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WISSAM J. EL AKKAWI
The Man Behind Fiesta
THE JOURNEY STARTED IN YEAR 1991,
He was 17 years old, one year before graduating from the secondary school at international college in beirut,
His father’s health condition, pushed him to be present and attend pascal middle school ( ecole pascal ) in beirut, the educational institution the father owned and managed since 1970.
He accompanied his father and master for seven years in the field of education, and he learned from him management and organization skills.
During these years, he took the initiative to develop the school in its programs, activities, architecture, and modernization.
But in addition to all of that, he opened a small kiosk at the school’s playground to sell snacks and juices.
That was the first modest and simple commercial project from which he was able to earn some money. He did not know at the time that this money would be the reason for buying a balloons printing machine 3 years later.
His story with fiesta started in 1994
With a balloon printing machine…
That time wissam el akkawi was 2nd year architecture student.
In 1998, once graduated, He opened the first balloons Decoration shop in beirut and fiesta balloons was the start!
Year 2000 he launched the first Balloons school
FROM “FIESTA BALLOONS” SHOP TO “FIESTA HOLDING”,
2001 it was the decision to attack the event industry and develop the know-how where “fireworks” was the second challenge!
2004 was the 3rd turning point by launching the first themed 3d workshop in beirut, and from lebanon to the gcc … fiesta became an icon in event solutions.
from “fiesta balloons” shop to “fiesta holding”,
and its 22 subsiadary companies in different industries, from events … to hospitality, real estate, contracting, construction, catering, food and beverage, travel & tourism, media solutions and more …
13 guinness world records
His motto that accompanied him throughout 30 years of success, failure, fatigue, crying, and celebration:
Illuminating Grand Events
Giving trust to employees who came from day one to fiesta, specially when we started in Beirut, to work and learn fiesta’s services which is all about taste, techniques, design, and sources, … we are talking to services or business not available in any Arab market like Balloons decoration, art of wrapping, fireworks and indoor pyrotechnics, and Styrofoam carving.
So those people who came from different backgrounds, drivers, sales, cashier, painters ,… instead of being loyal and thankful, lot of them during the years, left us for money because someone gave them offers like double salaries or being partners in order to copy us…
This never reflected bad in long term on Fiesta, because we were fast to develop our expertise and staying unique in the market and leaders, but on the short run the act was causing damages, because we were competing non-professionals, facing us with decreasing prices, and providing to investors some of our secrets in terms of costing and overseas suppliers and contacts of our clients.
Later on, we were more careful to whom we should share information and details, and all existing and coming employees, who came without an artistic background or expertise in our field, they were forced to sign contracts with very high penalties, based on having as per law the decision to leave anytime, but cannot work in our field till 3 years passing. Otherwise, they will face a court case. And really, we were obliged to do it with some, to be a lesson for others.
Differentiating ourselves was based on few decisions:
Clear communication and strong interpersonal skills, are essential are critical when coordinating with various stakeholders, including clients, employees, suppliers, and contractors. Effective leaders must be able to articulate their vision, provide instructions, and foster open dialogue.
The contracting, events and hospitality industries, are often subject to rapid changes due to market conditions, customer preferences, and external factors where leaders must be flexible and willing to pivot their strategies as needed. These industries can face unexpected challenges, from project delays to customer complaints. Effective leaders should be able to quickly analyze issues and develop practical solutions to keep operations running smoothly.
Moreover, leaders should have a clear vision for the future of their business and develop strategies to achieve it. This includes understanding market trends, identifying opportunities for growth, and setting long-term goals.
In industries characterized by fast-paced environments and tight deadlines, the ability to make informed decisions quickly is crucial. Leaders should be confident in their judgment and willing to take calculated risks.
Effective leaders should inspire and motivate their teams. They should focus on recruiting, training, and developing talent while empowering key employees to take ownership of their roles.
Last but not least, understanding financial management is vital for leaders in Fiesta’s industries. This includes budgeting, pricing strategies, and cost control to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the business.
FIRST IT STARTS FROM 2005 IN LEBANON,
from where Fiesta started its journey and dream, When the country began to collapse at all levels, politically, security-wise, and economically, after the assassination of the Prime Minister of Lebanon, and after years of stability and prosperity.
Here we took several actions and strategies:
And later in 2018 – 2019, Lebanon has struggled with a deteriorating economy characterized by hyperinflation, currency devaluation. This instability affected consumer purchasing power and business profitability.
In addition, the political uncertainty where frequent changes in government, protests, and lack of effective governance caused an unpredictable business environment, making it challenging to plan and execute long-term strategies.
Here it was the hard decision to freeze all our activities, investments and businesses in Lebanon, and move with our key and loyal employees abroad in order to support and develop our branches in KSA and UAE.
SECOND CHALLENGE WAS THE CORONA PANDEMIC ON 2020,
The biggest and sever challenges we faced:
Our overcoming Strategies:
PROJECT 1:
THE OPENING CEREMONY PARADE OF RIYADH SEASON 2019 – KSA,
it was a big challenging project where client put on our shoulders big responsibility once asking for a parade not less value than Rio De Janeiro yearly parade,
We were supposed to deliver 25 floats, each 25 meters long x 12m width x 11 meters high, all in 3D, and we only have 45 days to deliver! Means almost 40 hours for each Float,
In addition, 1500 international artists, musicians, jugglers, entertainers and dancers, to join the parade as per each float theme.
And the floats were perfectly delivered where 1300 managers, supervisors, engineers, employees, technicians, artists, and labors,… were part of this achievement, working 24 hours a day in 2 shifts.
PROJECT 2:
HOUSE OF HYPE PARK, AT THE RIYADH BOULEVARD – KSA,
House of Hype, a 6000 sq.m with a ceiling up to 10 meters high, is the largest immersive entertainment park experience that connects the real world to the world of virtual reality.
House of Hype Riyadh allows visitors to virtually interact across a range of futuristically designed rooms, as seen at House of Hype Dubai. The Riyadh attraction will also allow visitors to become virtually immersed in technology, play games and even shop.
The park combines content creation and state-of-the-art physical video games, creating a fun world filled with 46 creator experiences, 29 immersive attractions and 32 gaming experiences.
It was a full contracting project, from A to Z, delivered in 50 days,
On of our golden achievements that we are proud of. And now delivering the second branch at Dubai Mall with 9000 sq.m and much more experiences.
Fostering innovation and creativity within a team in the contracting, themed construction and events by implementing the below strategies, can help cultivate a creative and innovative atmosphere within our companies:
I stay motivated by looking to faces and eyes of my small family, big family and mega family and find pride, safety and appreciation. “Eyes cannot lie” … true emotions or intentions can often be revealed through their eyes, even if they attempt to hide them verbally.
As for motivating the team, One of the actions that motivates the team, is when they suddenly find that I took a decision to award a loyal employee, by making him my partner and own shares in the company he served for many years with loyalty.
Also acknowledging individuals and team contributions fosters a positive environment. Celebrating successes, both big and small, always is significantly boosting morale.
Motivating our Fiesta Family members by maintaining open lines of communication ensures that team members feel heard and valued. And this is my way with all positions, even drivers, to regularly when I visit offices or factories, warehouses, or sites, check-ins always help to address concerns and share ideas, and this policy is always advised to head of departments.
Moreover, specially during occasions or holidays, engaging in team-building activities or social events always strengthen relationships within the team, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collective purpose.
by Determining what’s most important in both my professional and personal life. This helps me focus my time and energy on what truly matters.
And the last 5 years, I started delegating and trusting more my professional team and delegate responsibilities, while surround myself with competent leaders who can take on the various demands of the business.
Now surrounded by two main trustful and hard worker backbone people, My brother Engineer Houssam, who is managing the group business in KSA, and my sister Nadine, masters in business and finance, who is managing the group business in UAE, I feel more safe with peace of mind, and this decision proved progress and good results in the performance of all companies.
And least but not last, leverage technology to streamline communication and daily operations, allowing for more efficient management of my time.
Many MENA countries are working to diversify their industries specially after the Corona pandemic, this can create opportunities in sectors like technology, online services for essential products, and food industry out of luxurious restaurant model. Moreover, establishing businesses that generates daily cash will bring to the group a kind of stability instead of other industries working with government, and needs bank guaranties, financing to start execution, and late payment receivables.
The political climate can greatly affect investment security and business operations. But as our businesses are established mainly in GCC Countries with stable governance tend and sustainability, that attract more investment, this minimizes the political risks for expanding or making major investments.
Across GCC and specially KSA and UAE, the governments have made efforts to improve ease of doing business, as understanding local laws and regulations is essential for compliance and for devising effective business strategies.
Technology Adoption in these countries, where Holding companies can leverage this trend by investing in tech-driven businesses or enhancing their existing businesses with technology solutions to improve efficiency and customer engagement.
Technology is and will be more playing in near future, a significant role in the growth of Fiesta Holding in several ways, and this is the subject of my PHD thesis:
How combining Quality Management – Project Management – Health and Safety in production and contracting projects, while implementing AI, can support sustainability initiatives by reducing paper usage and improving resource management.
How this technology enables companies to collect and analyze data, helping them understand market trends, customer preferences, and projects or events performance. How this data-driven approach can improve decision-making and targeted marketing.
How tools such one AI software / platform, allows companies to streamline operations, manage budgets, timelines, and team collaboration more effectively.
Approaching sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within our contracting, food and beverage, and event industries under Fiesta Holding, involves integrating ethical practices across all aspects of operations. Here are tailored strategies for each sector:
FOR CONTRACTING INDUSTRY:
FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY:
FOR EVENTS INDUSTRY:
OVERALL CSR STRATEGIES:
Collaborative partnerships with many NGOs, community organizations, and sponsor their events by covering concepts, designs, build-ups, fit-outs, firework shows, entertainment programs.
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