MEETING WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF RIXOS PRESIDENT HOTEL ASTANA
On October 16, 2021, within the walls of the international-level Rahat Palace Hotel, a rally was organized by the second-year students of the Al-Farabi KazNU, specializing in Tourism, with an expert of the hotel industry – Tarik Volkan Oskay, who is the Chief development specialist business of Capital Tower Development, the Chief executive officer of Rixos President Hotel Astana, etc. The meeting was organized by Asem Abdullayeva, Deputy Director of Sales of Rahat Palace Hotel.
In general, the meeting lasted 2 hours. During this time, students with a mentor of the tourism industry and hotel business first conducted an introductory, and then informative conversation.
The specialist gladly shared his life experience and knowledge base. While communicating with Mr. Tarik, the students learned that the total work experience in the hospitality industry is 34 years, and as it turned out, the expert entered the hospitality school after grade 8 at the age of 14. He began his career as a trainee, which is considered to be level zero. Here, the specialist noted that many people think that the lowest level is the waiter. However, he started from an even lower position, and only then became a waiter, and also, if desired, it was possible to become a bartender, and even higher. Nevertheless, obviously, further it is already necessary to get higher education. At this point, Mr. Tarik emphasized what is good about the tourism industry, that is, the fact that you can study without leaving your job. This is how, gradually, showing yourself, you can become a CEO. This is how you become a citizen of the world. In this case, he felt that if you are a professional in your industry, all doors are open for you. The specialist added that there are great opportunities in this industry for both the individual and the country.
In addition, Volkan Oskay said that when he first came to Kazakhstan in 1997, they were looking for employees in the hotel business. Here, he acclaimed that everyone who came, regardless of education, said that they wanted to be administrators. However, the expert added that after all, in every industry, line personnel are first of all important. He said that managers and administrators are also needed, but this is no more than 2%. In this regard, the specialist emphasized that it is necessary to study other professions and respect them. According to Mr. Tarik, the hospitality business is perhaps the most hierarchically structured industry, comparable to the military. Starting at the lowest level, like a dishwasher, if you develop and operate correctly, you can become a CEO. During the conversation, Volkan Oskay emphasized that one should not hesitate to start from the lowest level and one should not be afraid to develop.
During a conversation with a specialist, the topic of the pandemic and its consequences were also raised. Volkan Oskay said that it is pleasant, when government agencies see great potential in the hotel business. Moreover, according to the expert, after the pandemic, Kazakhstan has great chances to reach a new level if you take the right steps and do it quickly. Indeed, until this year, the majority imagined that tourism is only the sun and the sea. He esteemed that now everything has changed and Kazakhstan should be ready for this.
In this regard, the expert highlighted an example of the changes that he had in mind. In accordance with the opinion of the expert, the positive effect of the pandemic for the tourism and hotel industry is that Kazakhstanis have seen the potential of domestic tourism. However, Mr. Tarik distiguished that the infrastructure is not yet at the proper level, and we also need to raise culture and education.
In accordance with Volkan Oskay and based on the goals set, the tourism industry of Kazakhstan will need 600-700 thousand employees. The expert emphasized that today we have no more than 100 thousand specialists. At that point, it is necessary to develop education, and it must be world-class, so that we can even export our employees to other countries. The specialist believes that everyone who works in this industry should become an honorary ambassador for their country. Therefore, we need to go in this direction, so we will raise the state’s reputation in the industry. Volkan Oskay says we already have good examples. Over the past 15 years, Mr. Tarik’s growing business has brought up good professionals who today show truly unique results. He said they are successfully operating in Dubai, Abu Dhabi. In that case, Volkan Oskay noted that there should be more such examples.
The Turkish specialist emphasized that Kazakhstan is a very hospitable country, and the country has good potential for the development of tourism. However, it is necessary to break the opinion that Kazakhstanis are not a service nation. In case of correct work, the republic will be able to achieve the result of Turkey, which at the dawn of tourism development also did not differ in excellent service.
At the end of the conversation, the expert shared his desire that in the future he would like to write a collection book, where he will reflect and describe his path of successful development, in parallel with interesting and informative stories that happened in his life.
Thus, for me personally, after the conversation with Volkan Oskay, all questions disappeared, since the interlocutor answered clearly and shared useful advice, and after talking with such an interesting person, there was even more motivation to become a good specialist in our field. As a result, the expert of the hotel industry – Tarik Volkan Oskay, once again convinced me that anyone could reach heights only if they really love their job.
