| General Manager, Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers |
| By Noha Mohammed |
| After training as a chef in Switzerland, Eric Piatti graduated from the renowned hospitality management school Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. Bringing almost 28 years of international experience in the hospitality industry, his career path has taken him to Los Angeles, Switzerland, Bangkok and Beijing, among other cities. What is your favorite vacation destination in Egypt and why? Since I just arrived in Cairo four months ago, I cannot really identify my favorite vacation destination in Egypt, nevertheless one of the reasons behind my moving to Egypt was the unique ancient culture and heritage, which is clearly represented in its monuments, churches, mosques, citadels, museums and bazaars. The versatility in history available here in Cairo has amazed me. How do you like to spend your vacation? As a Swiss, I was almost born on snow skis; at least, I started at a very young age. Going to the Alps has always been an escape which brings me peace and relief from my everyday active life. Today my role in this industry has evolved, but I still enjoy entertaining family and friends and sharing a moment with them around a common meal, or traveling to discover a new cuisine. My vacation time is dedicated to my family and loved ones as they are my biggest supporters. We look forward to discovering Upper Egypt’s ancient attractions in Luxor and Aswan as well as the Red Sea beaches in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada. What is your favorite traditional Egyptian food and where do you like to go for an enjoyable meal? At your hotel, what is your favorite meal? Zamalek. This part of town, its atmosphere, reminds me of some cities in Europe and my home. La Bodega and Sequoia are two of my favorite places. I love Egyptian mezzah, and once, one of our chefs prepared traditional Egyptian pigeons, which were very tasty. Actually, I enjoy discovering the Egyptian culture through its cuisine and the Egyptian people. With our hotel’s multiple dining offerings and extraordinary cuisines, it is very difficult to give you a preference. All our venues are very authentic because each ethnic restaurant has a native chef. Now more than ever we need to promote tourism in Egypt. What efforts is your establishment making toward this goal? We are aiming to remain a premium destination for Egyptians and foreigners by providing our guests with places of unrivaled presence, experiences that are authentically local and engaging service. Our team is committed to guaranteeing consistency and premium quality. In this respect, Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers was awarded the SGS food safety Award of Excellence 2011 for achieving above 80% compliance as per HACCP standards. Also, we were ranked #1 in Fairmont Guest Satisfaction. This commitment has been pursued all through the tumultuous times Egypt encountered in 2011. If you could recommend just one thing an Egyptian should see or do in Egypt, what would it be? Sandboarding. The best sand dunes include the Great Sand Sea near Siwa Oasis, in the Western Desert and other locations. For a moment of relaxation, a shisha is a true reflection of the Egyptian culture where people gather and share time with each other. |
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