The First Collection Waterfront has opened its doors.
Situated on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal in Business Bay, the property features 327 rooms and suites, F&B, a spa, gym, along other facilities.
The First Collection Waterfront will be the third property from the First Collection brand in Dubai, following the success of The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle and The First Collection Business Bay.Â
Hotelier Middle East gives you an exclusive look at the senior leadership team who will power the property.
The cluster GM
Greg Moses will helm the property as the cluster general manager of The First Collection Waterfront and The First Collection Business Bay. Moses has 20 years of professional hospitality experience in luxury operations and oversees all aspects of the property’s operations, including guest satisfaction, staff management, and financial performance ensuring the overall success and quality of the establishments.
The cluster director of rooms
Nabil Youssef will serve as the cluster director of rooms at The First Collection, overseeing the duties of all housekeepers and front office staff in both The First Collection Waterfront and The First Collection Business Bay to ensure a high level of guest satisfaction. Some of his accomplishments include achieving substantial upsell revenue for check-ins and overseeing a successful score of zero turnover for colleagues in the first year of operations.
The HR business partner
Presa Mae is the HR business partner at The First Collection Waterfront and possesses a rich background in HR management. Mae excels in recruitment activities for the hotel, conducting and leading interviews for staff and initial screenings in addition to creating onboarding processes. She also works closely with the hotel management to craft HR policies for talent retention.
The cluster executive housekeeper
Varun Kalra is the cluster executive housekeeper at The First Collection Waterfront and The First Collection Business Bay. Kalra’s responsibilities include heading the housekeeping department, where he manages a dedicated team of 85 members and his role extends to pre-opening activities, budgeting, capex, and P&L management, as well as recruitment and training initiatives.
The cluster financial controller
Fady Salah serves as the cluster financial controller for The First Collection Waterfront and The First Collection Business Bay. Bringing in over 18 years of experience, Salah plays a pivotal role in managing accounting and financial operations for both hotels. His primary responsibilities include overseeing the accounting department, procurement, and all financial aspects of business and driving the hotel’s financial strategy and planning. He is responsible for assessing the financial performance of the hotels as well as possible risks and investments.
The cluster assistant chief engineer
Safdar Ali Rashid is the cluster assistant chief engineer at The First Collection Waterfront. With over 19 years of experience, he has been instrumental in overseeing all building-related systems including maintenance of equipment and internal and external structures to ensure the safety of hotel guests, associates, and vendors. His achievements include implementing and updating Standard Operating Procedures, ensuring fire safety, and fostering collaboration between engineering and other hotel departments.
Cluster director of F&B
David Magill serves as the cluster director of F&B for The First Collection Waterfront, The First Collection Business Bay, Soluna Beach Club and White Label properties, bringing extensive expertise to the role. With over 20 years of industry experience in UAE and Australia and a proven track record, his responsibilities encompass orchestrating the food and beverage operations for the hotels, ensuring high standards of service and culinary excellence.