In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, few leaders embody passion, adaptability, and innovation quite like David Faull, General Manager of Barceló Mussanah Resort in Oman. With over 35 years of experience spanning renowned hotel brands such as Millennium & Copthorne, Hilton, De Vere, Rotana, and Accor, David’s career is a testament to dedication and growth in a dynamic industry.
From A small village in Wales to leading one of Oman’s most prominent Beach resorts, David Faull has consistently championed a philosophy built on people, purpose, and progress. His approach goes beyond selling rooms — he believes in creating memories, nurturing talent, and driving sustainability in every aspect of hotel management.
In this exclusive interview, David opens up about his early life, leadership journey, sustainability initiatives, and the future of hospitality. He also shares valuable insights on how teamwork, innovation, and resilience have helped him transform Barceló Mussanah Resort into a leading destination for travelers from around the world.
Early Life and Background
We were curious about David Faull’s background, so we asked him to share something about his early life and educational journey.
David Faull: I am David Faull from Wales in the UK, and I have been in Hospitality for 35 years. I have always enjoyed meeting people and developing those around me in an environment that changes and evolves. If our lives and our roles were the same each day, then this would be a very boring career. That being said, you can work in any department in a hotel, from Finance to Revenue to Operations and Marketing. There is something for everyone and a home for all.
I started my career with Millennium & Copthorne as Assistant Banqueting Manager and moved through the ranks, joining Devere than Hilton and then back to Millennium and Over to Rotana and Accor, and now at the Barcelo Mussanah Resort, and I can honestly say, I wish I had started in a leisure hotel. I have a mantra here that we don’t sell rooms, we sell memories, as this is truly a totally different market.
Defining Moments in a 30-Year Hospitality Career
We were intrigued by David Faull’s extensive experience of over 30 years in hospitality, so we asked him to share the most defining moment of his career.
David Faull: COVID was, without a doubt, the most memorable point of my career, as so much changed overnight, and the fact that we went from being hoteliers to caregivers and running a business on literally zero money. It forced us to think differently, and that is why when I joined this hotel, we expanded our horizons, and as a commercial GM, we sought every opportunity to make every part of the resort generate money. We now have boats, Jetski’s, kayaks, a water park, bikes and scooters, a zipline, and a rock climbing wall. Basically, anything you can think of, we have.
The change from a Corporate GM to a leisure GM is truly staggering, but I think we are on the right road, and our planes bring in 12% of all visitors to Oman each year, and we plan to expand this going forward. We will continue our investment into the country, and Barcelona will for sure become a household name here in Oman.
Leadership Principles in an International Resort Setting
We were interested in understanding David Faull’s leadership approach, so we asked him what principles guide him as a General Manager in an international resort setting.
David Faull: I really believe that individuals steer their own destiny and that my job is to facilitate their success. The drive must come from the team. I am very fortunate to have so many talented people here, as well as one of the highest Omanized properties in Oman, with over 56% of the team being Omani. This really sets us apart from most of the properties, as not only is this a true family, but also the passion for their country is real, and Omanis are the very best ambassadors.
My style, as you can see, is supportive. Many of the managers have worked with me previously, and I think that is a testament to my style. I am lucky to attract good people and retain them. Clearly, we need to ensure people are evolving and adding value , so from this trust we also have to be honest.
Experience at Barceló Mussanah Resort
We were curious about how David Faull’s time at Barceló Mussanah Resort has influenced him, so we asked how this experience has shaped his management style.
David Faull: I believe that my entrepreneurial style and my passion and drive really do allow me a blank canvas on which to express and develop my skills.
By removing all the shared profit activities and investing in the equipment ourselves, we have developed the team and made them more focused on the guest, and also made everyone more commercial as a result, whilst also driving the scores for guest experience. The next opportunity is the full refurbishment of the bedrooms and public areas. This will be phased over three years, but we hope to start the rooms after the season starts slowing in April next year.
Challenges and Opportunities in Today’s Hospitality Industry
We were eager to gain David Faull’s perspective on the industry, so we asked him what he considers the biggest challenges and opportunities in today’s hospitality landscape.
David Faull: People always criticize the local operators; however, our model is different. As a family owned company for almost 95 years that started with Coaches taking people to hotels and evolved into a company with huge expansion plans and a one stop shop. We have over 3000 travel agents, Planes, Logistics, management, and hospitality companies, as well as sustainability and charitable entities, with a family-owned and family-trusted empowerment. Barcelo is truly a unique company, and it is by far the best company I have worked for. The biggest challenges in our industry today, I believe, are remaining relevant. Trends have changed enormously, and we have to change to survive. Our model in Oman is unique as the only four-star branded resort offering all-inclusive at great rates. We also promote Oman to the world, and our vision for the country is also clear. In order to make Oman a true success story, we need to make the market all year round, and then we will make the investors, Ministries, and people happy and achieve the 2040 vision for the country.
Strategies for Profitability and Quality Management
We were interested in learning about David Faull’s business approach, so we asked him what strategies he has used to improve profitability while maintaining high quality standards.
David Faull: We have reviewed the manning structures, and of course, we have added some fantastic initiatives like the food composter that removed 50% of our waste from landfill and collection, as well as producing all the fertilizer that the hotel needs for its landscaping. We have also added 92 solar panels to heat our hot water in the hotel and started changing our lighting around the resort to solar. All of these initiatives have shown significant savings, and the purchase of new vehicles without turbos has also seen reduced costs and improved conversions. This, coupled with 24% growth year on year, has seen profitability soar by 41% versus last year.
Sustainability and Innovation in Hotel Operations
We were curious about David Faull’s approach to modern hospitality practices, so we asked how he integrates sustainability and innovation into hotel operations.
David Faull: As I have already mentioned, with the food composter and the solar for the hot water, there are processes that really add value, and our sewage treatment works may not be sexy, but our grass is green, and we provide a service to the local community, and also treat our own dirty water and reuse it. We have projects for our own RO plant and also a further 600 solar panels to future-proof the hotel against ever-increasing prices and drive profitability, as well as our credentials as a green hotel.
Team Motivation and Development
We were interested in understanding David Faull’s people management philosophy, so we asked him about his approach to motivating and developing his team members.
David Faull: I have already mentioned that I love meeting people and developing the team. Engagement starts at the very top, and an open-door policy and being approachable are key. I want my team to tell me what they think we can improve and to contribute to the success of the property and their development. Also, this means they are engaged. What more could you want than a team that is engaged and customer-centric?
I am not saying we are perfect, but we are improving every day, and I hope we can continue on this journey.
Emerging Trends in Hospitality Management
We were eager to hear David Faull’s insights on the evolving industry, so we asked him what trends he sees shaping the future of hospitality management.
David Faull: Trends are always evolving,
For now, everything is memory sharing and Instagrammable. Luckily, we have some world-class photo ops here and also some amazing activities. Also, technology is evolving, and people want the very latest tech and services, and the Barcelo app allows guests to book anything in the hotel as well as share the map with Google to see other tourist destinations and services in the country.
Going forward, sustainability will play a crucial role, and we all need to adopt this as our everyday and challenge ourselves for our future generations. This will also generate revenue and profitability.
Advice for Aspiring General Managers
We were curious about David Faull’s advice for the next generation of hoteliers, so we asked what guidance he would offer to young professionals aspiring to become successful General Managers.
David Faull: I think anyone coming into this industry needs to know that their life will never be normal again. Going out on weekends, being home early. But if you want a career packed with variety and fun and challenges, and rewards, then hospitality is for you. It has been the best journey for me, and I have honestly loved every moment.
Sure, the road is hard and the journey long, but if you work hard and make it to the top, the rewards are great, and the smiles you create on your journey are what push me forward every day.
Our world is a small one, and if we can grow and develop people around us, it’s amazing. We constantly see these people developing and growing in their journey, and being a part of this is reward enough.
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