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Omar appointed as Gulf Hotel GM
Bahrain-based Gulf Hotels Group has appointed Rahim Abu Omar as general manager for The Gulf Hotel and Gulf Convention Centre. Omar brings around 30 years of international hotel management the UAE, UK and Lebanon. He played an instrumental role in opening five hotels, including Metropolitan, Habtoor Grand in Dubai and Beirut.
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Galea is executive chef
Justin Galea has been appointed as executive chef of Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi. The hotel will introduce additional restaurants as part of its extensive renovation currently under way. He comes to the region with culinary experience from Australia and Scotland.
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Rattan is DOSM
Emirates Grand Hotel has announced the appointment of Rohit Rattan as director of sales and marketing. He brings 14 years of sales experience in hospitality having held various posts with properties including Rixos The Palm Dubai, Wafi Hospitality Division, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.
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Grand Hyatt gets new hotel manager
Grand Hyatt Dubai has appointed Kifah Bin Hussein as its new hotel manager. Hussein brings 15 years of experience in food and beverage, having started his career with Hyatt in 1998 in Jordan. Prior to this he was at Grand Hyatt Dubai where he spearheaded the launch and rebranding of several key food and beverage concepts within Hyatt Dubai hotels.
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Key role for Massoud
Dubai-based PHR FZ-LLC, the licensee behind the new Paramount-branded hospitality concept – Paramount Hotels & Resorts, has appointed Noel Massoud as vice president development to spearhead the group’s development in key markets.
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Promotion for Farhat
Crowne Plaza Dubai has promoted Georges Farhat from hotel manager to acting general manager. He comes with more than 25 years’ experience in hospitality, starting out in Canada in the 1980s, and 20 years of which have been with InterContinental Hotel Group where he joined as a management trainee in 1994.
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Govindasamy to redefine wellness
Gopal Govindasamy has joined Six Senses Spa at the Pacific City Club as the spa and wellness director. He brings 11 years’ experience in alternative medicine and yogic science to the private club in Bangkok. Previously he worked in JCI-accredited Saad Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia and Anantara Si-Kao and Anantara Phuket Resorts and Spa.
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Talaat becomes sales director
Dusit International Middle East has appointed Ahmed Talaat as director of sales. He takes up his new role from his most recent post as assistant director of sales at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman. Previous positions include assistant director of global sales with Hyatt Worldwide and Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts.
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New director at Six Senses Spa, Oman
The Six Senses Spa at Oman’s Six Senses Zighy Bay has welcomed new members to its team. Souhel El-Achbah joins as spa director. He boasts 16 years of industry experience from within Europe and the Middle East.
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Etihad announces regional GMs
Etihad Airways has announced three regional appointments. Juan Torres (right) becomes general manager for the Philippines from March, while Joan Mwanki has been appointed as general manager for Nairobi, Kenya. Christophe Didier has been appointed as general manager for Brazil.
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New head for Travelport OTA
Travelport has appointed Michael van der Ende as head of Online Travel Agencies (OTA) for the Middle East, Africa and India. He joins Travelport from dnata Travel (part of the Emirates Group) where he held the position of B2C manager. He brings a wealth of experience from the OTA sector having held senior positions in Europe with lastminute.com and Opodo.
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Thouvard joins Dusit Phuket
Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket has appointed Denis J Thouvard as general manager. Thouvard previously held the position of area general manager at the Centara Grand Beach Resort in Karon Beach, Phuket. He brings more than 20 years of experience in five-star hotels and resorts throughout Thailand, Hong Kong, France and the UK.
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Troon welcomes Ali
Troon Golf has appointed Sara Ali as its new director of human resources based in Abu Dhabi. She will oversee all associates and human resource processes for Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Troon’s flagship properties in the Emirate.
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Hilton shuffles GMs
Hilton Worldwide has announced a clutch of general manager appointments at four of its key hotels. Andreas Jersabeck (right) has been appointed as general manager, Conrad Dubai. Adham El Sebaey will take up reins at Hilton Doha. Jacques Claudel joins Hilton Al Ain and Raouf Benchedli joins Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa.
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New role for Karameh
The Grand Millennium Dubai has appointed Shadi Karameh as director of sales. He joins the hotel from the Dubai sales office of the Raffles Praslin – Seychelles where he was the assistant director of sales for two years. Prior to that, Shadi was director of business development at Bon Tours and also worked at the JA Resorts and Hotels.