Koumendakos at Crowne Plaza Bahrain
George Koumendakos has been appointed by InterContinental Hotels Group as general manager (GM) of the Crowne Plaza Bahrain.
Previously executive assistant manager of the InterContinental Riyadh, Koumendakos brings with him extensive experience and understanding of the Middle East’s hospitality market.
Dabbas takes charge at InterCon Aqaba
Osama Dabbas has been appointed as GM of the InterContinental Aqaba Resort. The resort hotel, which is currently under construction on the shores of the Red Sea, is expected to become a popular destination when it opens next year. Dabbas has extensive knowledge of the Jordanian tourism sector.
Hoffmeyer at Grand Hyatt Dubai
Sven Hoffmeyer has been appointed director of marketing for Grand Hyatt Dubai. With 22 years’ experience in the industry, German-born Sven has a strong sales and marketing background with premium hotels in Europe. Most recently, Sven held the position of corporate director of marketing at the corporate office of Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts.
Andorff joins Le Meridien Mina Seyahi
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina has appointed Ulrike Andorff as director of rooms. A German national, Andorff has vast knowledge in front office and rooms division management in well-known hotels in Germany, Switzerland, the UK, China, Vietnam, the US and, most recently, Mauritius.
Vallance at Novotel Al Dana
Thierry Vallance has taken over as the new executive chef at Novotel Al Dana Resort, Bahrain. He comes with nine years’ experience years in one of the most luxurious hotel in Strasbourg, France, has worked with some of the greatest names in the profession and has won the Marcel Dut Trophy, a European culinary award.
Lots cooking for Knerr
The InterContinental Dubai has appointed Christian Knerr as its new executive sous chef. Knerr, who brings with him seven years’ experience was earlier working for a five-star hotel chain in Stuttgart, Germany.
Helmetag at Ajman Kempinski
Winfried Helmetag is the new executive chef at the Ajman Kempinski Hotel & Resort. He takes over responsibilities for four restaurants – Café Kranzler, Bukhara, Sabella’s and Hai Tao – as well as the various other F&B outlets in the hotel.
Changes at Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Thomas Rooch has joined The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, as director of F&B while Maya Saliba has been appointed associate director of conference and catering services. German national Rooch has worked at The Hyatt Regency, Tianjin, China, and The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai. Saliba, on the other hand, has honed her skills with leading hotels in the UAE and Canada and has over ten years’ experience in planning and organising events.
New at Mövenpick Bur Dubai
Irene Aziz Riad, formerly with the Mövenpick Hotel and Casino in Cairo, Egypt, has joined Mövenpick Bur Dubai as training manager, Sobana Malikarjun is the new executive housekeeper and Perihan Hellyer has taken over as the hotel’s PR manager.
New appointments in Mercure Doha
Mercure Grand Hotel Doha has a new GM, Gilles Longuet, who believes that, with the increase in demand for rooms, the hotel has to upgrade its facilities. There’s also a new team for the F&B department with Gilles Morin as the F&B manager and Philippe Garcon as the new executive chef. Both have been with the Accor Group for many years and have international experience.
New faces at Sheraton Jumeirah
Victory Assaf has taken over as the new director of resort of Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers while Akmal Soliman has been appointed director of operations. Assaf has moved from Mövenpick Hotel & Resort in Beirut, Lebanon, where she was the health club manager, while Soliman has been transferred from a sister hotel with a brief to increase awareness of the five-star facilities at the hotel.
New at Sheraton Deira
Areephan Sawanee has joined the Sheraton Deira Hotel & Towers management team as the director of rooms while Ehab El Gammal has been appointed as director of sales and marketing. Sawanee was previously front office manager at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers. El Gammal was director of sales and marketing at Sheraton Sana’a Hotel before moving to Dubai last year.
White joins The Spa
Rachel White has joined Spa Resources International as the new manager of The Spa, the facility located at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa. She has worked in different European product houses like Darphin, Estee Lauder Group, La Prairie and Decleor and holds a strong background in health and beauty treatments and therapies.
Ahmed bin Ghannam is EK’s Seychelles manager
Emirates has appointed Mohammed Ahmed bin Ghannam as area manager to establish its presence in Seychelles. Ghannam has taken this role after holding area manager positions in Tanzania since 2003 and in Uganda for the last two years.
Sheikh Bader joins Gulf Air
Gulf Air has appointed Sheikh Bader bin Salman bin Duaij Al Khalifa as general manager of its flagship Manama sales office in Bahrain, where he will head up the local sales team. Sheikh Bader has more than two decades of experience in the travel and tourism industry and serves as a director on the board of the Association of Bahrain Travel and Tour Agents.