Makonye joins Fujairah Rotana
Yvonne Makonye has joined Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa as marketing and communications executive. She has been in real estate development and sales in the USA. She returned to her home country Zimbabwe briefly where she was sales & marketing manager for The Kingdom at Victoria Falls.
New appointments at Marriott ME
Ibrahim Barghout (left) is general manager for the Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments Doha City Center. Gareth Greening moves from the London Marriott to join the pre-opening team of the same hotels in Doha, as director of sales and marketing for all three.
Promotion for Chatzipetros
General manager Nikolaos Chatzipetros of Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resorts has been appointed as a vice president, operations at Hamra Hotels & Resorts. He has worked in the USA, Italy, UAE, Greece, Caribbean, Switzerland and for luxury cruise liners.
Key officials join Al Bustan
Al Bustan Centre and Residence has appointed Hanna Makhlouf (left) as director of finance and Krishna Sehgal as director of human resources. Both bring with them a wealth of experience having worked in the hotel industry across the region. Makhlouf will concentrate on financial planning.
Reed bolsters ME management
Reed Travel Exhibitions has appointed Nadège Noblet as regional account manager, Middle East & North Africa. She joins Reed from Marketing Pro-Junction, a Dubai based PR & Marketing company. Prior to this she was assistant director of communications & PR at Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spa.
New GM’s at Jumeirah
Heinrich Morio (left) takes charge as general manager at the Burj Al Arab. He was previously GM at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Margaret Paul has now moved into this position. Prior to the new appointment Paul worked as pre-opening general manager for Jumeirah Business Bay in Dubai.
Movenpick’s Nile moves
Movenpick Nile Cruises Egypt promoted Ahmed Nagi to deputy director of sales, and this includes the Mِvenpick M/S Royal Lotus, M/S Royal Lily, M/S Prince Abbas and The Nile Cruisers Radamis I & II. Nader Mansour joins Mِvenpick Resort El Sokhna as sales manager.
Saraya appoints Barbir
Saraya Sochi has appointed Samih Barbir, as general manager of Saraya Sochi, Russia. Barbir was previously with Vocalpad Inter-national Beirut, Lebanon where he was in charge of business development with governmental agencies, investor’s suppliers and banks.
New appointments at Media Rotana Dubai
Alan Grimes (left) has been appointed outlet manager for the upcoming Nelson’s bar in Media Rotana Dubia, and Steve White joins as sous chef. White worked earlier as sous chef at The Hilton Manchester Deansgate immediately before joining Media Rotana Dubai.
Amadeus appoints Cuesta
Amadeus technology and distribution solutions promoted Fernando Cuesta to executive director, MEA. Prior to this, Cuesta was senior regional manager for MEA. He joined Amadeus as manager, business development (America and Europe) in 2000, where he was responsible for e-commerce.
New GM at Hotel Jal Fujairah
JAL Hotels has promoted Christian Rainalter as general manager for Hotel JAL Fujairah Resort & Spa. He joined the hotel in June 2006 as assistant general manager, and brings with him previous experience as operations manager and F&B manager at the Hilton Dubai Creek.
Abu-Baker joins Al Murooj
Al Murooj Rotana Dubai recently welcomed Fares Abu-Baker as its new business development manager. Fares started his career with Inter-Continental Hotels Group and was also with Accor, Kempinski and Habtoor Hotels. Fares brings with him a wide range of experience.
Lawrence joins Sheraton Dammam
Bruce Lawrence has been appointed director at the Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers as Spa & Wellness centre. He has been actively involved in the PA and fitness sector for 15 years and recently worked with Campbell Gray Hotels in England, Antigua and Beirut.
Pastry chef joins Sharq Village
Rodrigo Vizarretea is now pastry chef of Sharq Village and Spa. The Mexican born chef will oversee all bakery operations for the food and beverage outlets of the resort. He has worked in various award winning kitchens in Mexico. Chef Rodrigo came to the Middle East in 2007.
Etihad gets new recruitment chief
Etihad Airways has appointed Dr Salwa Al-Noaimi as the airline’s new vice president of recruitment. She brings with her 20 years of experience as a management professional relating to education and human resources gained from a number of organisations.
Nierhaus takes up new role
The Rezidor Hotel Group has appointed Siegfried Nierhaus as director of future openings for Middle East and Africa. Nierhaus will assist in Rezidor’s capitalisation of one of its fastest emerging markets. Prior to this he was general manager of Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City.
New chef at Sheraton Bahrain
Sheraton Bahrain Hotel appointed Engelbert Gamsriegler as executive chef. Engelbert began his career with Hotel Intercontinental Ocho Rios in Jamaica, and has worked for five star hotels including the Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts; Holiday Inn and Kempinski Grand Hotel Europa.
Golden Tulip promotes Chatila
Mustapha Chatila has been promoted to head of operations of the new Tulip Inn Hawar Beach Resort, Kingdom of Bahrain. Chatila was, for the last one and half years, area director of sales and marketing for the Golden Tulip Hotels in Dubai.
Gache appointed at Ritz-Carlton Bahrain
David Gache has been named executive chef at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa. Previously at Le Royal Meridien Plaza Athenee Bangkok, chef David brings with him an extensive international background from working in Thailand, Indonesia, the Middle East, England, France and Switzerland.
New communicator at Movenpick Kuwait
Andrew Johnstone is the new communications manager at Movenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida’a Kuwait. He moved from the company’s sister resort in Phuket, Thailand to take up the new post. He was previously in Kuwait in the British army, was also formerly a newspaper editor in Phuket.