How did you kick-start your career at Kempinski?
I started as a storekeeper in 2016 at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. But along the way, I have always been eager to learn and develop within this great hotel as I have had great mentors to support my learning and development.
“Abdullah progressed during the time he worked at the hotel, from Storekeeper to Night Auditor and then to Assistant Income Auditor, all in 2016. In 2018, he was promoted to Income Auditor, and recently, in 2021, he was promoted to Senior Accountant.” – Amjad Shajrawi, Director of Finance at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.
What do you love about Kempinski?
What I love about Kempinski is always related to operations. I enjoy seeing us engage together to finally provide great services and experiences, even during complicated and stressful times. I see employees provide their best to create beautiful outcomes, presenting their personal signature in everything they do. There are plenty of great moments, but I certainly remember the famous singer Hamaki’s party, where the team was available to support the function and we all stayed until it was over.
As a senior accountant, I deal mostly with colleagues and employees. I remember helping one employee who came to the Finance Department seeking a salary advance with an uncompleted form. I helped him to complete the form and get his advance. The smile he gave and the happiness he expressed made me proud that I did something good, and I love that feeling.
Also, our great reputation certainly bypasses Jordan. I always feel proud when I say I work at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea and receive respect from everyone. Kempinski is the only place I have worked at, but I know this is a place with great team spirit and loyalty to our department and hotel. I have learned a lot individually as well and gotten a new thinking perspective, helping me to be more organised in my life.
What advice would you give to someone considering joining or someone who has just joined Kempinski?
I would advise them to concentrate on learning and to have a career plan that they want to work on and to achieve their goals. I’ve seen us develop plenty of great talents over the years within the hotel. Even when not all of them continue with us, hearing about where these employees have reached in their career today makes me feel proud that they established their career at some point in time here at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.
If you are particularly considering the Finance Department, though, I would like to add that some people could consider that finance is tough, filled with numbers and redundant. Regardless, there are plenty of learning opportunities that a person can benefit from by understanding finance, which are not limited to be used only in a work environment but a life essential that can benefit everyone.
“His story with Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea reflects the loyalty and determination of a committed employee striving to achieve his goals of career progression filled with passion and focused to progress within the Finance Department, the hotel and company.” – Amjad Shajrawi, Director of Finance at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.