Autumn 2019 FREE Your Pizza
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W rld Edition No 2: Autumn 2019 FREE Your pizza or your life! Sam and Mohammad Labban. Brave Westside Meet Brum’s warden Enoch new golden defies threat of couple... gunman in car Birmingham has a very special place in the heart of By Tony Collins Mohammad Labban, the new general manager at the Hyatt Westside warden Enoch White Regency Birmingham hotel – was determined to enjoy a piz- as it’s where he proposed to za he’d just bought for his late- his wife, Sam. night break – even when a gun- Mohammad has worked man demanded he hand it over. at some of Hyatt’s most Enoch and a colleague were luxurious hotels all over the walking along Broad Street when world, but now he’s looking a car suddenly pulled up and the forward to bringing his years driver pointed a gun at him through of hospitality expertise to the open window. the city where Sam studied But when the gunman demand- at university and where his ed the pizza that Enoch, aged 62, journey towards wedded bliss had just collected from Pit Stop in began. Broad Street, the warden calmly Full story: Page 3 replied “hell, no”. The terrifying drama happened shortly before midnight on Mon- day, 26 August. Burst water Enoch, from Kingstanding, said: “We had just moved some people who’d been harassing passers-by pipe chaos outside the post office in Five Ways. Businesses were left counting “We were walking back to the of- the cost after a water main fice but stopped off at Pit Stop for was accidentally damaged a takeaway pizza to eat during my during extension work to the break. As we got to the corner of Midlands Metro route along Granville Street, outside O’Neill’s Broad Street on 26 September. bar, a grey VW Golf pulled up. The damage to the nine- “The driver was shouting some- inch mains pipe led to water thing which I thought was him ask- gushing along the centre ing for directions, so I walked over of the road, which severely to the car. As I asked ‘can I help disrupted the Broad Street you?’ he just pointed a gun at me area and left restaurants, through the open window and said shops and other local ‘you’re dead’. businesses without any water “His eyes were really crazy look- for up to a day. Turn to page 2 n Westside warden Enoch White with his favourite Hawaiian pizza. Full story: Pages 4-5 We’re working all the year round for BID members 2 Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019 3 Westside is brimming Suspect arrested Brum is where with stories By Mike Olley Westside BID general manager over pizza threat Welcome to the second the heart is edition of Westside World, the From page 1 newsletter that both highlights ing and he seemed to be as high as the successes and tackles the a kite. He said ‘I mean it, I’m going challenges in your business to shoot you now’. Then he said area. ‘give me your food’ and I just said We’re chuffed to bits that so ‘hell, no!’” many members have given us for new Enoch said he told his colleague such positive feedback on the to note the car’s registration, at newsletter. And we’re even which point the gunman dropped more delighted that so many the firearm in his lap and sped off of you have towards Five Ways. Enoch was able tipped us off to flag down a passing police car on stories for and pass on the details. us to chase. He added: “Nothing fazes me. Hyatt boss Please I just thought he’s not getting my continue to do food. My attitude was I’m black, this. Westside I’m hungry, and he’s not getting my World is for Hawaiian pizza. There was a gun n the people pointing at me and I just thought ‘if Enoch White enjoys a well- who work it’s my time, it’s my time, there was deserved snack and (right) the here, and so we need a nothing I could do about it.’” Pit Stop restaurant. continual flow of the stories Westside BID general manag- unemployed Birmingham man had that matter for you and your er Mike Olley said: “This just been arrested after the incident. He businesses and organisations. demonstrates the calibre of people has been charged with possession n New general manager Mohammad Labban outside the Hyatt Regency Birmingham and (below) enjoying the stunning city views. Remember: Westside BID we have working as wardens. And of a firearm with intent to cause fear is here to champion what’s By Steve Dyson anon, Mohammad studied Hos- it also says a lot about the quality of violence, possession of a firearm, pitality Management in Cyprus made you happy and to fight of food available on Broad Street and dangerous driving, as well as a your corner when things go Mohammad Labban has experi- and as a young graduate he was – this was obviously a pizza worth number of unrelated offences. enced luxurious five-star hotels quickly snapped up by the Hyatt wrong. Our Westside World dying for!” He has appeared in court and has reflects this activity, along with all over the world, including top hotel group. A spokesperson for West Mid- been remanded in custody, with a venues in India, Jordan, Egypt He began his career more than our new website and exciting lands Police said a 46-year-old trial date fixed for February 2020. social media posts. and Dubai. 20 years ago in sales, marketing Thanks for taking the time to But romance means that Bir- and business development, work- read, and please email mingham beats all of these exot- ing at many locations including [email protected] with ic locations for the new general the Hyatt Regency Jeddah, Grand all your ideas and any queries. manager of the Hyatt Regency on Hyatt Amman, Park Hyatt Dubai Bridge Street, because this is the and Hyatt Regency Dubai. city where he once proposed to his His first general manager role wife, Sam. was in India at Hyatt Regency “Birmingham has always been Pune, followed by the Hyatt Re- a very special place to me,” said gency Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt Published on behalf of Mohammad. “It’s where my wife and more recently leading the Westside BID, the Business went to university and where I opening of the flagship Hyatt Re- “Once I started at Hyatt, I’ve re- in Aqaba, Jordan. That’s where I Improvement District is chose to propose to her many gency Aqaba Ayla Resort, on the mained loyal to the brand for an led the pre-opening operations of constantly working towards years ago. Red Sea coast of Jordan. exciting career spanning 22 years the hotel, building the team from creating a more attractive, “I cannot wait to explore Mohammad said: “I was in- in some of the most luxurious ho- employee number one to a ful- better marketed, brighter, everything that this glorious city spired from a young age by the tels in Asia. ly-staffed hotel in 18 months. safer and cleaner business has to offer and have a feeling that dazzling glamour of the hotels I “Working in different countries “Launching that hotel in Decem- environment in Birmingham’s my family and I are going to feel saw in Hollywood movies, and so and cultures gave me valuable ber 2018 was my most memorable Westside entertainment area. very at home here.” I was always destined for a career insights into the hotel industry, career moment to date – but I’ve Westside BID was voted in by Originally from Beirut in Leb- in hospitality. particularly as general manager got plans for many more.” 350 businesses in the area in In his new position as general August 2015, with a 99.75% manager at Hyatt Regency Bir- yes vote (the best in the Hotel is a prime ministerial favourite mingham, Mohammad plans to UK). Westside BID is based n Birmingham’s Broad Street in 2002 – as envisioned by Paul S Cadbury in his 1952 book. l Hyatt Regency Birmingham is a l Birmingham’s ‘Golden Mile’ continue developing what he de- at Quayside Tower, 252-260 four-star, 319-bedroom hotel. of Broad Street is just around the scribes as its “outstanding reputa- Broad Street, B1 2HF. l It stands at a height of 75 corner, as is Gas Street Basin and tion” in the city. Broad Street goes back to the future metres (246 ft), and has 24 storeys. Brindleyplace. He added: “My commitment Publisher: Dyson Media Ltd. l The hotel cost £37 million to l The hotel has been used for to delivering outstanding service Editor: Steve Dyson. This is how a modern Broad 2002. The detailed sketches by Pete Richmond, chief ex- build and was completed in 1990. various party conferences, and the will be vital in the way I lead all Designer: Gary Young of Street was imagined by a author Paul S Cadbury – from ecutive of Bournville Village l The Hyatt is located opposite last five Prime Ministers have all departments here, ensuring every Magic Lantern Media. future-gazer back in 1952. the Cadbury chocolate family Trust, said: “It is fantastic to the Library of Birmingham, The stayed there. guest has a truly memorable expe- Printed by: Print Design The image comes from a – visualise clean and quiet see these images being shared Rep Theatre and the International l Aria is the Hyatt’s signature rience.