TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Taking over the reins as the first female General Manager at Manzil Downtown, Sharihan Al Mashary is a pioneer in the field of hotel operations and management. As an Emirati woman serving different properties for the past 12 years, she is the female trendsetter for other women today.
Shehara Rizly
Having moved from the field of Aero & Astro Sciences and Aviation Management to pursue her education and career in the hotel and hospitality industry, Al Mashary finally found her calling. “It was simply an explosion! That’s when I changed my major and walked into hospitality management without knowing it – and then, fell dangerously in love with the industry. It has always been my mother’s dream that at least one of her children will have a Swiss Hotel education and become a hotelier as she enjoys luxury hotels,” she happily reveals.
Passion drives achievements
For over a decade, Al Mashary worked no less than 15-18 hours in hotel operations and she always chose to be in operations because that’s where the connection lies. She informs, “My father always said, whatever you choose to become in life, start from the bottom, build a solid foundation, and that will help you stand, firm and rise. I’ve been blessed with incredible parents and few industry legends who guided me along this long rough road. I think I did alright, stood out with merit from the start, from being a simple intern, to strong industry contender, to winning competitions in the field, to operation departments, then divisions, and bringing in incremental changes within team dynamics and hotel operation efficiency. Someone believed in me and someone gave me a chance — and with that in my mind, I have always looked for ways to give back to the industry and the community. Training and guiding the UAE National Team and Emirati youth to be part of the hospitality industry and compete nationally and internationally in the field makes me happy.”
Strengthening foundations
A Graduate in BSc (Hons) in international hospitality management and currently completing her MBA in the same subject from EAHM-UAE and EHL-Switzerland, Al Mashary grew into leadership and managerial roles across core hotel functionalities, hotel operations and executed special projects in all her roles with Jumeirah Group: Burj Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah Resort and Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Incentive, DIFC—Signature Clubs International, Palazzo Versace Hotel (pre-opening) and Emaar Hospitality Group: Address Boulevard (pre-opening). Dedication and intense respect for the industry made her accelerate to her current role as the youngest and first female Emirati General Manager.
Vast experience
Prior to being the first Emirati and female observer jude at Hotelympia London and expert jude at WorldSkills International for Hospitality & Service Category, Al Mashary had been recognised by industry founders and awarded by Michelin-star chefs. Her rooted passion and commitment for the hospitality industry and the community goes beyond hotel operations and management. She continues to support the industry by contributing to hospitality education, youth education and vocational training in the service industry, and changing the local and regional mindset towards hotels and hospitality as a career, employment and education path. She is a member of Institute of Hospitality, HFTP and WorldSkills UAE (EmriatesSkills as UAE Team Expert for Hospitality & Service Industry Category).
