From Dishwasher to Deal Maker: Haitham Mattar’s Daring Strategy for IHG Growth

Haitham Mattar is the Managing Director for IHG Hotels Resorts in the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia.Haitham Mattar’s journey in the hospitality sector has been extensive. Beginning as a dishwasher in Atlanta, he ascended through various roles at major hotel chains and currently oversees IHG Hotels. Resorts in the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia. Yet, beyond his notable career path, Mattar is dedicated to transforming regional tourism and inspiring future leaders. “I’ve worked in hospitality for over 30 years,” he shares with Gulf Business. “I took a brief hiatus to focus on tourism in Ras Al Khaimah and then advised in Saudi Arabia before rejoining IHG. I started in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes, and learned early on that every role holds its importance. This inspired me to write my book, *Pots and Pans and Five-Year Plans*, aimed at encouraging youths to pursue their aspirations. The book, released earlier this year, explores themes of resilience, overcoming challenges, and crafting a rewarding career, whether in hospitality or otherwise. It narrates Mattar’s experiences growing up in Lebanon during the civil war, moving to the US at age five, and beginning his career at the Courtyard by Marriott in Georgia. “I began as a dishwasher,” he reminisces. “At 17, I sought a weekend job, wanting to earn my own pocket money instead of relying on my family. My curiosity about how the chef prepared breakfast drove me to master my role. That inquisitive nature has stayed with me. From Marriott, Mattar eventually transitioned to IHG, starting at the InterContinental Dubai on the Creek. “I began in the rooms division, progressed to Director of Sales and Marketing, then spent five years in a regional role for the Middle East and Africa. After a stint at Hilton, where I spent five years in Ras Al Khaimah and two years in Saudi Arabia, I’m now in my fifth year back with IHG,” he notes. “I seem to operate on five-year cycles.Currently, Mattar manages an extensive area encompassing the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. IHG has 220 hotels operating in this region, with another 180 under development. The company is set to almost double its presence here within the next five years. Saudi Arabia stands out as the primary growth catalyst. “We have 45 hotels in operation within the Kingdom and another 49 in the works, marking over 100% growth,” he explains. “This year also marks our 50th anniversary in Saudi Arabia, reflecting our established presence since 1975 and ongoing momentum. In the UAE, IHG operates 34 hotels and has 12 more in the pipeline, indicating a 50% growth rate. “Dubai continues to be appealing, especially with ownership transitions. New investors often seek rebranding, creating bidding opportunities for us,” notes Mattar. “We’ve also secured new projects, including the world’s tallest hotel tower under our Vignette Collection brand. Despite a surge in new hotel openings, Dubai’s occupancy rates remain high, rarely dropping below 75%. “This consistency attests to the local leadership’s effective strategy of managing supply and demand,” he statesOutside of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Mattar observes varying levels of readiness for tourism within the GCC. “Oman possesses tremendous potential with its rich culture, delicious cuisine, and stunning landscapes. However, it still hasn’t fully recovered from the pandemic, with key markets like Germany and the UK not returning in significant numbers,” he explains. “With a new tourism minister and a solid plan in place, I am hopeful. Conversely, Kuwait has yet to emphasize tourism, showing limited hotel development. “While we are launching a new InterContinental and a Vignette Collection hotel by the beach, the market remains primarily business-oriented,” he mentions. Bahrain experiences modest traffic, mostly from weekend visitors from Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Post-World Cup, Qatar faces new hurdles. “There’s an abundance of supply, but a consistent year-round events calendar to drive stable demand is lacking,” Mattar elaborates. “Events are often arranged last minute, leading to fluctuations in occupancy. Enhanced coordination between the tourism board and the private sector is needed, and there’s room for Qatar and the UAE to collaborate more effectively on tourism since they are so close. He is in favor of the proposed unified GCC tourism visa, calling it a transformational idea. “Similar to the Schengen visa in Europe, such a regional visa would facilitate travel across multiple countries in a single trip. One could fly into Dubai, visit Doha, and drive to Muscat easily.Globally, there’s a noticeable rise in demand for sustainable travel. “Modern travelers prefer accommodations that actively demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. They want to participate in the journey towards it,” he comments. IHG has launched its *Journey to Tomorrow*, a ten-year sustainability initiative that has been adopted across the region. “More than 85% of our hotels here implement practices like water conservation, LED lighting, and energy-efficient room management systems,” states Mattar. One innovative effort is in-house water bottling aimed at reducing plastic waste. Additionally, IHG’s Green Engage program equips hotel managers with over 200 strategies to minimize their carbon footprint and energy consumption. “Many of our properties now feature smart in-room systems that adjust air conditioning, lighting, and energy usage based on guest behavior,” he clarifies. “Guests are observant. They ask questions and don’t expect single-use plastics. More and more, they prefer reusing towels rather than having them washed daily. Sustainability has become integral to their decision-making process.IHG inaugurated its inaugural Kimpton property in the UAE with a new signing in Dubai’s Business Bay.Understanding Market Trends In terms of the UAE’s leading source markets, India runs consistently year-round, followed by the UK, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and the US. “The US also shines in conference bookings,” notes Mattar Saudi Arabia, in contrast, attracts a diverse clientele. “The holy cities draw Muslims from across the globe — from China, the US, to the UK. Additionally, interest is growing from American and European tourists intrigued by Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation,” he shares India maintains its status as a crucial market for Saudi Arabia too. “We’re witnessing an increase in visits from friends and relatives, which benefits the broader economy as these visitors contribute to spending across malls, restaurants, and entertainment venues — not only on lodgings,” he adds.Future Perspective With escalating tourism ambitions in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Mattar emphasizes the importance of collaboration. “Whether it’s promoting sustainable tourism, regional integration, or simply providing exceptional experiences, we all have a part to play,” he remarks. “Our mission is to motivate individuals to aspire for greatness, no matter if they’re checking into a hotel or starting their career, just as I did.Haitham Mattar , managing director for IHG Hotels. Resorts in India, Middle East. Africa, and Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, after signing an MoU in December 2024 to enhance cooperation between Dubai’s Economy and Tourism sector and IHG.