Kempinski Hotels & Resorts has appointed Ulrich Eckhardt as area vice president-managing director, Middle East.

A seasoned hotelier, Eckhardt has an impressive track record, with more than 35 years experience in a variety of senior positions for prestigious hotel groups, such as ITT Sheraton Corporation.

He joined the Kempinski Group in 1995 as senior vice president - Latin America & Carribbean, based in Brazil, followed by a posting as managing director of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center in China.

Eckhardt arrived in the UAE in 1998 to oversee the final months of construction and pre-opening phase of the Ajman Kempinski Hotel & Resort, a luxury five star hotel and the first beach resort of the prestigious group, which he has managed ever since.

Kempinski Hotels & Resorts recently became the first international hotel group to sign up for a prime spot on the Palm Island development in Dubai.

It has also signed management contracts for a futuristic hotel in the Egyptian capital of Cairo and a new resort in Sahl Hashish on the Red Sea, both scheduled to open in 2003.

Other new developments include takeovers of existing hotels in Marrakesh, St Moritz and Buenos Aires, increasing Kempinski's prestigious portfolio to 36 luxurious properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Australasia.