By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter

They are smart. They are here to make their mark in the hotel industry. Women concierges in the Middle East’s hospitality industry are a few. But thanks to HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser’s progressive policies, women are increasingly getting a chance to prove themselves as brand ambassadors at leading hotels in Qatar.

One such role model for women is Nargul Aripova, who is the guest experience ambassador at Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel.

Aripova has a degree in international business and hotel tourism management from a leading institute in Switzerland.

“Women are just 20% of the total concierges in the GCC. In Qatar, the number of women working as concierges at leading hotels is probably the highest compared to all other countries in the region. We are around 10 to 12 women here in these positions. This, I believe, is because of the progressive policies of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser,” Aripova said.

Aripova, who has been working at the Marriot Renaissance brand in Doha for the last two years, said women do face a lot of challenges in their line of work. “In this part of the world, they all try to say that women and men are pretty much equal, but yet we all have our barriers,” she said.

Sometimes, the biggest challenge women face in this industry is by their male co-workers. “For example, in daily work, I have a lot of challenges in dealing with some male employees. Even though we are at the same level, or in some instance I can be more experienced than them, but when I ask them to do a simple thing, they perhaps think why a woman is telling them what to do,” she said.

Aripova said that over the years she has learned to resolve issues with ‘chauvinistic’ men by speaking and explaining them in a friendly way.

“(Being a woman) it is more challenging, but it is also exciting because you have to educate them, you have to show them that women today are progressive … It is very much challenging but I love to do this. I want to prove to them that listen, we are here, you may think we are not very much equal, but I also have the rights,” she said.

Another leading concierge, Yasmin Maier, who works as the concierge agent at Doha’s Four Seasons Hotel, also narrated her ordeal with some male co-workers in her career. “Sometimes when I face an issue and I try to solve it, the man involved won’t accept that he is the problem. However, when my male colleague would talk to him, it will work. So these are the type of things that drive me crazy, but I manage it somehow,” she said.

Although women concierges say that generally the guests they encounter are polite, they are quite a few who perhaps mistake their genial behaviour.

Being a concierge is not an easy task, perhaps more so for women. Apart from the grueling task of smiling all the time even when you have a bad day, the normal work shifts are between 7am and 4pm and 3pm and 12am. Such tough work schedules can affect personal life too.

“It affects your personal life for sure. Most women in this profession are single and expats with families living abroad. Sometimes, you don’t even get time for friends or family,” Aripova said.

However, both women concierges encouraged more girls to join the industry, especially given that it is set to see a major boost in the coming years.

According to an official report, Qatar plans to build 45,000 additional hotel rooms. Some 21 new hotels are planned to open between 2012 and 2017.

“In the hospitality industry, some women may be scared that they may get shouted at or might be mistreated, whether it is by the guest or by the management or their colleagues, but this again should be taken as a challenge.

“I would advise women to not be scared. They should take up the challenge because such experiences are nothing personal and only make you stronger. You just have to be little bit more professional and careful in order for you as a woman to not get hurt,” Aripova said.