Shuja Zaidi lauded for his role in Hilton properties

Shuja Zaidi, VP-projects KSA and GM for Makkah Hilton & Towers, has stumbled into the hospitality industry by mere coincidence. He was initially trained as a commercial airline pilot in the United States.
Shuja joined Hilton Worldwide almost 20 years ago, and worked in places from Houston and Guam in the United States to Northern China before moving to Makkah 10 years ago, where Hilton was integrating an extra 800-room property to its already existing 600-room hotel as Makkah Hilton and Towers.
Shuja has managed this property over the last 10 years and has achieved a lot of accolades and awards. Shuja is now heading Hilton’s involvement in the mammoth Jabal Omar project in Makkah, where Hilton is to open six of the 27-branded hotels planned for the development. The first three of these hotels are due to open in 2013.
In addition, Zaidi is focused on the company’s growth in Riyadh, which will see the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Al Murooj, Hilton King Saud University, and Hilton King Saud University Residence, all in Riyadh, and are planned to open within the next 12 months. Makkah Hilton & Towers recently went through major renovations and introduction of new services and facilities under the guidance of Shuja who has put in all his expertise and support to accomplish all these achievements.
Essam Abbouda, VP-operations for Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean, praised the team work at Makkah Hilton and Towers headed by Shuja. Abouda has especially complimented Shuja’s expertise in the field of hotels and singled out as Shuja being one of the most successful GMs in the area.