Abdullah Melhem, one of the most experienced hoteliers in the Middle East, has been appointed the general manager of the Sheraton Damascus Hotel and Towers .
Lebanese national Melhem has also been named area manager for Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Syria and Lebanon. Melhem will report to Philippe Cassis, Starwood's senior vice-president operations (Africa and Middle East). "These are exciting times for Syria and so much is happening in the Levant generally," said Melhem. "The timing of my appointment is tremendous. I don't think there is a country in the world with greater tourism potential than Syria." Melhem began his hotel career in 1973 and has so far won two general manager of the year awards (Europe, Middle East and North Africa). He holds an MBA in marketing and finance from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. His career path has included postings at Riyadh, Jeddah, Casablanca, Sanaa and Dubai.