Resume Food & Beverage Operations Manager in UAE Abu-Dhabi

Food & Beverage Manager Al Dhafra Resort – IHG Vignette Collection | Abu Dhabi, UAE Sep 2024 – Present  Lead full F&B operations for a 105-room luxury desert resort with 5 outlets and 5 event venues.  Directed the resort’s transformation from a 4-star to 5-star property, achieving certification in 2025.  Implemented sustainable strategies resulting in ISO 14001 and high HACCP compliance.  Designed elevated beverage portfolios and curated guest experiences tailored to brand identity.  Strengthened colleague engagement and succession planning through focused leadership development.  Acted as Hotel Duty Manager on weekends, ensuring smooth resort leadership coverage. Food & Beverage Operations Manager Emaar Address Beach Resort | North Coast, Egypt Jan 2024 – Sep 2024  Oversaw 10 F&B outlets, 5 event venues, and 80 cabanas serving a luxury beachfront resort.  Drove revenue uplift through strict cost control, labor optimization, and menu engineering.  Led all F&B components of the resort’s pre-opening including concept creation, recruitment, SOP design, and team training.  Achieved elite LQA and Forbes compliance results, elevating guest satisfaction scores.  Developed innovative beverage and dining programs to increase average check values. Food & Beverage Operations Manager Alila Jabal Akhdar | Oman Mar 2023 - Jan 2024  Managed operations for a 5-star mountain resort with 4 outlets, IRD, private dining, and exclusive culinary experiences.  Improved operational workflows and enhanced premium guest experiences.  Supported brand-standard alignment with Hyatt luxury guidelines.

Bachelor's Degree Hospitality & Tourism, Middlesex University, United Kingdom

Food & Beverage Manager Al Dhafra Resort – IHG Vignette Collection | Abu Dhabi, UAE Sep 2024 – Present  Lead full F&B operations for a 105-room luxury desert resort with 5 outlets and 5 event venues.  Directed the resort’s transformation from a 4-star to 5-star property, achieving certification in 2025.  Implemented sustainable strategies resulting in ISO 14001 and high HACCP compliance.  Designed elevated beverage portfolios and curated guest experiences tailored to brand identity.  Strengthened colleague engagement and succession planning through focused leadership development.  Acted as Hotel Duty Manager on weekends, ensuring smooth resort leadership coverage. Food & Beverage Operations Manager Emaar Address Beach Resort | North Coast, Egypt Jan 2024 – Sep 2024  Oversaw 10 F&B outlets, 5 event venues, and 80 cabanas serving a luxury beachfront resort.  Drove revenue uplift through strict cost control, labor optimization, and menu engineering.  Led all F&B components of the resort’s pre-opening including concept creation, recruitment, SOP design, and team training.  Achieved elite LQA and Forbes compliance results, elevating guest satisfaction scores.  Developed innovative beverage and dining programs to increase average check values. Food & Beverage Operations Manager Alila Jabal Akhdar | Oman Mar 2023 - Jan 2024  Managed operations for a 5-star mountain resort with 4 outlets, IRD, private dining, and exclusive culinary experiences.  Improved operational workflows and enhanced premium guest experiences.  Supported brand-standard alignment with Hyatt luxury guidelines.

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Dear Hiring Manager, With more than eighteen years of international experience in luxury hospitality and Food & Beverage & hotel operations, I have developed a deep passion for creating exceptional guest experiences, leading high-performing teams, and driving continuous improvement across diverse and demanding environments. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working across the UAE, Maldives, Oman, Egypt, Fiji, Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, and India, where I gained comprehensive exposure to multicultural leadership, brand standards, and globally recognized service excellence. My professional journey has been defined by a consistent commitment to operational excellence, financial performance, and team development. I have successfully led multi-outlet operations, strengthened compliance standards, delivered multimillion-dollar revenues, and executed strategic initiatives that enhanced guest satisfaction and brand reputation. In addition to operational leadership, I have been heavily involved in pre-openings, re-brandings, sustainability programs, and emergency response management, ensuring both business continuity and long-term value creation. I take pride in fostering collaborative, empowered, and engaged teams. Throughout my career, I have built strong leadership pipelines, introduced structured training programs, and cultivated work cultures rooted in accountability, innovation, and respect. These efforts have improved colleague satisfaction and strengthened overall service delivery, ultimately contributing to meaningful improvements in guest experience metrics. What I bring to any organization is a balance of strategic direction and hands -on leadership. I am comfortable working under pressure, managing shifting priorities, and steering diverse teams toward aligned goals. My ability to analyze operations, optimize workflows, and implement cost-effective solutions has consistently produced measurable improvements in performance and profitability. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute my experience, leadership, and passion for hospitality to an organization that values excellence, teamwork, and continuous growth. I welcome the chance to bring my background in luxury standards, operational strategy, guest experience innovation, and team empowerment to a forward-thinking environment. Thank you for taking the time to review my application. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss how my experience and strengths can support your team and contribute to future success. Warm regards, Courtney Hendrick