Rosewood promotes Gibb
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, in conjunction with Al Khozama Management Company, has announced the promotion of Michael Gibb to the position of regional vice-president.
Gibb is a hotelier with more than 30 years of experience in managing and operating the finest luxury hotels was named MD of the Rosewood-managed Al Faisaliah Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama last year.
Johnston at the Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has appointed John Johnston its executive vice-president of Europe, Africa & the Middle East. In this newly-formed post, Johnston will directly oversee the brand’s current and future development opportunities within the region and be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the group in the area.
Bartlett takes over at Marriott
Marriott International has named Linda Bartlett executive vice-president and chief financial officer for international lodging. Bartlett has served as executive vice-president for global asset management and for mergers, acquisitions and development planning.
Boppe to head Stein Group
The Stein Group has announced the appointment of Pierre Boppe as its new president. Boppe was previously president and CEO of the Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotels Group.
Watson at the Courtyard
ELAINE Watson, the Marriott International’s first female general manager in the Middle East, is preparing to open Courtyard by Marriott Green Community in Dubai. A qualified accountant, she began her career in hotels 15 years ago as a financial controller in the UK.
Chadha is new GM at Avari
DINESH Chadha, has been appointed general manager of Avari Dubai Hotel. He brings with him wide international experience at groups including the Taj, Six Continents and Le Méridien. He was formerly GM at Nizwan Hotel, Oman.
Kanwal to open Jebel Dhanna
THE National Corporation for Tourism & Hotels has appointed Manoj Kanwal general manager of the Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna. He will oversee the launch this autumn of the first five-star resort on the west coast of Abu Dhabi. Kanwal has been with the corporation for six years, prior to which he spent several years with the Rotana group.
Promotions at the Marriott
THE JW Marriott Dubai has promoted Faiek El Seddani to the position of F&B operations manager and Olwin De Souza to catering and banquet service manager. Egyptian national Faiek joined the hotel 12 months ago as catering manager, while De Souza has been with the hotel since 1999, when he was restaurant manager at the Bamboo Lagoon.
Gadet goes to Kuwait
PASCAL Gadet has been appointed executive assistant manager in charge of F&B at the Radisson SAS Kuwait. Gadet, a Dutch national, graduated from Heerlen Hotel Management College and has spent years in London, Mumbai, Amman and Edinburgh.
New faces at the Mina
New appointments at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina include a new director of sales for leisure and MICE, René J. Aguado-Martinez, and chef Stephane Bucholzer, who will take charge of Retro. The Mexican Aguado-Martinez joins the hotel from Jumeirah International, while Bucholzer, who is French, spent six years in New York before coming to Dubai.
Tandon at Taj Palace Dubai
Sanjeev Tandon has been appointed as the new director of sales and marketing of Taj Palace Hotel, Dubai. He served as director of sales and marketing of Sheraton Muscat in Oman since 2000 before joining Taj Palace Dubai.
Perez is new Executive Chef
Lebanon’s InterContinental Mountain Resort has announced the appointment of Vincenzo Perez as the new Executive Chef. He has replaced Chef Olivier Daoudal who moved back to France.
Christ joins WTTC
THE World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that the judging panel for the newly-relaunched Tourism for Tomorrow Awards will be chaired by Costas Christ, CEO of the Bar Harbor Maine Chamber of Commerce, USA. Christ is an expert on sustainable tourism and his professional career spans both the public and private sectors and was previously senior director for Ecotourism at Conservation International where he launched the World Legacy Awards in sustainable tourism with National Geographic Traveler Magazine.
Al Rayes takes charge
GULF Air has appointed Khalifa Al Rayes its general manager UAE, based in Abu Dhabi. Al Rayes, a Qatari national was formerly Gulf Air area manager for Germany. His career in the aviation industry spans 15 years.
Lahoud flying high
BOEING has named Sami Lahoud its communications director for the Middle East and Africa. He will be based in Dubai and has joined from Gulf Hill and Knowlton where he was regional client services director.