On the move

Emaar Hospitality appoints Viard

Emaar Hospitality Group has appointed Stefan Viard as general manager of Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels. He was earlier hotel manager and acting general manager at The Address Dubai Mall. Viard joined Emaar Hospitality Group in August 2008 as executive assistant manager, food and beverage for The Address Dubai Marina.

Rotana announces new GMs

Rotana announced Daniel Mathew (right) from Rose Rayhaan by Rotana Dubai as general manager of Centro Sharjah and Karim Nahas from the Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Sharm El Sheikh takes Mathew’s previous position. Mathew joined Rotana in 2008 with the pre-opening team of Rose Rayhaan by Rotana as general manager.

Dusit Dubai expands its sales team

Dusit Thani Dubai’s sales team has gone from strength to strength as it welcomed Iryna Peresada (right) as sales manager with the responsibility of driving the corporate sector forward. Joining Peresada, Nabil Habachi joins as assistant business development manager, to drive sales within the GCC region as well as identifying sector markets and clients.

Ayla Al Ain strengthen team

Ayla Hotel in Al Ain has welcomed cluster training manager, Ariel Atabug (right) and Christopher D’Costa as food and beverage and banquet manager. Atabug was previously training manager for Habtoor Hotels and later learning and development manager of the Gloria Hotel while D’Costa has been part of IHG for 20 years in Oman and UAE.

IHG apppoints Tayoun

Sayed Tayoun was recently appointed Intercontinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) area director of sales and marketing in Abu Dhabi. Tayoun joined IHG in 2005 as a senior sales manager and has held several positions across IHG hotels in Abu Dhabi. He was previously director of sales and marketing with the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi.

Rotana appoints Adey

Rotana announced the joining of Andrew Adey in the capacity of associate vice president of sales and revenue for UAE. Adey brings with him considerable experience in hotel related sales and revenue from his 17 years in the industry, out of which 14 years were with the Marriott Hotel Group in various positions.

New role for Assar

Mohamed Assar has been promoted to executive assistant manager of The K Hotel, Bahrain, from his previous position as director of sales and marketing, a role he held for over two years. He also held similar roles in other properties in the Kingdom including Regency Intercontinental and Banyan Tree Al Areen Hotels and Resorts.

Ritz-Carlton DIFC strengthens team

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre has strengthened its leadership team, with four new appointments. Rania Keedy (right) joins as director of sales and marketing, Lorenzo Maraviglia as director of F&B, Benny Darsana as director of human resources and Hannah George as director of public relations.

Promotion for Hamamah

Tamim Hamamah has been promoted to director of human resources from his former role as HR manager at the Grand Millennium Dubai. Hamamah has been working in the HR sector for a decade joined the hotel in its pre-opening phase in 2007, and now heads up a team of 360 staff members.

Kempinski MOE appoints Hemaprabha

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai welcomes Pamini Hemaprabha as executive housekeeper. Hemaprabha joins Kempinski from the Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers in Cairo, Egypt where she was director of housekeeping. During her tenure in Egypt she launched the Housekeeper’s Association in Cairo, a first for the country.

New appointments for Rotana

Rotana has appointed four key executives for Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana, opening this month. Mark McCarthy (right) joins as general manager, Armin Weller as F&B director for both properties, Joachim Textor joins as executive chef while Afrah Hamdy is the new spa director for Zen the Spa at Rotana.

Mabire joins Kempinski Bahrain

The Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre has appointed Sari Mabire as the new public relations manager. Mabire joins the luxury European chain with a wealth of experience from various positions in Gulf Air and was most recently in the publishing and media field in the Kingdom.

Etihad appoints Qatar manager

Etihad Airways has appointed Houssam Weiss as its general manager for Qatar. Houssam has worked in the airline industry for 17 years holding different managerial commercial positions for Swiss International Airlines,  Gulf Air and Emirates Airlines in the Middle East and in the UK.

New chef joins Ibn Battuta Gate

The Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate has welcomed Marco de Wildt as the hotel’s new executive chef. Chef Marco joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in 2006 for the opening of the group’s hotel in Amsterdam and spent the last two looking after culinary operations for the company’s three hotels in the Netherlands.

Al Hokair appoints Anib

The Al Hokair Group has appointed Khalid Anib as managing director for its Hotels Division. Anib’s has previously spent over 14 years with Accor as general manager of the Pullman City Centre Hotel & Residence Dubai. Prior to his new role, he was with Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in Bahrain.

Onyx appoints Bhalla

The Onyx Hospitality Group has appointed Amrita Bhalla as chief people officer. Bhalla brings experience from brands including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and The Oberoi Group. Most recently she was the executive vice president of human resources at The Oberoi Group also overseeing the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development.

New sales team at Dusit

Dusit International has appointed two new sales managers to boost their European business. Simon Trengove-Jones is the group’s new regional director of sales, Europe while Marie-Rose Vesterling (right) joins as senior sales manager, Europe. Trengove-Jones was previously director of sales for Café Royal Hotel – The Set Hotels.

Pei appointed at Paramount Hotels

The Paramount Hotels & Resorts has appointed Yong Pei as its vice president operations and development NE and SE Asia. Pei joins PHR from Wyndham where he was director of operations for Asia Pacific, following other senior positions held across the region with Accor, Solare Hotels, Morgan Stanley and Ritz Carlton and Hyatt.

Hellot joins Jumeirah Creekside

The Jumeirah Creekside Hotel has appointed Christian Hellot as director of sales and marketing. With over 10 years of managerial experience, Hellot was previously with the Intercontinental Hotels where he held the post of regional vice president of sales and marketing for their properties in Florida and in Beverly Hills.

New chef at Park Regis

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel Dubai announced Tengku Norlinda Binti Tengku Ali as the htoel’s  new sous chef. Prior to her new posting, Chef Tengku was with Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa Dubai, serving as sous chef of its Fusion Restaurant as well as Maya by Richard Sandoval.