Why Great Food Alone Won’t Save A Restaurant | Renata Messarra & Alexander Suski

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What happens when two completely different career paths lead to the same industry?

Renata Messarra Abergel and Alexander Suski join Chef JKP to share the journeys that shaped their lives in hospitality.

Renata talks about growing up between Italian and Lebanese food cultures, moving to Dubai, and building her way from sales into hospitality, PR and entrepreneurship.

Alexander shares how an injury ended his professional basketball career and eventually led him from door-to-door sales into hotels, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Together, they unpack how Hospitality Majlis came to life, what they’ve learned from conversations with industry leaders, and their views on restaurant PR, investing in people, aesthetics, and the future of hospitality in Dubai.

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR

✔️ How Renata’s Italian-Lebanese upbringing shaped her relationship with food
✔️ Why rejection and sales became part of Renata’s early career
✔️ How an injury took Alexander from professional basketball into hospitality
✔️ Renata’s journey from Sunset Hospitality to building her own PR agency
✔️ Alexander’s move from international hotel leadership to entrepreneurship
✔️ How Renata and Alexander created Hospitality Majlis
✔️ What restaurants get wrong about PR, aesthetics, food and investing in their teams
✔️ Why community, wellness and authenticity could shape the future of hospitality

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Childhood Food Memories From Italy, Lebanon and Belgium
09:01 – Renata’s Move to Dubai and Her First Jobs
21:07 – How an Injury Ended Alexander’s Basketball Career
33:47 – Building Careers Across Hospitality, Hotels and F&B
48:04 – Why Renata Left Corporate Life to Build Her Own Agency
57:23 – Alexander’s Move From Hotel Executive to Entrepreneur
1:03:36 – How Renata and Alexander Started Hospitality Majlis
1:11:20 – Where Dubai’s Hospitality Industry Is Heading

GUESTS

Renata Messarra Abergel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renatamessarra/

Alexander Suski
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandersuski/

SEASON 13 PARTNER

This season is proudly sponsored by Elle & Vire Professionnel, trusted by chefs around the world for exceptional French dairy products shaped by decades of expertise and craftsmanship.

Elle & Vire Professionnel Middle East: https://www.instagram.com/ellevirprofessionnel_me/

AUDIO PARTNER

RØDE: https://rode.com/

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Food is Memories™️ 🍽️

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