Guests renting luxurious properties expect a superlative experience encompassing high-quality amenities like top-tier furnishings, advanced technology, and lavish linens. The anticipation extends to impeccable service, including personalized concierge assistance, housekeeping, and potentially private chefs, emphasizing exclusivity. Silk Valley Holiday Homes stands as a leading holiday home rental provider in the UAE, providing discerning travelers with an unparalleled experience in some of the globe's most dynamic cities. Mirza Saeed Ahmed, the CEO and Founder of Silk Valley Holiday Homes is a committed leader who has been consistently contributing to innovation and enhanced hospitality, striving to bring continual improvements to the forefront each day.
In an intimate interview with us, Mirza shared with us the operations happening in the organization, the hospitality industry insights and his personal endeavors.
Can you outline your professional journey and experience in the hospitality industry, with a focus on pre-opening and managing 5-star hotels and holiday homes in UAE.
It has been a truly exciting and rewarding journey I must say. After graduating from Azad Kashmir, I moved to Dubai in 1996 to establish a career in the hospitality sector. Beginning as a cashier at Jumeirah International, I progressed within the company to become an operations manager. I received extensive training, covering soft skills and leadership during my time at Jumeirah. Shifting from accounts to the front office, I held various roles such as general cashier, night auditor, income auditor, receptionist, front office supervisor, night manager, and operations Manager. Following this, I spent four and a half years at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management before joining Royal Group to assist in establishing Canvas Hotels, a new hotel brand.
I played a pivotal role in the development of the brand, contributing to the design, creating SOPs, overseeing recruitment, and writing departmental manuals. After completing a project in Abu Dhabi, I returned to Dubai in 2011 to lead a startup holiday home business as a general manager, aligning systems and obtaining the industry's first legal license in Dubai. Since then, I have successfully initiated and managed four holiday home companies from inception.
How has your academic background and professional training positioned you for success as the CEO and Founder of Silk Valley Holiday Homes in the hospitality industry?
My education provided a strong foundation, complemented by practical experiences that offered valuable insights. Graduating from The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (HR Management) significantly improved my management skills. Beyond formal education, I cross-trained all the departments at the hotel and self-developed across companies to reach top management.
Leading a hotel brand, I took pride in creating its vision, mission, and SOPs. Despite initial knowledge gaps, I embraced the challenge, exemplified by the brand 'Canvas,' symbolizing limitless possibilities. Our unique approach involved guests co-creating their experience, a concept learned through hands-on HR understanding. Despite system setup challenges, starting from the bottom enabled a seamless transition to top positions, making hotel establishment and management less daunting. Overall, this experience has been a fulfilling learning journey, providing insights surpassing any other in my career.
You discussed your role in introducing and legalizing the holiday home rental business in Dubai. Can you summarize the main steps and challenges you faced in achieving this milestone?
It was an absolute honor to be part of 'My Stay Group' the first company to start holiday homes in Dubai. Navigating the challenges of introducing and legalizing the holiday home rental business in Dubai was a substantial undertaking. Limitless support by DTCM by taking critical steps, and amending existing laws, made it easier to introduce holiday home rentals in Dubai. As a new market segment in travel and tourism, holiday home rental faced many challenges, such as logistics, technology, community resistance, lack of awareness of the market, and more, but the hospitality background did help to overcome all those challenges comfortably.
The Dubai Government endorsement and amendments to decree numbers 41 and 42 were crucial milestones in authorizing holiday home operators. Despite the challenges, the government's support and eventual approval marked the initiation of the holiday home industry in the UAE.
My advice for those aiming to thrive in hospitality centers on understanding the 'why' behind actions
Can you share some notable accomplishments or standout moments from your time as the CEO and Founder of Silk Valley Holiday Homes?
In the past year since our inception in November, a notable achievement has been the establishment and growth of Silk Valley Holiday Homes. Drawing on my experience with larger companies like Jumeirah International and Royal Group, I've taken a new approach to recruitment, prioritizing fresh graduates with positive attitudes and investing in comprehensive training. Overcoming the challenge of preparing our team, we've expanded beyond Dubai, establishing 20 houses in Bali, with upcoming agreements in Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Malaysia, and some beautiful properties in the lush green mountains of Azad Kashmir.
As a young Holiday Homes rental company earning five-star reviews is a testament to our service excellence. As a startup, our achievements also include building a professional team and offering diverse services, from intern ground handling to transportation and staffing for various needs. Our custom software empowers apartment owners to monitor their property's performance seamlessly. In essence, our achievements encompass both geographical expansion and service innovation. We are focused on training and rewarding team members, enhancing guest communication channels, utilization of state of the art technology and quality assurance procedures.
What guidance would you offer to individuals looking to thrive in the hospitality and holiday home management sector?
Offering guidance is intriguing, especially given my journey from a remote area like Kashmir with limited education resources. My advice for those aiming to thrive in hospitality centers on understanding the 'why' behind actions. Continuous learning is essential; during my cashier days, I actively pursued cross-training, expanding my knowledge. Success in hospitality goes beyond fulfilling your role; allocate extra time to cross-training. In today's digital age, with resources like online learning, acquiring skills is more accessible than ever before. Focus is key, so pinpoint your passion within hospitality and pursue it wholeheartedly. Align your career with genuine interests to thrive in the industry. Having a mentor is also advisable.
Mirza Saeed Ahmed, CEO & Founder
Mirza Saeed Ahmed, boasting 26 years of extensive experience, is a highly adaptable and self-motivated entrepreneur. His expertise lies in the pre-opening and management of 5-star hotels and holiday home companies, showcasing a remarkable career in the UAE.
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