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New GM at Mövenpick Ibn Battuta
Michael Nugent has been appointed general manager of the Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate Dubai. With over seven years’ experience with the brand, Nugent was previously general manager of Mövenpick Hotel and Apartments Bur Dubai and most recently Mövenpick Hotel Deira.
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Jumeirah appoints Kopera
Jumeirah Group has appointed Gert F. Kopera as senior vice president food and beverage. For the past 15 years Kopera was with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts as vice president food and beverage where he oversaw the F&B operations, F&B strategy as well as conceptual F&B design for the brand.
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Rezidor appoints Eikeland
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced Frank Normann Eikeland as general manager for the Radisson Blu Resort El Quesier in Egypt. Eikeland joins the team in El Quesier from his previous position at Park Inn by Radisson, Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he was general manager since 2010.
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New DOSM at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi
Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi has appointed Stefan van der Kruyf as director of sales and marketing. Van der Kruyf has worked in senior capacities with Le Meridien, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton groups around the world. Most recently, he was the director of sales and marketing at Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah.
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Mahran joins Taj Palace Dubai
Taj Palace Dubai has appointed Mohamed Mahran as new revenue and reservations manager. Mahran brings experience from global hotel chains including IHG, Steigenberger and Mövenpick. He joined the Al Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi as reservations manager to associate revenue manager and then revenue manager.
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BelleVue Amman appoints new GM
Amlak Hotels & Tourism Investment Company announced the appointment of Ahmed Sherif as general manager for BelleVue Hotel Amman. Sherif’s experience in the Hospitality Industry extends 30 years with Sheraton Hotels and Accor Hotels in Egypt and UAE in addition to Nile Cruises and Hotel Management companies.
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Tunac joins Radisson Dubai Media City
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City recently welcomed Zeynep Tunac as meetings and events manager. Tunac has previously worked for the Hilton Worldwide Hotel Group in Turkey and in the UAE in several senior positions. She joins her new role to further pursue her passion for Meetings and Events.
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Mafraq Hotel appoints Scotto
Mario Scotto has been appointed as general manager of Mafraq Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Scotto joined Mafraq Hotel in October 2012. Prior to his new role, he was group general manager at the Safeer Hotel Group in Oman, Muscat, City Seasons Hotel Group and Flora Hotel Group in Dubai.
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New staff at Bin Majid Hotels
Bin Majid Hotels has announced the appointment of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Aguado (left) as the new director of operations for Mangrove Hotel. Aguado has previously served as general manager of luxury hotels and resorts in Tunis and Dominican Republic. Berk Ozkeresteci joins as director of food and beverage.
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New role for Chef Melianos
Stefanos Melianos has been promoted to executive chef at Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre. Chef Melianos comes with a wealth of experience from Kempinski’s in Bahrain, Jordan and Djibouti as well as other luxury hotels in Germany, Switzerland and UAE.
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St Regis Doha welcomes Al Huneidi
The St Regis Doha has appointed Amin Al Huneidi as director of sales, to provide greater focus and support for corporate and government clients. Al Huneidi joins St Regis Doha from Al Sondos Suites and Dar Al Sondos Hotel Apartments by Le Meridien in Dubai. He joined Starwood Hotels in 2002 as sales manager at the Sheraton Amman.
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Golden Tulip appoints Palacin
Christian Palacin was recently appointed at the Golden Tulip Galleria Hotel in Beirut as general manager. Palacin brings over 20 years of experience with Intercontinental Hotels and Starwood Hotels across Asia and the Middle East. Prior to joining Golden Tulip in Beirut he was general manager with Sheraton Hotels in Tunisia and Algeria.
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New role for Van Velzen
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi has welcomed Patrick van Velzen as executive chef for all their 14 outlets. Van Velzen’s experience includes his role as head chef at one Michelin star restaurant Klein Paardenburg in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and his own restaurant, Brasserie Delikket in Amsterdam and Zin Restaurant in Loosdrecht.
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Regent Bali appoints Thio
Regent Bali, the seaside resort opening June 2013, has announced the appointment of Debby Thio as director of sales and marketing. Prior to joining Regent Bali, Thio was area director of sales and marketing for Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts when she oversaw the opening of the Banyan Tree Lang Co in Central Vietnam.
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New chief at Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic Airways has appointed Craig Kreeger as its new chief executive. He joins from American Airlines (AA), where he has held a 27-year career spanning commercial, financial and strategic roles in the US and around the globe. Kreeger, 53, succeeds current CEO, Steve Ridgway, who is retiring from the airline.
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Stewart-Cox joins Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific Airways has appointed Charlie Stewart-Cox as general manager – South Asia, Middle East and Africa. Stewart-Cox will be responsible for overseeing the business and operations of Cathay Pacific and Dragonair in the three regions based in Mumbai, India. Previously, he was general manager Inflight Services.
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Etihad Airways appoints Huynh
Etihad Airways has appointed Frédéric Huynh Quan Dat as its general manager for Vietnam. Huynh began his aviation career as an analyst with Air France and has held several roles in France, Lebanon and the UAE. Prior to joining Etihad Airways, he was Air France KLM’s manager for International and Netherlands corporate policy.
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New role for Riccio-Smith
Dusit Thani Dubai has appointed Assia Riccio-Smith as assistant learning and development manager. Assia joins Dusit Thani Dubai after five years overseeing the front of house at a prestigious property in Oxfordshire, UK. Previous to her move from Italy, she studied at the Ecole Hotelier de Lausanne in Switzerland and Cornell University.
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Baros Maldives appoints Shuhan
Baros Maldives has appointed Maldivian-born Ahmed Shuhan as resort manager. Shuhan joined Baros as human resources manager in 2006 and advanced to front office manager and later executive assistant manager in 2012. Shuhan’s appointment is in keeping with the resort’s emphasis on creating a Maldivian approach to holiday hospitality.
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Singh moves to Al Raha Beach
Al Raha Beach Hotel Abu Dhabi has appointed Rajesh Kumar Singh as director of sales. Singh brings 18 years of hospitality experience having worked with Hyatt Regency, Choice International and Rezidor Hotels. He was previously regional assistant director of sales and marketing with the Auris Hotel Group in Dubai.