you to maintain a positive and optimistic vibe.   

Please tell us what determined your passion for music and for starting your own business?

I enjoy life and I am a hyperactive person. I had the passion for music since I was 12 years old and started to DJ at the age of 17 which I then had to quit in order to follow a more professional direction in my career. However, as I came to discover later on is that whenever I hear a good sound and a good rhythm a spark ignites inside of me that sends a pulse to my body and soul.

After completing my studies I moved on with my life looking to apply what I have learned into the real work environment but hospitality at the end of the day does not only involve serving or being a hotel manager, housekeeper or a concierge or even a GM, it is focused on how to keep the guest entertained and happy in order to generate revenue for the business and positive personal feedback.

Which is the most exciting project that you have worked on so far? 

I have done quite a few interesting projects so far like hosting international acts from abroad, working for some big names in the country, achieving a big targeted audience, doing events for the governmental sector like DEWA.

Yet the most important project and I will keep on calling it a project  — was establishing my own company in Dubai, and will keep on working on it and that’s why I call it a project.

What do you love most about living in Dubai? 

I rapidly adapted to living in Dubai and infiltrated into the system quickly.

The security is one of the reason I established the company in Dubai, the easy way of living with the high tech and facilities they have was an added value for me live in Dubai.

We would be happy to give you a call and answer any questions you may have.

Swiss Alpine Center

the Swiss Business School for Hotel & Tourism Management is celebrating 4 decades. The Company was established in Switzerland in 1986 and it’s 1st campus outside Switzerland was Established in Athens-Greece in 1987, and is a pioneer of hospitality management education, a la Suisse! Alpine has attracted students from over 75 countries in the last three decades, making it a truly international institute of learning.

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