Business Club

Four Seasons Hotel Amman welcomes Nick Solomon as the newly appointed General Manager of the luxurious 192-room Hotel in Amman, which provides the ideal home base to experience the capital and discover Jordan in an atmosphere of safety and peace of mind. 

From island life to city life, Solomon was the General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island before joining the team in Amman in May of this year. Solomon is from Cape Town, South Africa, and brings with him a wealth of experience developed over his career at various hospitality brands that include Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, One & Only, La Residence Hotel and Villas, Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa, Ellerman House Boutique Hotel and Hayfield Manor Hotel.   

Solomon said, "I am driven by connecting with people and new cultures, and that is exactly what I plan to do here in Jordan. I suppose one could say that I have made a career of living where others only dream of holidaying."

He added, “What is unique about Four Seasons Hotel Amman is that it provides the perfect home base to explore all the marvels of Jordan. The Roman ruins of the Citadel are only a few minutes away from the hotel, the Dead Sea is just 40 minutes away where you can float on the planet’s saltiest body of water, and a few hours by car or even by helicopter, guests can visit the 2,000-year-old red-stone city of Petra. Our expert concierge team can take you on a voyage of discovery, arranging every perfect detail.”

From a young age, Solomon was drawn into the kitchen, constantly in search of knowledge on how scents and flavours were created. He was keen to begin his hospitality career that he had already worked for eight years in kitchen and restaurant service before even beginning his National Diploma in Hospitality Management at the age of 20. 

“It was food that led me into the industry, but as I discovered more, my curiosity for operations and finance grew, ultimately pushing me towards more and more senior managerial roles.”

Careem, the region’s leading multi-service app, has partnered with the United Mission for Relief and Development (UMR) to provide fully subsidised transportation services for kidney dialysis patients through “Careem for Business”, Careem’s corporate travel service. 

This partnership enables dialysis patients, many who require daily treatment, to travel from their homes to Prince Hamza Hospital and back to receive timely and convenient access to medical care, free of charge as funded by UMR. Careem links a unique promo code to the patients' mobile numbers and the location of Prince Hamza Hospital. The service caters to patients residing in both Amman and Zarqa.

Together Careem and UMR have helped 10 patients to complete 184 trips. UMR plans to expand the service to cater to many more patients by the end of 2023, greatly impacting the lives of these individuals and their families.

Farah Odeh, General Manager of Careem Jordan, commented: “We care deeply about the community, and that's why we support initiatives that can make a real difference in people's lives. Our collaboration with the United Mission for Relief and Development enables us to provide reliable and comfortable transportation that is fully subsidized, to make it easier for dialysis patients to prioritise their health. We're planning to extend this service to help individuals with other medical needs, such as those undergoing cancer treatments. Our goal is to make sure that getting reliable transportation for essential medical care is never a worry.”

Since opening its doors one year ago, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman has become one of the premier hospitality and leisure destinations in Jordan’s bustling capital city, providing impeccable service to guests from around the world and garnering a wealth of international attention and acclaim.

The Ritz-Carlton, Amman commenced its operations with an opening ceremony inaugurated by Crown Prince Hussein, demonstrating the significance of the property as a new national landmark. Marking the official arrival of the globally renowned Ritz-Carlton brand to the Kingdom, the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Amman quickly attracted the attention of Ladies and Gentlemen the world over and was even featured as one of the “Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2022” by Forbes Travel Guide.

Commenting on its achievements, Tareq Derbas, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amman, said: “The Ritz-Carlton has achieved incredible success in the hospitality industry through its dedication to service excellence and unparalleled guest experiences. We are proud of the accomplishments that have been made so far and are committed to continue raising the bar for our guests and the luxury hospitality scene here in Jordan.”

Situated in the heart of Jordan’s vibrant capital, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman has proven to be a stunning addition to the city skyline, soaring 20 stories high and evoking a style that is at once timelessly elegant and effortlessly modern. Hosting 194 exquisite guest rooms and 34 suites — all of which provide guests with a spacious, delightful, and luxuriant stay — the property has become the preferred destination for leisure and business travelers alike. The Ritz-Carlton, Amman is also home to numerous exceptional facilities and amenities, including five meeting rooms, a boardroom, Executive Club Lounge, and a 1,050-square-metre ballroom that has already become the city’s most desirable wedding destination.

One of the hotel’s most distinguishing features is the wide array of dining outlets on offer, including its signature Italian restaurant, Roberto’s — bringing one of Dubai’s most vivacious hotspots to Amman. In addition to its mouthwatering menu of authentic Italian cuisine with a modern, elevated twist, guests at Roberto’s can enjoy panoramic views of the city from all vistas — all complemented by a warm, welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. In the year to come, the property will be unveiling even more exciting dining destinations for guests to enjoy.

Guests can also enjoy a truly indulgent culinary experience at the Ritz-Carlton, Amman, where they have the pleasure of dining at various exquisite venues throughout the property. The diverse range of dining options caters to every palate, ensuring a delightful gastronomic adventure for all. Leading this extraordinary journey is the esteemed Executive Chef Sudqi Naddaf, whose unparalleled culinary expertise spans over three decades.

Along with its tireless commitment to serving its guests, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman has been dutifully committed to supporting the well-being of local communities. Over the past year, the property and its employees have hosted benefits for local charities, engaged in a variety of community enrichment activities, and even collaborated with local social enterprises in order to offer guests meaningful touches of authenticity — that also have a positive social impact.

Already, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman has received global recognition for its exceptional service excellence and its remarkable influence on the elevation of Jordan’s hospitality sector. Last year, the World Travel Awards selected the property as the setting for its Middle East Gala Ceremony. During this prestigious event, Derbas  received the “Leading Hotelier Award” for his outstanding and uncompromising leadership. During the World Travel Awards’ Grand Final Ceremony in Oman, the hotel was named the “World’s Leading Luxury Hotel for 2022” — an immense honour in recognition of the property’s exceptional standards and impeccable quality of service. Meanwhile, the property’s flagship dining destination, Roberto’s, was recognised as “Jordan’s Best Hotel Restaurant for 2022” during the World Culinary Awards in Dubai.

With an impressive portfolio of achievements in just its first12 months, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman enters its second year of operations with plans to continue raising the bar — and creating a new standard of warmth, elegance, hospitality, and luxury in the Kingdom.

Jordan Kuwait Bank announced that it has received the award for Best Bank for Corporate Social Responsibility in Jordan in 2023 from Global Banking and Finance Review magazine. This international award recognises the ability of Jordan Kuwait Bank to fulfill its commitments towards the development and advancement of the local community while maintaining growth and profitability in its banking operations, thus enhancing its leading position in the Jordanian banking market and supporting its strong brand reputation.

Dana Jaradat, Head of Strategy and Marketing at Jordan Kuwait Bank, said: "We are proud to receive this recognition from Global Banking and Finance Review, which proves the bank's ability to fulfil its social responsibilities, implemented through a joint investment programme aligned with our strategy in the field of social responsibility, based on the bank's core values of professionalism, teamwork and innovation."

Jaradat added: "Our corporate values are based on supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and empowering local communities through the bank's active social contribution. Accordingly, a social responsibility strategy has been developed to enhance the bank's leading position, share its values with stakeholders, and reduce strategic, operational and reputational risks."

Jaradat pointed out that the bank's corporate social responsibility strategy aims to align all its activities with relevant sustainable development goals and comply with international standards. She also explained that the bank's investment in social responsibility programmes and initiatives has increased by 88 per cent since 2021, and the number of supported community projects has risen by 28 per cent in the same year.

It is worth noting that the Global Banking and Finance Review awards, launched in 2011, reflect the innovation, achievements and transformative changes taking place within the global financial community. These awards honour companies and financial institutions of various types and sizes that demonstrate excellence and expertise in the financial world across various levels.

Roberto's Amman, The Ritz-Carlton, Amman’s popular signature Italian venue, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary in the Kingdom. To commemorate this special occasion, two exclusive events were hosted over two nights at the venue. One took place at the vibrant lounge, while the other was held in the dining area. Both events attracted Amman's elite socialites, culinary connoisseurs, tastemakers and members of the media.

During the anniversary celebration, guests found themselves immersed in the breathtaking cityscape that surrounded them from their idyllic location atop the hotel’s 20th floor. Roberto’s Amman offered these guests a unique experience as part of these celebrations, taking them on a delectable culinary journey that highlighted the restaurant’s inventive, expertly crafted Italian dishes, all served against a backdrop of captivating live music performances.

Commenting on the occasion, Tareq Derbas, General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton, Amman, said: “We are thrilled and privileged to celebrate Roberto Amman's one-year anniversary. With the launch of this multi-concept, award-winning venue at the Ritz-Carlton, Amman, the Italian fine dining scene in Jordan has been elevated. We would like to sincerely thank Roberto's exceptional team, whose unwavering dedication has been instrumental in the success we have achieved. We are also immensely grateful to our esteemed guests for their continued support which has been a driving force throughout this remarkable journey.”

Since its grand opening a year ago, Roberto's Amman has attracted countless local and international guests with its signature Italian cuisine, panoramic views, enchanting ambiance and unparalleled service. Above all, the restaurant’s carefully crafted menu, curated to offer touches of local character, has set it apart amongst the local culinary scene. Its unwavering commitment to excellence earned the restaurant the title of “Best Hotel Restaurant in Jordan” at the 2022 World Culinary Awards. Roberto’s Amman continues to raise the bar across all aspects of its operations; most recently, the restaurant unveiled a new menu that adds deliciously innovative touches of local culinary character to elevated Italian fare.