Pioneer in the Middle East

Interview with Doris Greif

Doris Greif, Managing Director The Langham, London & Regional Vice President of Operations Europe & Middle East, Langham Hospitality Group on the last 18 months, her milestones and new challenges.


Ms. Greif, you have more than 19 years of experience in management positions at Jumeirah and can look back on many successes in your career. Which milestones have been the most important for you personally - and why?

Working in various management positions at Jumeirah for so long gave me many opportunities. There were milestones such as the rebranding of Jumeirah Beach Club Resort & Spa, the repositioning of Jumeirah Emirates Towers as the number one corporate hotel in the UAE and the Middle East and the opening of the multi-billion dollar Jumeirah at Etihad Towers project. The latter received the World Travel Award as the "World's Leading New Hotel". But I would say the milestone that meant the most to me was becoming the first female General Manager in the Middle East in 2000. That was an extraordinary feeling.


Women in high-level management positions are still rare, especially in the hospitality sector. What do you think is the reason for this? What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a career in this field?

Women often prioritize starting a family. Often the hospitality industry is not compatible with family life: working days can be long, starting early in the morning and finishing late at night. Relocations abroad are inevitable if you want to progress to international management levels. I would advise women to choose their first employer carefully and find a mentor to learn from and look up to. Never underestimate your potential and never doubt that you will succeed. There will undoubtedly be setbacks, but those are the moments when you rise above, become more resilient and stronger. I hope that through my work and mentoring I can help more women on their journey.


Have you always wanted to work in the hospitality sector? What appeals to you most about your field of work?

Growing up, cars were my great passion - the faster, the better! My uncle owned a garage. I spent hours every day after school watching him work. I actually wanted to become a mechanic. But then my parents sent me to a hotel school in Germany because they thought it was a solid industry. Fortunately, that's where my love for the hospitality industry began. Luckily I listened to my parents! I love the variety. No two days are the same in this job. Plus, you can travel the world if you want to.


How and where did you lay the foundations for your career?

I graduated from the Kermess Hotel School in Munich in 1982. My first jobs were in the front office in Munich before I went to Dubai to become Director of Front Office & Sales Operations at the Dubai Hilton & Beach Club.


What character traits help you the most in your responsible position?

After the challenges of the last 18 months, I would say: resilience is certainly important to navigate through all the changes, restrictions and uncertainties. The ability to keep a team together, leadership skills and unwavering enthusiasm for attention to detail as well as the will to create great experiences for our guests are also essential. Last, but certainly as important, is an affinity for finance, the ability to interpret numbers, make quick decisions and find efficient ways to generate revenue.


How would you describe your management style?

I get stuck in. I think it's important to understand how everything works, to try things out and to be involved in the details. If I understand the details, I can coach and lead others better and notice more quickly when someone is trying to deceive me. I define clear goals and make sure that all colleagues feel jointly responsible and take responsibility. I communicate these goals clearly and give regular feedback. Being positive is also important. I come to work positive, optimistic and full of energy.


How have you experienced the last few months?

We were lucky enough to work very closely with our head office in Hong Kong. We were able to immediately apply the lessons learned in Asia and adapt the procedures of the 11 hotels in mainland China. This has helped us to be prepared for the necessary changes. In a people-oriented industry like ours, you never know what the next day, the next minute will bring. I firmly believe in working towards a positive outcome. But to be truly successful, it helps to plan for the worst-case scenario: getting over a disaster means strength, resilience, thoughtfulness and stability. We have a comprehensive crisis management plan for this and spare no expense or effort in regularly training our colleagues. We make sure that they understand the measures and help them to be better prepared in exceptional circumstances.
It makes me proud how my team has mastered the challenges and has always focused on the health, safety and well-being of our guests and colleagues. I am confident that this passion and dedication to the wellbeing of others will continue to be felt when our industry fully returns in the coming months.


What challenges do you see facing the hospitality industry in the future?

The most significant challenges at the moment are the restrictions on inbound tourism from our key markets of the US and Middle East, the drop in demand and occupancy levels, and finding and retaining talent. Many colleagues returned home to their families during the lockdown and now prefer to stay there. Before the pandemic, we were making good progress in terms of sustainability. We need to focus on this again in the future. For example, the pandemic has brought back single-use plastic because it was simply the best way to keep things sterile. In the future, we need to focus on more sustainable alternatives.
The hospitality industry has weathered many storms and I am convinced that we will get through the current challenges. This crisis has undoubtedly taught us to adapt and evolve. No one is under the illusion that we will make up for the losses caused by the pandemic. What is more important is resilience, the dedication of the industry, caring for each other, our guests and the communities in which we work.


What can we look forward to in the future at The Langham, London?

We are currently finalizing two very exciting projects at The Langham, London. We will be relaunching Roux at The Landau in Spring 2022. The restaurant will continue to be run by Michel Roux Jr, but will have a bit of a makeover. We think this will go down just as well with hotel guests as it will with locals. In addition, two of our most prestigious Signature Suites, The Sterling Suite and The Portland Suite, will receive new balconies.

Further information & booking: www.langhamhotels.com

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