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Creative Concierge: Stefan Fuchs, Jumeirah, Abu Dhabi

Every week we’ll introduce you to a talented concierge from one of our hotel partners to give you their top 10 insider tips.

Every week we’ll introduce you to a talented concierge from one of our hotel partners to give you their top 10 insider tips.

This week we meet Stefan Fuchs, General Manager at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi. Stefan Fuchs, a German national, first joined Jumeirah in 2006. Stefan’s previous industry experience spans over 15 years working for well-known brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Kempinski Hotels. His international experience has been gained from working in Europe, the Middle East and Russia where he held senior roles in Operations, Food & Beverage, Catering & Conference services and his most recent position as Hotel Manager at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.Stefan has a close bond and connection to Australia following a two year stint studying at Immanuel College in Adelaide from 1986.

One of my favourite things about the hotel is:

Its welcoming luxury. The craftsmanship and fine luxury materials used to create and decorate Jumeirah at Etihad Towers are complimented beautifully with personalised service and elements of luxury designed to bring a smile to our guests faces. It’s a luxury that impresses but is most of all thoughtful, welcoming and warm.

One of the things I love most about my job is:

The interaction with inspiring people, whether they are the hotel’s stakeholders, my colleagues or guests, and the opportunities to pleasantly surprise them through teamwork, creativity and innovation in creating experiences that last a lifetime. No two days are ever the same. I appreciate the diversity and challenges that such an industry and position provides.

Creative Holidays_Abu Dhabi

One of my favourite memories is:

Organising some of our signatory soft toy Hawkesbill Turtles for President Clinton when he visited Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in 2013. He was guest speaker at the 13th Annual World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit which we were hosting, and in front of the audience he mentioned that he was going to take some back for his nieces and nephews and jokingly that it was the first time in over 50 years that he had slept with a soft toy. We all thought that was great.

The question I’m most regularly asked is:

Which restaurant do you recommend? – As the most culinary awarded and decorated hotel in the whole of the UAE and with 12 award-winning food and beverage outlets this is not an easy one to answer. We have recently launched an “Around the World” progressive dinner where guests get to experience six of those outlets within the one dining experience, so that is my easiest way out of answering.

The most common item people leave behind at the hotel is:

Their mobile phone chargers.

One of the strangest questions I’ve ever been asked is:

If the hotel allows falcons.

The activity/attraction/tour I encourage all our guests to do while here is:

A visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Not only is the architecture and craftsmanship exceptional, but visitors are offered a real insight into the lives and culture of Emirati nationals from the Emirati tour guides.

Don’t leave without eating or drinking:

Dinner at our award winning Tori No Su Japanese restaurant and Li Beirut for modern Arabic cuisine followed by drinks at Ray’s Bar, which offers the most impressive views of Abu Dhabi while enjoying an impeccably mixed cocktail or fine beverage.

On my days off you would find me:

On my boat cruising around Abu Dhabi’s 199 islands.

I recommend that keen shoppers visit:

Avenue at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi’s premier luxury brand shopping experience. Conveniently connected to Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, guests staying with us are provided VIP personal shopper experiences, whereby clothes and accessories can be brought directly from the retail outlets to your room or suite to try on.

Do you have any travel tips for Abu Dhabi?