Fouad Hassoun: Shaping the Future of Hospitality

Fouad Hassoun is a seasoned President with a wealth of experience in the leisure, hotels, travel, and tourism industry. His expertise spans various domains, including hotels management, tour operating, search engine optimization (SEO), negotiation, e-commerce, web 2.0, and Google Analytics.

With a demonstrated track record of success, Fouad has honed his skills in business development and strategic planning. He is known for his ability to navigate complex challenges and drive growth in competitive markets.

Fouad’s educational background includes graduation from College de la Salle and Cairo University, where he gained a solid foundation in business principles and management practices.

Throughout his career, Fouad has consistently delivered results, leveraging his diverse skill set to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and expand market reach. As President of Kiwi Beach Resorts – Top2Go – Kiwi Travel, he continues to lead with vision and innovation, driving the company towards new heights of success in the hospitality and tourism sector.

A Journey of Entrepreneurial Success

Fouad’s journey in the tourism and hospitality industry is marked by impressive achievements and entrepreneurial endeavors. Born in Cairo to parents of Lebanese descent, Fouad embarked on his career path at a young age, demonstrating remarkable ambition and business acumen.

After graduating in economics and commerce from the university in Cairo, Fouad began his professional journey by working as a tour leader in a travel agency in Cairo at the age of 19. At 25, he took a significant leap by co-founding his first business, a travel agency called Flash Tour, with his brother. Flash Tour quickly established itself as a prominent player in the Egyptian travel industry, ranking 2nd in the country. Today, Flash Tour boasts five branches in Italy, Dubai, Zanzibar, Kenya, and Morocco, showcasing Fouad’s adeptness at expanding business operations internationally.

Fouad’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence led to further diversification of his business portfolio. In 1989, he ventured into the cruise industry by opening the first motor ship on the Nile, which has since grown into a fleet of 10 motor ships. In 1993, Fouad expanded into the restaurant business, opening “Rossini,” a renowned establishment in Cairo known for its exceptional cuisine. This marked the beginning of Fouad’s foray into the culinary world, with additional restaurants established in Florence (earning a Michelin Star) and Cairo.

Continuing his expansion into various sectors of the tourism industry, Fouad ventured into transportation, gradually building a fleet of 140 vehicles since acquiring his first bus in 1987. Additionally, he made significant strides in the hotel business, opening his first hotel in Sharm El Sheikh in 1998. Today, Fouad’s group manages eight hotels across Egypt, Zanzibar, and Italy, employing approximately 8000 individuals.

In 1985, Fouad married Michela Chiti, an Italian woman, and they have since pursued their business endeavors together. In 2005, Fouad relocated to Italy to oversee the group’s activities, where he founded “Kiwi Beach Resorts,” a hotel management company, “Kiwi Travel,” a travel agency, and “Top2Go,” a digital tour operator. Through his visionary leadership and tireless dedication, Fouad Hassoun has left an indelible mark on the tourism and hospitality industry, shaping the landscape of travel and leisure experiences across multiple continents.

Inspiring Charisma and Unwavering Commitment

Fouad’s leadership style is characterized by charisma, unwavering commitment to vision, and the ability to inspire and persuade others. He leads by example, leveraging his charm and confidence to rally his team behind him, fostering a sense of purpose and innovation among team members. Even in challenging times, Fouad’s leadership energizes and motivates others, guiding organizations towards success.

At the core of Fouad’s leadership philosophy are key principles and values that guide his decisions as president. These include integrity, ensuring honesty and transparency in all dealings; respect, valuing the contributions and perspectives of every individual; accountability, taking responsibility for actions and outcomes; fairness, treating all stakeholders equitably and justly; compassion, demonstrating empathy and understanding towards others; and courage, having the strength and conviction to make tough decisions.

By adhering to these principles and values, Fouad fosters a positive and inclusive work environment, where individuals feel valued, motivated, and empowered to contribute their best. His leadership approach not only drives organizational success but also cultivates a culture of trust, collaboration, and excellence.

Revolutionizing Beach Holidays and Private Tours

Top2Go Srl specializes in designing and selling beach holiday packages and private tours worldwide through its user-friendly travel portal. The portal features a straightforward and intuitive booking system that allows users to easily book their desired holiday packages or tours. Top2Go also serves as an online sales platform for travel agencies, offering a wide range of beach holidays and tours with compensation covering the entire booking amount, including taxes and insurance.

One of the key strengths of Top2Go is its flexibility, as users have the freedom to choose their departure dates for beach holidays or tours without being restricted by specific product programming. Another standout feature is the high-quality nature of the products offered, which include premium beach holiday packages in exquisite medium and long-range locations, complete with flights and transfers, as well as private tours with flight arrangements.

The hotels featured on the Top2Go platform are either contracted directly by Top2Go or offered through reputable Destination Management Companies (DMCs), ensuring customers receive reliable assistance and support throughout their holiday or tour. Unlike other Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), Top2Go offers a curated selection of 10-15 structures for various destinations worldwide, carefully chosen by their staff based on specific “Top Destinations” criteria.

At the core of the Top2Go portal is its intelligent Booking Engine, designed to prioritize simplicity, usability, and immediacy. The system streamlines the search and booking process for users, minimizing distractions and complexities. Despite the seamless booking process, Top2Go provides personalized assistance from their operators, who are available to assist customers at every stage of their booking or trip, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Enhancing Visibility and Engagement

Fouad emphasizes the importance of certain skills and strategies for innovation and competitiveness in the travel and tourism industry:

• Customer-Centric Approach: Paying close attention to customers’ needs, actively listening to their feedback, and continuously learning from them through various channels are essential for innovation and staying competitive. By understanding customers’ preferences and addressing their pain points, businesses can develop innovative solutions that meet their evolving needs.
• Problem-Solving: Effectively and efficiently addressing existing problems by turning good ideas into meaningful solutions is crucial for innovation. This requires a proactive approach to identifying challenges within the industry and finding creative ways to solve them, ultimately enhancing the customer experience and staying ahead of competitors.

Regarding content marketing and SEO:

• Content Quality: Quality content serves as the foundation for both content marketing and SEO strategies. Engaging and relevant content is essential for attracting organic traffic and engaging users effectively.
• Synergy Between Content Marketing and SEO: Content marketing and SEO strategies complement each other to amplify their impact. Content marketing provides valuable substance that attracts and engages users, while SEO ensures that this content is discoverable by search engines and reaches its intended audience.

In terms of tracking emerging trends:

• Diverse Sources: Utilizing a combination of sources, including newspaper articles, industry reports, travel websites, and social media, helps to track emerging trends in the travel and tourism industry effectively. This comprehensive approach ensures that businesses stay informed about the latest developments and opportunities within the industry.

For ensuring an exceptional guest experience:

• Improved Guest Knowledge: Continuously improving knowledge about guests’ preferences, behaviors, and expectations allows businesses to personalize their services and provide a more tailored experience.
• Understanding and Awareness of Guest Needs: Having a deep understanding of guests’ needs and maintaining awareness of their preferences throughout their journey enables businesses to anticipate and address their requirements effectively.
• Building Relationships: Cultivating strong relationships with guests fosters loyalty and enhances satisfaction levels. By prioritizing excellent customer service and maintaining open communication, businesses can build trust and loyalty among guests.

By focusing on these skills, strategies, and measures, businesses can drive innovation, improve competitiveness, and deliver exceptional guest experiences in the travel and tourism industry.

Navigating the Future of Travel and Leisure

Fouad envisions a future for the travel and leisure industry characterized by technological innovation, increased accessibility, convenience, and sustainability. He anticipates the adoption of various technologies, such as drones for luggage delivery, virtual reality for booking and guiding tours, and artificial intelligence for personalized travel experiences. Furthermore, he expects the emergence of new tourism destinations driven by environmental awareness and sustainability efforts.

However, Fouad acknowledges that along with these opportunities come challenges such as managing mass tourism, ensuring traveler safety, and protecting the environment. He emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between innovation and sustainability to ensure that future generations can enjoy safe, affordable, and sustainable travel experiences.

In the coming years, Fouad’s goal is to consolidate his group further by adding more facilities, thereby expanding their offerings and enhancing their presence in the market.

To engage with the local community and contribute positively to the surrounding area, Fouad’s initiatives include participating in volunteer projects, organizing cultural and sports events, promoting environmental education, and supporting local businesses. By actively involving the community and supporting local initiatives, Fouad aims to create a positive impact and foster sustainable development in the areas where his businesses operate.