Sonika Adlakha has been named as director of sales and marketing for the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort. Most recently director of sales for villa ownership for Soneva Jani and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, Sonika has the experience of three major international pre-openings under her belt.

Amer Ammar, with 25 years of hospitality experience in the region, comes onboard as the opening general manager of Avani Ibn Battuta Dubai Hotel, scheduled to welcome its first guests in November this year. The Jordanian national’s last assignment was general manager at Premier Inn Dubai Investments Park.

Kuwait’s leading luxury hotel, The Regency, announced the appointment of Chef Dirk Heinen as its new executive chef to lead a team of 100 food specialists. Coming from Germany, Chef Dirk brings over 34 years of professional culinary experience at leading hotels around the world and Kuwait City.  

Haitham Assem is Millennium Hotels and Resorts’s new regional associate director of marketing and communications for the Middle East and Africa region, overseeing 42 hotels with 14,000 keys, in addition to 10 hotels, due to open in 2019. He has a law degree and is a member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Walid El Awadly, with 25 years of experience, is the new general manager at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya. During his 17-year journey with Hyatt, he was part of the opening of several Hyatt hotels around the world and was most recently regional director of operations for Westmont Hospitality Group.

Four new leadership additions to JA Resorts & Hotels will help roll out ten new restaurant concepts opening in 2019. At JA The Resort will be Olivier Belliard, director of culinary and Kyra Bommelje, director of food & beverage. While Devid di Benimeo, cluster executive chef and Petra Humphers, cluster director of food & beverage will take charge at JA Ocean View Hotel and JA Oasis Beach Tower. 

Joining from Crowne Plaza Deira, Hossam Nabil will take charge as DOSM for Millennium Al Barsha and Millennium Atria Business Bay hotels and Millennium Montrose Executive Apartments. With 22 years of UAE hospitality experience, Hossam has also worked at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Time Hotels and Rotana Hotels.

Rotana Hotels Capital Centre, Abu Dhabi appointed Johnny LePoec as the director of food & beverage, Sam Shmayyes as director of sales and Kamal Haider (pictured here) as executive assistant manager at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana. The strategic appointments will help consolidate Rotana’s strength.