(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Nemo Acimovic is the new general manager at the Millennium Corniche Abu Dhabi but his heart beats an extra pound when he sees his road bike. His adventures include sensational ride up from the lowest point on the Earth and grinds on Tour de France route. And all this he did for charity.
The Serbian has been in the hotel and hospitality industry since 1990 and worked at various Hilton and Starwood brands. Acimovic said his cycling exploits happened by chance and not by choice.
"I had a liking for cycling from my early days. But in 2012, I had an opportunity to do a charity ride as Le Meridien was supporting needy children through Unicef. It was the fifth anniversary of the event and 26 executives from Europe, the Middle East and Africa got together. We cycled a leg of four days over 570km from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc through number of climbs to Monte Carlo. Each rider had a goal to collect 500 euros to this charity and I collected 2,500 euros. Each day had two climbs on Tour de France legs. It was a grueling session."
Acimovic also had a memorable run in Jordan.
"In 2014, I did Dead Sea-Red Sea charity ride in Amman. This ride is 240km-long and you start from the lowest end of the Earth under the sea level - Dead Sea - and you finish up in Red Sea. It was a flat ride but very challenging as you start below sea level and you climb over 400m in elevation. It's a constant climb with headwind for half of the race and it rained too," he remembered.
"I did an eight-hour cycling leg of 225km from Dubai to Fujairah for a charity event. It goes through Hatta Mountain to Fujairah. I also practised at the Al Qudra Cycle track in Dubai and Al Wathba desert in the Capital."
Cycling routine
"I do 150-200km a week of serious cycling. I ride from city to Yas Island and back or from city to Shahama and back. I also cycle with Al Raha Cycling group for 100km-leg - Etihad Plaza to Shahama and back through Yas Island. I am part of cycling group called Serb UAE - a group of Serbians who live in the UAE."
In last four years he has cycled 10,000km. He has got a watch to measure his distance covered.
"Every week I cycle in Yas Island. The Formula One track is safe and secure. I also cycle with my family. We got out on Friday or Saturday. My boys do a shorter leg of 15km, and I do 50km with my wife."
Future adventures
"I will take part in Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge at the Al Qudra Cycle track on December 15. I also plan to take part in Triathlon, but I need to work on swimming and running."
He is a keen follower of the Abu Dhabi Tour. "This is good for Abu Dhabi to showcase itself and also good for the tourism industry."
The government here is doing more than any other government to promote cycling, he said.
"Couple of years back, I was on the track when His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, himself was promoting fitness at Train Yas event. Since then, the nationals have taken to cycling in a big way.
Nemo added that he will continue with charity rides. "It was a challenge for a good cause and has grown on me. When you help the needy children through such organised rides, you don't think about your four days of suffering. The more I could do I would."
Riding to top in career
In his professional life too, he has successfully climbed the ladder.
"I started from the very bottom of hospitality industry as a busboy at a London restaurant in 1990. I worked my way up to a bar attender. In 1992, I moved to Sydney and joined Hilton to get promoted to bar manager." He went onto work at few other places in the hospitality industry.
"In 2006, I got an opportunity to move to Abu Dhabi as director of food and beverage at Hilton. In 2008, I stepped up to deputy general manager at Le Royal Meridien. In 2010, I was off to an assignment in Kuwait as Le Meridien complex general manager. After six months, I returned to Abu Dhabi as Le Meridien general manager. In 2016, I joined Millennium Corniche as a general manager."
Ashwani Kumar Share
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