Marriott announces opening team
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David Lance has been appointed general manager of the soon-to-open Marriott Executive Apartment and Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi. Andrew Dickson is director of operations, Nicholas A Rana is director of sales and marketing, Amr Mahmoud is director of engineering, Shaun Dean is multi-property director of revenue, Asif Ahmed is multi-property director of finance, and Petra Solle is multi-property director of human resources.
Dominic joins Al Manshar Rotana
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Al Manshar Rotana has appointed Dan Dominic as its new learning and development manager. An Indian national, Dominic holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel management from the Merit Swiss Asian School of India. He will be responsible for managing the hotel’s training function.
Ismail joins Ramada Downtown Dubai
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Ramada Downtown Dubai announces the appointment of Farrah Ismail as its new director of sales and marketing. A Malaysian national and a graduate of SHATEC International Hotel & Tourism School of Singapore, Ismail boasts 25 years of hospitality experience in Asia and the Middle East.
New DOSM joins Grand Hyatt Dubai
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Grand Hyatt Dubai has appointed Malek Safa as director of sales and marketing (DOSM). Malek has previously held several positions within Hyatt Hotels Corporations, the most recent one being DoSM of Hyatt Regency Dubai. He started his career in hospitality in 2002, when he joined Grand Hyatt Dubai’s sales team.
Clark bags first GM role
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Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi has welcomed Robert Clark as its new general manager. Clark has worked with IHG for 17 years, starting his career in his native New Zealand within rooms division and later moving into revenue management. He is married with two sons and enjoys photography and rugby.
New joiners at Marsa Malaz Kempinski
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Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha, welcomes Swiss hotelier Christoph Strahm as its new hotel manager. Strahm started his career in 2005 at Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in St Moritz, Switzerland. Meanwhile, Matyas Bak is joining the premium Qatari hotel as the director of rooms, and Asif Akash as executive housekeeper. Matyas Bak started his career in the US in 2005, before joining Kempinski Hotel Corvinus in his hometown, Budapest, Hungary, in 2006. Asif Akash started his career with Kempinski in 2004.
Rezidor bolters Mideast team
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The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the promotion of Elie Milky to vice president business development Middle East & Africa and Ramsay Rankoussi to the position of senior director business development Middle East & Africa. In addition, Alban Mabille de Poncheville has been appointed as assistant manager to support the business development team. The region is a crucial market for the hotel group; in 2015 a total of 14 new properties were signed to the group’s portfolio while 2016 started with a focused growth on Radisson RED.
Majumdar joins Amwaj Suites by Roda
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Roda Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Tarun Majumdar as Hotel manager for Amwaj Suites in Dubai. He has worked with a number of operators including Hilton Worldwide and Rotana, having started his hospitality career in 2004 as a management trainee with Hilton Charlotte & Towers.
Hirt heads Raffles Istanbul
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Christian Hirt, appointed as general manager of Raffles Istanbul, began his career as a hotel specialist in Germany and has worked in three different continents including North America, Europe and Australia. He joins from his most recent appointment in Sydney where he held the GM’s post from September 2013.
Kooheji promoted to hotel manager
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Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain has promoted Ebrahim Kooheji to the position of hotel manager with effect from April 2016. Kooheji has three decades of operations and hotel management experience with leading brands such as Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, Bahrain.
Etihad Airways appoints Nigeria GM
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Etihad Airways has appointed George Mawadri as its new general manager in Nigeria, where he will be responsible for growing Etihad Airways’ relationships with its travel trade and corporate customers while furthering the development of the airline’s commercial strategy in the country.
Roscigno heads Preferred Mena
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Preferred Hotels & Resorts has appointed Claudio Roscigno as regional director for Middle East and North Africa (Mena), based out of the brand’s new regional headquarters in Dubai. Roscigno comes with more than 15 years of industry experience and senior executive roles.
Fresh faces at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
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Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates has appointed Ahmad Nazzal as director of marketing, while Ahmed Elkiki is the hotel’s new director of engineering. Nazzal joins Kempinski from Taj Hotels and Elkiki from The Pullman Dubai Deira City Centre, where he was the director of engineering. Most recently, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates launched the Aspen Chalets, which comprise 15 luxurious Aspen Ski Chalets overlooking Ski Dubai and five Aspen Pool Chalets connected directly to the hotel infinity pool. The launch of Aspen Chalets coincides with the 10 year anniversary of the hotel and marks the completion of its refurbishment.
Peter Brun joins VFS Global
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VFS Global has appointed Peter Brun as chief communications officer, responsible for corporate communications, marketing and branding, and corporate social responsibility. A Swiss national, he joins with a rich experience of 28 years, from Kuoni Group.