Fatma Al Sinawi

Working as Acting General Manager marked a significant transition from her previous leadership role as an HR professional. In this new position, she took on expanded responsibilities, overseeing hotel operations and driving strategic initiatives with a focus on strengthening trust, efficiency, and financial health.

One of her first priorities was to foster trust among both staff and management. Through transparent communication and consistent leadership, she created an environment where collaboration could thrive. To identify challenges, she conducted thorough departmental assessments, pinpointing operational, financial, and service-related issues that required attention.

Education played a vital role in her strategy. She introduced training programs to correct misperceptions, improve service standards, and align team understanding. By clarifying roles and responsibilities across departments, she was able to enhance accountability and overall efficiency. With the support of the chairman, she also worked toward financial stability by initiating efforts to clear hotel debts.

Her leadership extended beyond internal improvements. She rebuilt supplier relationships by fostering collaboration, ensuring timely payments, and maintaining transparent communication. To protect operational integrity, she conducted regular inspections, particularly in cash-handling processes, and strengthened oversight through audits supported by the accounts team.

A strong emphasis was placed on revenue growth and digital presence. By aligning the hotel’s website with OTA platforms, she enhanced online visibility, which led to increased bookings. At the same time, she collaborated with the Oman team to recruit key departmental leaders, thereby strengthening the hotel’s overall management capacity.

These efforts led to significant results. Trust between staff and management was restored, financial debts were reduced, and stricter controls helped minimize theft and dishonesty. The hotel’s online presence improved considerably, boosting bookings and revenue. Moreover, the establishment of a strong leadership team across departments fostered a collaborative environment aligned with the hotel’s long-term strategic goals.

Fatma’s journey at Zalu reflects her ability to transform challenges into opportunities. Through education, financial discipline, operational improvements, and digital strategies, she demonstrated that teamwork and strategic leadership are fundamental to driving profitability and sustainable growth.