contribute to the Israeli hospitality industry with my vast experience of managing luxury hotels and brands around the world and , moreover , showcase that you can provide excellence and service in luxury in an Israeli hotel , being the iconic King David . In Israel it is difficult to provide value for money , luxury experience and excellence , which was my mission when accepting the job , to prove them all wrong .
H : You succeeded Haim Shkedi , the legendary general manager of King David who held the post for almost 26 years . How are you continuing or reimagining his legacy ? TK : Haim was the one who brought me back to Israel in 1998 as the front office manager of the hotel and who let me spread my wings to open the Hotel de Russie in Rome , two years later . I learned much and have , on occasion , when in Israel visiting , turned to him for advice . My role was to sustain the greatness that the hotel had and improve in the areas that needed upgrading and updating . The ability to ensure that the many returning guests continue to come back is how we preserve the wonderful past and ensure that we are building for the future .
H : King David Hotel has been an iconic establishment in Jerusalem since it opened in 1931 . What are you doing differently to keep it relevant today amid several new competitors ? TK : Everything . We have embarked on excellent culinary experiences with Chef Roi Antebi , who came with me two-and-half years ago . We are looking at collaborations with luxury brands for our culinary and service excellence . We want to ensure that we offer a multitude of experiences , from reimagining the Kings Garden restaurant , afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge , the most iconic and dramatic poolside experience with music and cabanas , rebranding of the La Regence to be a new Grill Room and a rooftop Gin bar . These are just a few of the value add-ons that we have envisaged .
H : What steps are you taking to revive the hotel ’ s revenues ? What is your performance forecast going into the next year ? TK : We look at all areas that can generate spending opportunities for the guests , from new culinary offerings , a new spa , a limousine fleet , valet parking , gourmet minibars on order , and musical experiences at the Kings Garden and Lobby Lounge . We are also creating luxury brand collaborations
Exterior of the King David in Jerusalem
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