Saudi national Bander Bakker has worked across the Kingdom for almost a decade
Ahead of its opening this October, Shangri-La Jeddah has announced the HR manager heading up the department and spearheading Saudisation efforts.
Bander Bakkar joins the new hotel after previously serving as HR manager for DoubleTree by Hilton in the Makkah region. Throughout his seven years in the industry, he has also worked for Hilton Makkah Convention Hotel as assistant manager HR, as well as the personal assistant to the director for Accor within Makkah.
He has been a champion of Saudisation, living in Jeddah himself and studying business administration at the city’s University of Business & Technology. He revealed that in his new position, this passion will continue.
“We will send 20 young Saudi nationals to work in our hotels aboard to gain real experience and learn our company culture, which they will bring back to Shangri-La Jeddah. We call this the Sailors Program,” he revealed.
He continued: “Shangri-La hotels are known worldwide for delivering the very best of Asian hospitality served from the heart. At Shangri-La Jeddah we will blend this with our version of warm Arabian hospitality to create true memorable experiences for our guests.”
Once open, Shangri-La Jeddah will be the Singaporean group’s first property in the Kingdom. Located within the Burj Assila Tower, the property will be situated along the North Corniche in Jeddah, with 163 guest rooms, seven F&B venues, a gym, a spa and a swimming pool.