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Mark Griffiths joins Viceroy
Mark Griffiths is now Viceroy’s regional vice-president and managing director at Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi. He will oversee operations of Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi as well as upcoming openings including Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Viceroy Princes' Islands Istanbul, Viceroy Jumeirah Village Dubai and Viceroy Algarve.
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Zeinab joins Towers Rotana
Towers Rotana Dubai welcomed Zeinab Abbas as its new front office director. Zeinab has more than nine years of work experience with the group, having worked for Gefinor Rotana, Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Arjaan by Rotana. She joins the growing number of women in senior management at Towers Rotana Dubai.
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Al Sharif promoted to hotel manager
Wael Al Sharif has been promoted from executive assistant manager to hotel manager at The Torch Doha. A Lebanese national with more than 17 years of industry experience, Al Sharif had a strong background in the food and beverage sector with Starwood Hotels and Resorts prior to joining The Torch Doha in 2012.
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North Island appoints new MD
North Island, Seychelles has announced the appointment of Bruce Simpson as managing director. He has a long-standing relationship with North Island, having personally managed it from 2004 to 2007 and then overseeing its operations while employed in various senior roles at Wilderness Safaris.
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Pittion taken on key F&B role
Jean-Yong Pittion is executive assistant manager of food and beverage for Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central and The St. Regis Macao, Cotai Central. Pittion will oversee all of the restaurants, bars and lounges and banqueting operations for both properties. He reports to Janet McNab the properties’ managing director.
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A Mediterranean touch to Time Hotels
UAE-headquartered Time Hotels has added two general managers to its cadre with Spanish national Guzman Muela taking over the reins at Time Oak Hotel & Suites, and Martin Michael Fabiano, from Italy, leading the team at Time Grand Plaza Hotel. They have a cumulative industry experience spanning four decades. “What is especially exciting about bringing both Guzman and Martin on board is their respective backgrounds. They both have a wealth of international knowledge, have clearly benefited from broad and varied experience at top hospitality brands,” said Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, Time Hotels.
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Tayoun appointed as area DOSM
Sayed Tayoun joins InterCotinental Hotels in Dubai Festival City as area director of sales and marketing with 15 years of hospitality experience and an extensive commercial background. A Lebanese national, he started his career in Beirut and has held several leadership roles with IHG in the region.
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Schneider joins as Nikki Beach GM
Nikki Beach EMEA Hotels & Resorts has appointed Alexander Schneider as general manager of the soon-to-open Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai. Schneider brings with him 15 years of hotel experience with Emirates Palace, Rixos, Grand Hyatt and Casa Camper, including invaluable pre-opening knowledge.
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Powell bags key role at Travelport
Travelport has appointed Matthew Powell as managing director in the Middle East and South Asia. Powell’s Travelport career spans two decades boasting a host of leadership roles, most recently spearheading Travelport’s India operations and leading agency commerce solutions for Africa, Middle East and South Asia.
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Park Hyatt gets Janet on board
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas has appointed Janet Abrahams as director of sales and marketing. Janet’s luxury hospitality career spans twenty years based in the UAE, Levant, Europe and Asia. She began her sales and marketing career in London and moved into international roles.
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Clive Smith moves to Abu Dhabi
Clive Smith joins as general manager at Grand Millennium Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi. Boasting 20 years’ of hospitality experience, Smith has worked around the world with InterContinental Hotel Group. Most recently, he was multi-unit general manager at Boulevard Hotel Baku, part of Absheron Group.
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Sam Jones joins Le Meridien Dubai
Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre has appointed Sam Jones as director of sales to spearhead the property’s meetings and incentives business. Jones was awarded the EAME Best Practice Award in 2013 for Suite Sales Strategy W London/Park Tower and the Top 10 TeamHOT performer of EAME in 2011.
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Loganathan joins Khalidiya Palace
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana has appointed Murugan Loganathan as the new director of engineering. Loganathan is a professional in electrical, HVAC and plumbing with more than 20 years of experience in design, development and maintenance of hotel engineering equipment.
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Warwick Dubai promotes Marwa
Marwa Mustafa has been promoted from director of sales to director of sales and marketing at Warwick Dubai. Sand he has over 15 years’ experience working in sales roles for numerous international brands across the Middle East, and moved to the UAE in 2005 with InterContinental Hotels Group.
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Coco Collection makes key appointments
Coco Collection, the iconic Maldivian luxury hospitality brand, is pleased to announce the appointment of Antony Paton as the group general manager and Andrew Ashmore as the head of sales and marketing. As group general manager, Antony Paton will oversee the operations of all three properties in the portfolio. Paton’s recent role as general manager of Galle Face Hotel in Sri Lanka saw him lead a $30m restoration and re-launch of the hotel in 2015. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Andrew Ashmore brings a wealth of experience in sales and marketing to his new role at Coco Collection. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer of Hashoo Hotels.
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Ayla Hotels & Resorts appoints Devini
Ayla Hotels & Resorts hires as marketing manager Devini Naicker, who comes with hospitality marketing experience of six years. Devini started her career in the UAE with the Jumeirah Group, moving on to Holiday Inn Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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Aman appoints regional sales director
Naveed Mohammed has been appointed by Aman as regional director of sales in the Middle East. Naveed joins Aman with more than 12 years of invaluable hospitality experience. Prior to his appointment he has worked in a senior sales role with Rosewood, Kerzner International and most recently, Rocco Forte Hotels.
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Weller joins Al Ain Rotana as EAM
Armin Weller joins Al Ain Rotana from Al Ghurair Rayhaan & Arjaan by Rotana, where he served in a similar capacity as executive assistant manager. A veteran of the hospitality industry, the German national has a strong background in culinary as well as hospitality operations in such diverse locations.