HESHAM's CV
HESHAM ABDELHALIM
Director Of Operation - Director of Food & Beverage | Hospitality Operations Leader
Profile summary
Results-oriented Food & Beverage Executive with over 18 years of progressive leadership experience across luxury hotels, multi-property operations, and internationally recognized hospitality brands in the UAE and Egypt. Proven expertise in driving revenue growth, optimizing profitability, managing large-scale F&B operations, and delivering exceptional guest experiences across restaurants, bars, banquets, catering, and specialty outlets. Strong track record in P&L management, cost optimization, pre-opening projects, concept development, and leading multicultural teams of more than 150 professionals while consistently achieving operational excellence, commercial success, and industry recognition.
Career highlights
Profitability and Cost Control: Maintained a 44% Gross Operating Profit margin and controlled food costs between 28 and 29% through disciplined financial management.
Operational Leadership: Managed food and beverage operations for a diverse workforce of 168 professionals while driving revenue enhancement initiatives.
Cluster Operations Management: Oversaw food and beverage functions across four properties with more than 27 outlets, reducing overall costs by 22%.
Key skills
Professional experience
Directs the strategic direction and end-to-end management of all Food and Beverage operations across restaurants, bars, beach venues, banquets, catering services, and in-room dining within a luxury five-star hospitality environment. Collaborates with executive leadership and cross-functional departments to optimize operational performance, strengthen guest satisfaction, and achieve business objectives.
- Exceeded Food and Beverage budget targets in both 2024 and 2025, delivering strong revenue growth and profitability across all F&B operations.
- Achieved and maintained a 44% Gross Operating Profit margin through effective commercial strategies, operational excellence, and disciplined cost management.
- Maintained Food Cost between 28 and 29% and Beverage Cost at 21% through menu engineering, supplier negotiations, inventory optimization, and purchasing controls.
- Planned and executed major hotel activations, including Ramadan and Eid programs, large-scale corporate events, diplomatic functions, and FIFA World Cup 2026 related operations.
Directed strategic and operational management across restaurants, bars, banquets, catering, and specialty dining venues. Managed a diverse workforce of 168 professionals while collaborating with executive leadership to optimize resources and align commercial initiatives with corporate objectives.
- Earned the prestigious Favorites Award from FACT and What's On Abu Dhabi for Kamoon Restaurant Best Middle Eastern Cuisine in both 2022 and 2023.
- Reduced P&L costs by 8% through workforce planning, succession management, and operational efficiency initiatives.
- Generated a strong 36% Food & Beverage profit margin while achieving a 90% service score for Kamoon Restaurant during IFH Rotana audits and maintaining a 96% quality score across operations.
Guided F&B operations across four hotels incorporating 27 outlets and managing 150 team members. Collaborated with the Cluster General Manager on business strategy, revenue growth, and operational restructuring while overseeing restaurants, bars, kitchens, and catering services.
- Optimized P&L performance by reducing costs by 22% through workforce planning and operational streamlining.
- Secured the Best Food Venue Award for Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi from Time Out Abu Dhabi during 2019 to 2020.
- Maintained Gross Operating Profit performance across 27 Food and Beverage outlets in four properties from 2018 to 2022.
Directs all commercial and operational functions for dining venues, establishing strategic business plans and quality enhancement programs to drive regional hospitality standards. Oversees financial controls and forecasting models across multiple outlets while managing vendor relationships and catering solutions.
- Secured the Best F&B Venue 2018 Alfresco Award for Hubbly Bubbly from FACT Magazine for outlet performance and dining concepts.
- Earned the Best Vendor Award 2018 from Abu Dhabi University for catering services, hospitality solutions, and customer satisfaction.
- Optimized beverage cost management by maintaining costs at 21%, outperforming the budgeted target of 23%.
- Secured a nomination for Best F&B Venue 2017 at the Middle East SPIA Awards for Blu Sky Lounge & Grill.
- Earned the Best Steak Restaurant Award from FACT Magazine Abu Dhabi in 2016 for The Foundry Restaurant.
Education
Hospitality Management
Certifications
Languages
Arabic · Native
English · Fluent
Russian · Basic
Italian · Basic