Shangri-La, Doha has appointed Taieb TJ Joulak as its new general manager. A seasoned hotelier with over two decades of work experience in hospitality, Joulak brings international experience, in addition to a wealth of knowledge and expertise, to his new role. Most recently, while working as a general manager in India, he received the highest prestigious award for a hotelier – ‘General Manager of the Year 2018 for all Luxury Hotels in India’.

Joulak began his journey with Starwood in 2002 after opening the Iberostar in Hammamet, Tunisia. Since then, he has worked at some well-renowned Starwood hotels.  He was responsible for opening five hotels over the past 15 years, including Sheraton Tunis Hotel and Towers, W Doha in Qatar, W Istanbul in Turkey and W Bali in Indonesia. He also ran the W Taipei and was general manager of W Goa. He has worked with the world-famous Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Athens, Greece.

As the general manager of Shangri-La Doha, Joulak will be responsible for financial performance, colleague and guest engagement, community relationships, partnerships and talent development. With a proven record of accomplishments and a passionate attitude that makes guests feel right at home, his focus will be to leverage the prestigious reputation of Shangri-La Hotel, Doha as a vibrant luxurious hotel in the heart of the city.

He said:

I’m delighted to be back in Doha. I have great memories and it always feels like home. I’m very excited to be part of the Shangri-La family and to take up the challenging new role. It will be an exciting journey for me to lead the fantastic team towards achieving our goals to continue to offer our guests true Asian hospitality.’

Being half-Tunisian-half-British allows him to embrace both Western and Eastern cultures, providing opportunities to create a diverse and inclusive environment that strengthens the hotel’s culture and provides a competitive business advantage.

During his high school and university years, he worked his way at various well-known restaurants and bars in Birmingham and London in the United Kingdom. He continued his education and obtained an HND in hotel management from University College Birmingham, a degree in international marketing for hospitality as well as an MBA in finance and hospitality from Birmingham University, United Kingdom.

Under his leadership, the hotel will continue to delight guests with the legendary Shangri‑La hospitality and engaging experiences. He will strive to take the property to new heights in terms of hotel performance and service standards, enhancing value for guests, owners and business partners.

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