New VP development for Jumeirah
Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has appointed Peter Zenneck to the newly created position of vice-president, development, for Europe and North Africa.
Peter, an American with 20 years’ experience, will be based in London and will focus on acquisitions and management contracts in those markets, driving the company’s ambitious development plans.
Sleiman moves to Golden Tulip
Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts has named Elie Sleiman its regional training mana-ger for the Middle East and North Africa. Elie brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry since his graduation from the New York State University and joins the Golden Tulip after 13 years with Intercontinental Hotels and Regency Palace Hotels, among others.
PR moves at the Ritz-Carlton, Doha
Marie Cazaux (left) has been promoted to director of public relations at the Ritz-Carlton, Doha. Beginning her career with the Ritz Paris, she has also managed public relations for the Kahala Mandarin Oriental in Hawaii, USA. She welcomes an addition to her team, PR coordinator, Annie Buckley, who moves from the the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai.
Josephine heads up Etihad USA
Etihad Airways, which flies to New York in October, has named Josephine Boulus its country manager, USA. Based in New York, she will be responsible for developing leisure and business traffic between the US and the UAE. She has more than 20 years’ airline industry experience and an extensive understanding of airline start-up activities and launch operations.
Salzer heads to Cairo
Ulrich Huth, general manager of the Cairo Marriott Palace, has appointed Benjamin J Salzer as director of revenue strategy for the Cairo Marriott Hotel. A very ambitious and goal oriented individual, he has experience in Europe and his knowledge in the revenue management, systems and strategies will give a competitive edge to the hotel.
Nobbs moved to Dubai
The Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, has named Glenn Nobbs its director of rooms. Prior to his appointment he was front office manager at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa in Oman, where he was a key member of the pre-opening team. Originally from Australia, he began his career with the hospitality chain as a front office manager in Sydney.
CEO for Corinthia Hotels International
Corinthia Hotels International, the hotel management arm of the Corinthia Group, announces the appointment of Tony Potter as chief executive officer. Potter brings with him a wealth of experience in the hotel industry, having occupied senior roles in global hotel companies throughout his career, most recently CEO with Millennium & Copthorne.
Regional role for Cooper
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced Kent Cooper its regional director, sales and marketing, Middle East and Africa. He is now responsible for overseeing sales and marketing for the region, and supporting the company’s develop-ment strategies here. SKAL member Kent will continue to be based in Dubai where he is also on the board of the Mission to Seafarers.
New pastry chef in Muscat
Swiss-born Raphael Kung has joined the Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat as pastry chef . The young talented chef holds two diplomas in sugar and chocolate art at Fabilo International Switzerland. He has worked with two of the most famous pastry shops of Switzerland followed by a season in a Relais Chateaux in Spain and the Savoy Hotel Baur-en-ville in Zurich.
Marti heads Mövenpick Doha
Markus Marti has been named the general manager of the Mövenpick Hotel, Doha. A Swiss national, he brings with him more than 15 years of experience within the Mövenpick group. He moves to Doha after successfully managing the transition period for the Mövenpick Voile D’Or Resort & Spa, Mauritius and other Mövenpick hotels in Egypt.
One up for Katerina
Katerina Fajgar moves from the Inter-Continental Dubai, where she spent four immensely challenging and enjoyable years, to head up marketing communications as director for the group’s Festival City properties, the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City and InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City.
UAE nationals pilot Air Arabia
Waleed Matar Al Neaimi (left) and Talal Al Ansari are the first UAE nationals to complete pilot training with Air Arabia and are now its first Emirati pilots. Both finished the A320 pilots’ technical and type rating course and are now in Ab-Initio Line Training. Al Ansari has worked with Falcon Express Airlines, while Al Neaimi was earlier with the UAE Air Force.
Gamal moves to the Taj
Following five years at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Gamal Sadek has joined the Taj Palace Hotel Dubai as director of sales. An Egyptian national, Gamal brings with him seven years of experience, including work at the Ritz-Carlton Sharm El Sheikh. In his new assignment, he will be in charge of all sales activities at the hotel.
Nadim to develop Al Aqah
Nadim Belbeisi heads up the sales and marketing team at the landmark Le Meridien Al Aqah, Fujairah, as director of business development. He is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the reservation, banquet sales, public relations and marketing , and oversees strategic implementation of market analysis surveys with a general hand in hotel operations.
InterCon Group appoints Holt
The InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed Clive Holt as the new area director of sales & marketing Kuwait, based at the Crowne Plaza.
Holt joined the InterContinental Group in 2001 as director of sales & marketing at Crowne Plaza, Bahrain. He has also worked as director of sales & marketing at Dusit Dubai.
Michelin chef at Conrad
The Conrad Cairo has appointed of a new Italian chef at Villa D'Este restaurant – Domenico Acampora, whose work is all about creativity, uniqueness and modern light cuisine. The 31-year old hails from Milan, where he headed the one-star Michelin restaurant, Ama. Having worked in Italy and the United States, he has cooked for Hollywood celebrities and former US Presidents.
Net Group appoints new GM
David Milican has recently assumed the position of group general manager for Net Group, a Dubai-based destination management firm. He takes over from Michelle Petermann who moves to Trawell, Net Group’s representative in Germany. Milican has over 30 years of experience in markets such as London, Turkey and Malta.
A piano player in the kitchen
Christophe Gillino has been named executive chef at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. Piano-playing Christophe, who comes from Aix en Provence in France, will oversee a vast operation, including eight dining options, banqueting, in-room dining and outside catering. He has apprenticed under Alain Ducasse, lain Senderons and Christian Willer.
New appointments at Rezidor SAS
Jacques Dubois (left) has been named senior VP, Park Inn, to strengthen the brand’s presence, its identity and to optimise revenue in various markets. Olivier Jacquin joins as senior VP, sales, marketing and distribution. Gordon McKinnon has been named executive VP, Brands, to further drive development and positioning of Rezidor SAS brands and concepts.
Morariu moves to Mövenpick Dubai
Daniel Moraiu joins the team at Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai as new recreation manager at Rooftop Fitness Center.
Moraiu brings with him extensive experience in the hospitality industry, from the Sofitel Bucharest in Romania, Hilton Creek and Hilton Jumeirah and most recently at the Grosvenor House, as the assistant health and spa manager.