Jerry Inzerillo- the Don of Hospitality, Is Family

We are the innkeepers, the hoteliers and the managers of Atlantis…if you are a staunch hotelier, then you will probably agree that we have two predominant thoughts on our minds everyday:

1. Are my guests feeling welcomed and
2. Are my colleagues feeling engaged and welcomed?

When a seasoned visionary with decades of experience in the Hospitality Industry comes to your doorstep to tell you three things- you are naturally inclined to listen and hope to be inspired about the future of Atlantis and your own growth in the Kerzner Organization.

Jerry Inzerillo is family.

Currently the CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, Jerry’s roots in being part of creating the award-winning vision called Atlantis, The Palm were planted way before the Palm Jumeirah was even conceptualized! CEO of Sun City in the 90s and later CEO of Kerzner International for over 20 years, Jerry’s warm and emotionally engaging talk to the Leadership Team of Atlantis left us hopeful and positive about the road ahead. Indeed there are exciting times just around the corner. So what did I learn from Jerry?

-First of all, excellence is cumulative- it didn’t take Usain Bolt a couple of years to break all Olympic world records and win a bunch of gold medals! It took years of practice and devotion. This can be equated with excellence at Atlantis- we work hard, and are dedicated to our craft. It has taken almost a decade to get to where we are now, and testament to this are hundreds of industry awards that we have deservedly won over the years.

-Failing happens attitudinally and environmentally. You may have the best environment, conducive to greatness, but if you do not have the right attitude, then you will fail. At Atlantis, we have a winning team with a great positive, happy and engaged attitude. This is why our colleague engagement scores are rising, our colleague turnover rates are falling, our guest satisfaction scores are soaring!

-Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Along with that, the Hospitality Industry is becoming more and more competitive. In order to be the best- you do not need to outspend other hotels on facilities, entertainment, celebrity chefs etc. Beat them with unbeatable service. Our colleagues make the difference in our guests’ lives, and we (as colleagues) make the difference in each other’s lives.

Jerry is like an uncle from a distant part of the family, that you have probably heard of- but never met. Everyone talks great things about him, but he is always busy traveling and visiting other relatives. I’m glad I met him yesterday, and look forward to working with him! He is an inspirational visionary who lives and breathes hospitality.