Exclusive Interview with Sacha Boulesteix

He is the Operations Manager in the most popular beach club in the region; Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE. The multiple award winner venue recently received the Best Beach Venue award in both, Time Out Dubai Nightlife Awards and HYPE Music And Nightlife Awards. We met the charming Sacha Boulesteix, from Paris, to hear his personal secrets of how to be a successful Operations Manager in a extremely popular venue as the Spanish beach concept; Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE.
 
Tell us more about you background?
I was seasoned and groomed in France and I took my first managerial position in Ibiza, Spain, as a Bar Manager in a famous cocktail bar where I became bilingual at the age of 20.
 
I started my career at Blue Marlin Ibiza in Cala Jondal, Ibiza, in 2010. I was the VIP Floor Manager for four seasons, overviewing a team of over 30 employees. During the winters I was working as a Club Manager in London and in Montreal in two very high-end venues, overviewing teams over 40 employees. I moved to Dubai about 5 years ago to work for Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE and the Demind group, since I really appreciated the vision and the career growth that was offered to me.
 
I was a part of the management team at The Act Dubai in 2014. During my first year, The Act Dubai won the award for Best New Club by Time Out Dubai, which was a great achievement for me in my career in Dubai and UAE. By winning the award, it motivated me to aim and soar higher, setting my own benchmarks within my world of hospitality and tourism in UAE. Today, I am the operations manager of a multi-winning beach club Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, overviewing over 150 employees.
 
How did you end up in the nightlife scene?
Since I was 16 years old I showed interest in nightlife and I always wanted to access the cool places to be, organizing college parties and always finding a way to have fun. Also music is something I can’t live without so the choice wasn’t hard to make.
 
Tell us more about Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, which was launched in 2012, is located in Ghantoot Al Jazira Island, Abu Dhabi. In 2016, the beach club celebrated a great feat, winning the Best Beach Venue award in both, Time Out Dubai Nightlife Awards as well as HYPE Music And Nightlife Awards.

The beach club spreads over two floors, catering to more than one experience within its contemporary settings. Upon arrival, the sound of Ibiza tunes lures guests into the architectural haven surrounded by white canopies and contrasting clear turquoise waters.
 
The beachfront offers a place to indulge in the cool waters of the island’s lush bay, minimalistic sun loungers, signature cocktails and music from an infamous selection of DJs and multiple-instrument live acts from around the world. With the restaurant located by the beach, late breakfast, lazy lunches and gourmet creations are served-up in the comfort of your private cabana. The fusion cuisine at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, offers the delights of the Mediterranean with an oriental influence, where all dishes are prepared with the freshest ingredients sourced from around the world.
 
Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE follows the concept of Blue Marlin Ibiza located in Spain’s party capital, an island that was born out of a hippie lifestyle where people released their inner hedonist. BMI UAE’s resident DJ’s Jixo & Danz as well as Frederick Stone were voted best DJ’s in their style and category in the UAE. The outdoor beach club is mostly known for welcoming some of the biggest names in the house music industry from around the world. If you want to hear quality house music, BMI UAE is the place to go.
 
Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE brings the biggest DJ’s names within the deep house category; Sven Vath, Behrouz, Damian Lazarus, Lee Burridge, Jackmaster, Davide Squillace, Maya Jane Cole, Black Coffee, Joseph Capriati, Marco Carola, Kenny Glasgow, Hot Since 82 and Luciano amongst others. The legendary Carl Cox will enter the stage this Friday May 6!
 
Congratulations to the two awards for the Best Beach Club in Dubai 2015! Why did you think Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE won?
I think that Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE won the award thanks to our attention to details and consistency of service provided to our customers in general. Also the efficiency of our staff that always bring the client the best service with a smile.
 
Most of the staff in the management and marketing team are the same people since the opening of the venue, they are the most talented and creative people I ever worked with. We are passionate hard worker friends that love what we do.
 
What are the challenges to keep a beach club concept successful in Dubai?
The initial vision of the concept needs to be consistent and clear for all employees to always strive in the same direction. One of the challenges that are hard to control is the weather condition, you always need to be creative and plan your events ahead according to the forecast, sometimes you get unfortunate surprises!
 
What challenges do you face in terms of operating such a large and crowded venue as Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE?
Challenges are what give us adrenaline and I personally love it! My biggest challenge would be the venue capacity; I wish I could have a bigger beach club to accommodate everybody.
 
What do you think are the main differences between the nightlife scene in Dubai compared to Ibiza?
The main difference between Dubai and Ibiza is that Ibiza is a summer place that Dubai-living crowd are dreaming about while they work all year.
 
It might sound funny but I would qualify the lifestyle in Ibiza richer than in Dubai! Yes, there are things that money can’t buy which is the soul and spirit. Ibiza is surrounded of peace and it just makes you feel better everyday. However to do career and become a name within the nightlife industry, Dubai is definitely the place to be and the new business center of the world.
 
What is your personal secret to become as successful as you are, in nightlife?
I will never forget where I come from and never get too confortable at work as I never take anything for granted. Leading your team by example and with your knowledge in the business is one of the main keys for me. You can become an excellent manager without becoming a good leader, but you cannot be an excellent leader without becoming a good manager. 
 
What’s your opinion of the Dubai nightlife in general? What are you missing and what do you like?
Dubai Nightlife is very entertaining! Something is always happening everyday in different places, there is no time to rest! I think Dubai has too much to offer right now and it’s getting difficult to be everywhere in such a short time as music need to stop at 3.00am sharp. I miss the times when I was still able to choose between a  few places and I could be sure to find all my friends there to have a great party, nowadays it is nearly impossible.



Text: Emma Sjolin
Photo: Private