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Vincent David, General Manager of Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, is among the world’s most respected hospitality leaders, having been honored as one of Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ TOP 100 Hotel General Managers of the World for 2025. This prestigious recognition celebrates his exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and ability to elevate guest experiences in one of the Middle East’s most dynamic luxury destinations.
Located along Doha’s iconic waterfront, Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha holds a unique place in Qatar’s hospitality history. Situated on a landmark historical site, it was the first five-star hotel ever to open in Qatar and today stands as the country’s first all-inclusive beach resort. Under Vincent David’s leadership, the property has reinforced its legacy while redefining contemporary luxury through elevated service standards, innovative guest offerings, and a strong culture of excellence.
Our exclusive interview is led by Alexander Chetchikov, President of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Luxury Lifestyle Awards.
Alexander Chetchikov: Congratulations on being named one of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards TOP 100 Hotel General Managers of the World for 2025. What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
Vincent David: Being named among the Luxury Lifestyle Awards TOP 100 Hotel General Managers of the World for 2025 is truly an honor and a humbling recognition. Personally, it represents years of dedication, resilience, and passion for hospitality, as well as the invaluable mentorship and support I have received throughout my career.
Professionally, this recognition reflects the collective effort of the entire Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha team. Leadership in hospitality is never an individual achievement; it is built on trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence. I am proud to lead a team that consistently strives to elevate guest experiences while respecting the legacy and significance of this iconic property. This award further motivates me to continue innovating, investing in people, and setting new standards for luxury hospitality in Qatar and the region.
AC: How would you describe your leadership style, and how does it influence the culture and daily operations at Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha?
VD: My leadership style blends high standards with human focus. I believe that if you respect people, clarify expectations, and give them freedom to excel, they deliver results beyond targets.
At Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, this approach has shaped a culture of accountability, passion, and guest obsession where every department understands its role in the guest journey.
Operationally, it means structured organization, strong talent development, open communication, and data-driven decisions, enabling us not only to maintain premium Experiences & All-Inclusive standards, but also to perform at a high level across guest satisfaction, service consistency, and financial metrics.
AC: Staff engagement and development are key pillars of successful hospitality leadership. How do you inspire, train, and retain talent within your team?
VD: For me, the key to staff engagement is to make people feel valued, supported, and challenged. I inspire talent by creating a culture of purpose and excellence, where everyone understands how their work contributes to the guest experience. We invest heavily in training, cross-exposure, upskilling, and leadership development, while encouraging ownership and initiative at all levels.
I believe that creating emotional connections with the team makes all the difference. At Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, I hold weekly round-table lunches, department meetings, and recognize top performers with incentives for cross-selling and guest service excellence. I lead by example and embed mentoring, feedback, and daily training into operations, ensuring people feel valued, motivated, and empowered to grow.
Retention comes naturally when people have career growth, recognition, fair standards, and strong leadership, and I am proud to see many team members progressing within the hotel and within the broader Rixos organization.
AC: Since assuming your role as General Manager, what operational or service improvements are you most proud of achieving at the hotel?
VD: Since assuming my role, we have focused on elevating both service quality and operational performance. We refined the All-Inclusive guest experience, enhanced team training and standards, and optimized key operational processes from housekeeping and F&B to front office and recreation.
As a result, we saw:
I am particularly proud that these improvements also reinforced our image as a flagship luxury All-Inclusive hotel in Doha.
AC: Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha occupies a unique position in the Qatari luxury hospitality market. How do you ensure the brand remains distinctive while meeting evolving guest expectations?
VD: Rixos occupies a unique space in Qatar because we not only offer luxury accommodation, but also a complete lifestyle ecosystem built on experiences, culture, gastronomy, wellness, and family connection.
To stay distinctive, we are constantly refining our signature All-Inclusive model by elevating:
At the same time, we closely monitor guest feedback, global trends, and market dynamics to continuously evolve our offering, whether through health-conscious dining, digital convenience, immersive experiences, or family-focused luxury.
This balance between honoring our brand DNA and adapting to market evolution ensures that Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha remains both distinctive and highly relevant within Qatar’s fast-evolving hospitality landscape.
AC: Strategic partnerships and collaborations are increasingly important in luxury hospitality. Can you share how collaboration has played a role in the hotel’s success?
VD: In the luxury hospitality segment, no hotel succeeds in isolation; true excellence is built through strong ecosystems. Collaboration has been instrumental in positioning Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha as a market leader, strengthening both our strategic presence and the experiential value we deliver to our guests.
We work closely with:
Tourism boards and travel trade partners to stimulate international demand and diversify source markets
Lifestyle, wellness, and entertainment brands to elevate and enrich our all-inclusive guest experience
Local cultural and business entities to remain deeply connected to the community and aligned with Qatar’s national tourism vision
These partnerships enable us to curate experiences that extend well beyond accommodation, reinforce our brand differentiation, and contribute meaningfully to Qatar’s growing reputation as a premier luxury and family destination.
Ultimately, collaboration has allowed us to create a more dynamic, immersive, and globally relevant product, one that sits at the heart of the Rixos success story in Qatar.
AC: How do you personally define “modern luxury,” and how is this vision reflected in the guest experience at Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha?
VD: I believe modern luxury is no longer defined solely by opulence; it is defined by how guests feel. For today’s travellers, true luxury means:
At Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, this philosophy is reflected in our elevated All-Inclusive lifestyle concept, where guests discover a curated world of gastronomy, wellness, entertainment, and family experiences without friction, without complication, and without unnecessary formality.
Our service culture focuses on anticipation, emotional intelligence, and personalization, ensuring that guests feel both valued and relaxed.
This is how we translate modern luxury into a living experience, not just a product.
AC: As a globally recognized hotel leader, what legacy do you hope to build at Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, and what advice would you offer to the next generation of luxury hospitality executives?
VD: Legacy, for me, is about creating systems, standards, and cultures that continue to thrive independently of the leader. At Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha, I aspire to leave behind a resilient organization, a best-in-class All-Inclusive product, and a talent culture that grows future leaders for the brand and for the region. If in a few years the hotel remains a benchmark of excellence and innovation in Qatar, and many of our talents have progressed in their careers, then the legacy will be meaningful.
To the next generation of luxury hospitality executives, my advice is to embrace human leadership, strategic thinking, and continuous learning. Understand that modern luxury is about emotion, personalization, and experience, not just assets and aesthetics. Surround yourself with good people, invest in their development, and never lose touch with the guest.
In the end, success in hospitality comes from a simple truth: we don’t manage hotels, we lead people who create experiences.
Thank you, Mr. Vincent David, for sharing your insights and leadership philosophy. It has been a privilege to highlight your remarkable contribution to global luxury hospitality.
Discover the world of Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha by visiting https://www.rixos.com/hotel-resort/rixos-gulf-hotel-doha
