NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2017 — sbe, the leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hospitality venues globally, today announced that senior executive Matt Balcik is joining the company as General Manager of Mondrian Doha and Area Managing Director Middle East. Opening in Spring 2017, Mondrian Doha will be sbe's first Middle East property and brings the energy and Sunset Strip vibe of the original Hollywood Mondrian to the West Bay Lagoon neighborhood of Doha. Balcik will oversee the daily operations of the hotel as well as manage the Middle East properties of sbe.
"We welcome Matt to the sbe team and know that he will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow," stated Jorge Giannattasio, Chief Operating Officer at sbe. "His expertise in the luxury and lifestyle experience will help drive the direction of Mondrian Doha and our Middle East properties."
"I am thrilled to be joining sbe and overseeing this magnificent new hotel," stated Balcik. "sbe has grown into a powerhouse in the lifestyle hospitality space, and I look forward to using my experience to help make its Middle East properties unparalleled in the modern luxury space."
Balcik joins sbe with over 20 years of hospitality experience managing the operations and large-scale teams. Prior to his current position, he was Vice President Operations and Brand Development at Jumeirah Group, where he reported directly to the COO, leading operations while developing and launching a new and contemporary lifestyle brand. He oversaw all aspects of openings, managing over two dozen new-build international hotels over 10 years. Previously, Balcik was General Manager of W Istanbul. There, he delivered outstanding guest experiences while enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Balcik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from the California Polytechnic University. He also completed the Executive Development Program at Cornell University.
The 270-room Mondrian Doha, designed in collaboration with world-renowned Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders, is a unique lifestyle offering for Doha and will be Wanders' first hotel for the region. Guests can choose from five distinctive room categories. Rooted in local Arabic culture, the property will express tradition with a contemporary point of view throughout. The property will incorporate customized Marcel Wanders design features with influences from the beauty of local patterns, ornate Arabic writing and historic souks.
Additionally, Mondrian Doha will be a culinary phenomenon featuring eight restaurants and bars, some of which are entirely new to Qatar. Middle Eastern cuisine will be at the heart of the hotel's food and beverage offering along with internationally renowned chefs. This includes Wolfgang Puck, master chef and restaurateur, bringing his concept CUT by Wolfgang Puck to Qatar for the first time. Furthermore, Japanese Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients, introduces Morimoto Doha – the first eponymous Morimoto outpost to open in the Middle East. The hotel will also offer a variety of stylish and unique options for meetings and special events. Mondrian features a 21,528 square feet/2,000 square-meter ballroom that can hold up to 1,500 guests for a wedding or special event.
