Online Journals | In Conversation with Jihad Raad – Division Director, Havelock One
Havelock One has successfully completed the turnkey fit-out and custom manufacturing for Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain, a new 196-room luxury resort on Bahrain’s West Coast beaches. We talk to Jihad Raad, Division Director, hospitality manufacturing and fit-out to talk us through the challenges Havelock One overcame to deliver this 400,000 sq. ft. project.
Q&A with Jihad Raad
Was it challenging to win this project?
JR: There was a lot of competition to win the Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain project as it’s such a prestigious addition to the hospitality landscape in Bahrain. We were invited to tender by the client and were hugely pleased to win the bid towards the end of 2019.
Why did Havelock One win the job?
The client had confidence that Havelock One, due to our experience and our facilities on the island, would be able to deliver the project on time. Our experience in coordination between trades helped win us the job, as there were so many moving parts and different suppliers involved in creating the finished design. The client was confident we had the contacts and skills to complete the necessary tying up of loose ends and ensure the project ran smoothly to completion.
What’s works did Havelock One do?
We were responsible for most of the front of house areas, including supplying fixtures, furniture and equipment (FF&E) for the lobby, all day dining, banquet hall, spa, pool bar, Italian restaurant Due Mari, the main entrance porch, hallway ceilings, private luxury villas and bedrooms.
We completed the majority of the fit-out in all 196 guestrooms, including the ceilings, bedroom furniture, special finishes, mirrors, vanities, bespoke decorative cladding and doors.
We also created custom luxury cabanas for the pool area and an incredible curved ceiling feature in the pool bar.
What were the challenges you faced during the project?
The main challenge for us was joining the project at a later date and coordinating with so many existing stakeholders. We were awarded the job at the end of 2019 just before the start of the pandemic, as such we faced challenges with supply chain delays as well as having to identify new strategies to mitigate Covid cases on site in order to keep the work on schedule.
What’s the highlight for you of this project?
For me it was the enjoyment of working on a variety of themes throughout the project and the vast array of different materials we used, as each zone had its own look and feel.
In the FF&E in particular, there was so much diversity of the models we needed to cater to each functional area. All the variations meant a huge range of materials and details were needed to complete the manufacturing of the designs, which was challenging and stimulating at the same time.
We used different techniques including weaving, oriental patterns and arabesque fretwork made with our in-house CNC machines. In total we delivered approximately 9,000 pieces of FF&E, distributed throughout the guest rooms and 12-15 functional areas including public areas, corridors and spa.
Do you have any other projects in the pipeline?
Yes, we are off to a busy start this year with lots of new and existing opportunities in the hospitality sector. This year we will complete the luxury Raffles Al Alreen Bahrain hotel and we are currently very active in the Saudi Arabia hospitality market. We are excited to have just received the first order for phase one of the public areas of Four Seasons Riyadh. Other existing projects include St. Regis Riyadh, The Oberoi Madina, Kimpton KAFD and Hampton by Hilton Kuwait.
Havelock One offers a full spectrum of manufacturing, fit-out and value engineering hospitality projects. Get in touch to discuss your next project with our experienced team.
