On the move

Ramada Downtown hires Joshi

Mini Joshi joins Ramada Downtown Dubai as director of sales and marketing (DOSM). She will lead the sales and marketing team to drive profit and optimise hotel revenue. She will direct the business development team in generating leads, as well as reinforce the existing ties with the hotel’s key partners.

Zaboura joins Al Manshar Rotana

Imad Zaboura, who has more than 30 years of hospitality experience, has been appointed as the general manager of Al Manshar Rotana Hotel in Kuwait. He manages 180 employees providing service to the 200-room hotel, located in the heart of the oil and gas district, adjacent to Al Kout shopping mall.

Nobu Doha hires Bozoki

Four Seasons Hotel Doha has appointed Andrew Bozoki as chef de cuisine at the hotel’s highly anticipated new restaurant Nobu Doha, slated to be the world’s largest Nobu restaurant. As part of Four Seasons Hotel Doha’s 232-room luxury property, the restaurant enjoys an exclusive waterfront setting.

Joy for JacHotels.co.uk

Joy Lacana is the new manager of JacHotels.co.uk, which enables the travel trade to access net rates for 12,500 properties. She joins from Club Med, where, as transport manager, she handled the Volcano Ash crisis and as agency sales manager, she won Travel Weekly Globe and Travel Bulletin Star Awards, doubling sales.

Zaeraoui joins Novotel Dubai

Four-star luxury hotel Novotel Dubai Al Barsha has appointed Souffian Zaeraoui as hotel director. Zaeraoui’s association with Accor started in 2007, when he joined the Novotel Cardiff Centre as food and beverages services manager. In 2009, he joined the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel rooms department.

Chedi appoints new spa director

The Chedi Muscat has welcomed a new spa director, Nazley Mohamed, to its expert team of staff. South Africa-born Nazley Mohamed will oversee the 800-square metre, Asian-inspired spa. She began her professional career as spa operations manager at Steiner Trans Ocean in Miami.

Beyina-Moussa is AFRAA president

Fatima Beyina-Moussa, is president of African Airlines Association (AFRAA) after having headed Congo’s national airline since its creation in 2011. A graduate of HEC Montreal with an MBA from the University of Ottawa, she obtained a postgraduate degree in International Economics in Paris.

Bautista joins Hawthorn

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and Ramada Downtown Dubai have appointed Abigail Bautista as cluster marketing manager for the two hotels. Bautista is responsible for the development and implementation of marketing strategies to reinforce the positioning of the hotels in their respective markets.

Pegasus names Scott Gibson CEO

Pegasus Solutions has named Scott Gibson chief executive officer. An industry veteran and experienced technology executive, Gibson assumes the role following the recent purchase of Pegasus by Regent Equity Partners. Most recently, he served as chief information officer and senior vice-president.

Jumeirah appoints new GMs

Jumeirah Group has appointed new general managers at Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Mallorca and Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai. Jordi E Tarrida will take over from Fernando Gibaja (pictured here) who has moved from Spain to Dubai to embark on a new role as general manager of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray.

Virgin makes appointments

Virgin Atlantic Airways has appointed Terry Smith (pictured here) as manager of sales for the Middle East. Based in Dubai, Smith will support and deliver on the airline’s sales strategy for the UAE and GCC markets. Nick Parker has been appointed country head – India and Middle East.

Habtoor Grand gets new manager

The Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa has appointed Khalid Saeed as hotel manager. Saeed has more than 15 years of experience in the UAE’s hospitality industry, having worked with Al Habtoor across its portfolio of properties. He was the general manager of the Metropolitan Hotel Deira for three years.

New team for Hawthorn Suites

Hawthorn Suites has announced key appointments in the hotel: Osman Nasir (pictured here) is director of sales and marketing, Brian D’ Souza has been appointed assistant food and beverage manager, and Bassem Mohammed Al Switey is the new housekeeping manager.

Courtyard by Marriott hires team

Courtyard by Marriott has hired an executive team to lead its new Abu Dhabi property. Headed up by Richard Bleakley, who has taken on the role of general manager, the team includes Saad Al Ghamdi, Shaun Dean, Boby Jacob, Olwin De Souza, Petra Solle and Asif Ahmed.

Gaillard appointed GM

French national Cedric Gaillard has joined Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown as the property’s general manager. His career with IHG spans over 15 years, during which he has served in various successive positions in conference and banquet services, food and beverage and operations management.