PHOTO: © LOEWS CORAL GABLES HOTEL

THE BASICS
Name: Nadim Barrage
Title: General manager
Company, city: Loews Coral Gables Hotel; Coral Gables, Florida
As a child, what job did you want to have when you grew up? I wanted to be a chef. My passion for cooking developed from time in the kitchen with my mother, grandmother and other family. When I got older, I had the opportunity to work in a kitchen and quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I still love to cook for pleasure.
Fun fact about yourself: I love a good fast-food burger from time to time — my guilty pleasure surprises people when they see me enjoying one.
If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why? Patagonia: alone on the other side of the world, far from my phone, my laptop and social media, reconnecting with the beauty of nature

A LITTLE BIT MORE
What two nonessential items would you want if you were on a deserted island?
Something that plays music, for sure, and a book

What person or experience most influenced your choice of career?
A few years of my childhood were spent in a war zone. During that time my parents took advantage of every opportunity to take us out to experience different things; hotels and restaurants were places where we felt safe and made beautiful memories. They remain true spaces of relaxation and enjoyment for me. To this day, when things may not be going well, I walk into the hotel feeling this space is unlike any other.

What is your favorite song, and/or who is your favorite musician/band?
Cat Stevens. I remember traveling across France from Paris to the south as my mother played Cat Stevens in the car. It meant vacation time!

If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past? Why?
I would travel to the past and explore what made us who we are and why.

THE BUSINESS
How would you describe your leadership style?
My style is rooted in a drive to create a culture where people feel good about themselves and enjoy working. I strive to cultivate an approachable, family feeling. At Loews Hotels we want to welcome you like family, and that begins by bringing that feeling to life within the team first.

What predictions do you have for the travel industry over the next year?
With Miami welcoming so many events in 2026, I foresee a rise in demand for the next year. This applies to group business, business travel and leisure travel associated with sports events. Our destination will host FIFA World Cup games, the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, NASCAR Cup Series Championship, World Baseball Classic and College Football Playoff National Championship and other high-profile events.

What is your or your team’s proudest professional achievement?
The 2022 grand opening of Loews Coral Gables Hotel and its positioning as a key player in our market less than three years later makes me proud.

What project are you currently working on?
Our desire to remain relevant to our guests leads us to constantly ideate and implement experiences that create authentic, memorable moments. These include programming that appeals to multigenerational travelers, like Loews Little Legends for children; family photo shoots; and Fizz by Loews Hotels, our brand’s new program offering customizable, house-made sodas and spritzes. Our Flavor by Loews gives guests a taste of the destination by partnering with local artisans and purveyors. These unique differentiators make a one-of- a-kind, locally infused hotel experience. On the design side, we are looking at refinishing and enhancing our signature restaurant, Americana Kitchen, to respond to market demand for more bar space and bar ambience.

AS A TRAVELER
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned about customer service?
Be kind and respectful and you will get the best experience.

What’s the first vacation you can remember taking?
My travels to Cyprus every summer. My father worked there for two months out of the year so we could enjoy time away from the war. I’ll never forget the little bakery next to where we stayed; it had that unique smell of baked goods and sugar. Emotions are the most beautiful triggers of memories.

What are your travel pet peeves?
People who do not respect the environment they are in, forgetting they are visiting an actual place where people live and that these places are not amusement parks

Share your favorite travel experience: The South of France … so many memories, times with family, good food and good wine with perfect weather: warm during the day and cold enough in the evening to put a light sweater on and enjoy the calm night. Travel for me is about relaxing and enjoying moments with friends and family. There truly is nothing better.