A FORMER Dunstable schoolboy who landed a dream job in the world’s tallest hotel will fly out with his wife to start their new life in Dubai on Friday.
Matt Cooper will begin work as the director of catering sales at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai this month after being headhunted for an interview.
He has been with the Marriott company since 2006 and worked at their Grosvenor House hotel in London from January 2011.
Matt, 28, who grew up in Derwent Drive, where his parents, Martyn and Carolyn, still live, told the Gazette: “I found out about six weeks ago that I had got the job. We’re very excited.
“Our senior sales director moved there and I told him it would be lovely for him to think of me when he’s recruiting, and I had an interview at the end of November.”
Matt will be joined by his wife of six years, Amy, 26, a project manager at the Home Retail Group.
He said: “My colleagues out there have told me that it’s not too much of a culture shock. It’s the most western country in the UAE, but I have been told that sun cream is essential.”
The 1,609-room hotel, which is due to open in October, will be the tallest structure in the world entirely dedicated to a hotel, and the world’s 12th tallest man-made structure, consisting of two towers that stand 355metres high.
It will be the first ‘Marquis’ – a mark of “excellence” – outside of North America.
When asked about the possibility of starting a family in Dubai, Matt, who was a pupil at Ashton St Peter’s Lower, Priory Middle and Manshead schools while growing up in Dunstable, said: “It’s a permanent contract so it could go on forever, could be a few years.
“The schools there are amazing. The international schools have about 10 pupils per classroom.
“Being around families from all over the world is a pretty cool thing. It’s a great place to bring up kids.”
Matt’s father was an air traffic controller at Luton Airport and he travelled the world as part of his job.
“As a kid I used to look through his passport and wish I could do the same, which is why I started working at Marriott,” he said.
> For more information about the luxury hotel, visit www.jwmarriottmarquisdubai.com.