Jean-Pierre Mainardi has taken over as the new general manager at the Nile Hilton hotel in Cairo, succeeding veteran hotelier Hasan Hamza who has retired after 32 years with the Hilton group.

Koos Klein, president Hilton International, Asia Pacific Middle East, announced Mainardi's appointment. Mainardi took over on April 1.

Mainardi comes to the Nile Hilton with many years of professional experience with Hilton International. He started his career with Hilton International by joining Paris Hilton in 1973.

His career took him to many parts of the globe, starting in Europe as banquet manager of Orly Hilton, then assistant food and beverage manager of Brussels Hilton, and then of London Hilton on Park Lane, and back to Paris Hilton in 1979 as food & beverage manager.

Mainardi then moved to Asia, and was promoted to executive assistant manager of Bangkok Hilton, then as general manager and country director of Lahore Hilton, Pakistan.

The next move was to the Middle East as general manager of Bahrain Hilton, then on to Turkey as opening general manager of Hilton Mersin, and Hilton Resort Antalya.

He returned to Europe as general manager Strasbourg Hilton, then of Glasgow Hilton, then on to his last posting before the Nile Hilton, as general manager of one of London's finest heritage hotels, the Langham Hilton for four and a half years.

Mainardi's predecessor, Hamza began his management career at the Nile Hilton in 1970.

In 1972 he moved to Al Ain Hilton as rooms division manager, then was promoted to executive assistant manager at Kuwait Hilton. In 1978, he was appointed area director of sales and marketing for the Gulf Region based at Dubai Hilton.

He returned to the Nile Hilton in 1979 as senior executive assistant manager and was promoted to resident manager. From 1983 to 1986, he was the pre-opening general manager of Luxor Hilton.

Hamza and family moved to Nairobi, Kenya for two years, and then on to Addis Ababa Hilton, Ethiopia as general manager. He returned to Cairo as general manager of the Nile Hilton, where he was chosen by Hilton International as "Manager of the Year" 1991 worldwide.

From 1992-1998, Hamza became general manager of Nairobi Hilton and vice president for Sub Sahara Africa, culminating in yet another return to Cairo Nile Hilton as general manager and vice president Africa & Egypt.

Meanwhile, Karim Nahas has been appointed manager for Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza in Egypt, which will be opened soon.

After graduation from the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management in Alexandria, he joined the Ramses Hilton in 1989 as Room Clerk then moved in 1992 to Hilton Fayrouz Resort where he occupied several posts in Front Office till he was promoted in 1996 to become Rooms Division Manager.

In November 1999, Nahas became the Executive Assistant Manager of Hilton Sharm Dreams and then moved in the same capacity to Hilton Nuweiba Coral Resort for one year.