Kurt Ritter, the president and CEO of Rezidor SAS Hospitality, has been named 'Corporate Hotelier of the World 2002', in this year's Hoteliers of the Year Awards organised by the US-based publication Hotels, the magazine for the worldwide hotel industry.

Over 60,000 readers of the magazine were invited to vote for the Corporate Hotelier of the World from a proposed group of prominent industry figures. Judging across the individual's achievements, performance and vision, not for the company in which they serve, but for the industry as a whole as well.

*****

Veteran hotelier Thomas Tapken has taken charge as general manager of the Movenpick Hotel Doha. Tapken also oversees the Sealine Beach Resort, the beach resort that is 45 minutes from Doha. Tapken has more than 20 years of experience around the world and was most recently general manager of the Bangkok's Amari Watergate Hotel, where he spent a total of more than nine years. Trained as a chef, Tapken also runs marathons and does mountain biking.

*****

Sheraton Oman Hotel welcomes Naseer Saleh Mohammed Al Balushi, its new sales executive. Al Balushi shall be looking after the government sector.

He started his career at the Sheraton Oman Hotel as a GSA from where he moved forward to the credit and collection department at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel.

When asked, he stated that, "I am always on the lookout for future opportunities that come my way."