Nugent returns to Dubai
Michael Nugent has returned to Dubai after a 10-year hiatus to join the Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai as general manager.
He joined Le Meridien, Dubai, in the mid-90s before moving with the chain to Saudi Arabia. He has worked in the hospitality industry in Baghdad and around the UK and Ireland.
New GM for Conrad Cairo
Jan Monkedieck has been appointed general manager at the Conrad Cairo, moving from his previous position as general manager of the Conrad Tokyo. Monkedieck began his career with Hilton International in Europe, moving to Asia with New World Hotels in Hong Kong, returning to the Hilton in Shanghai. He has done stints at Hilton properties in Bangalore, Seoul and Dubai.
Bruggen goes to Goa
Machiel Van Der Bruggen has taken charge as the new vice president and general manager of the Ramada Caravela Beach Reort, Goa. Bruggen has worked at 19 different hotels including Hilton and Le Meridien properties. He opened the Taj in Dubai four years ago and then took a break to focus on consultancy services.
Al Dossari heads up InterCon Riyadh
The InterContinental Hotels Group has named Nassir Abdullah Al Dossari general manager of the InterContinental Riyadh. He has been with the group for almost two decades and moves into the new role from a similar position as the general manager of the Abha and Makkah InterContinental Hotels.
Changes at the Evason
Brian W Dechant has been appointed area general manager at Evason Resorts & Hideaways, Vietnam. He started his career in 1990, when he joined Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort. He has since worked with such chains as the InterContinental, Hyatt, Le Meridien, Regal Hotels International, and Millennium & Copthorne. Godfrey Vas joins Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Hua Hin as resort manager. He comes to Evason from his former role of resort manager at the Six Senses flagship property, Soneva Fushi Resort in the Maldives. He has had stints at properties in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Vanuatu and Melbourne.
InterCon Semiramis appoints Gooch
THE InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed Peter Gooch its new director of sales & marketing for the Semiramis InterContinental. Gooch has over 19 years of hotel experience. He began his career in 1987 with the Savoy Group and has since worked for the InterContinental and the Ritz-Carlton hotel groups.
Cook joins Meridien Mina Seyahi
Trudy Cook joins the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina as its new director of business development. She has over 18 years of hotel and resort experience in the Australasian market and has held senior management positions with such groups as the Hyatt, InterContinental, Radisson and Hilton.
Concorde appoints Brown
Concorde Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Dominic Brown as UK senior sales manager – conference and incentive. Brown has over six years’ experience in the conference and incentive field. He joins Concorde Hotels and Resorts from a two-year post as UK & Ireland sales manager for conferences and incentives at Maritim Hotels.
Silversea appoints training director
Ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea has appointed Brian Hordon to head up the company’s training programme specifically targeting new markets. Hordon has been with Silversea since the company’s inception in 1994. He set up and currently runs Silversea’s very popular and successful Academy of Ultra Luxury – a programme dedicated to training travel agents on the ease and benefits of selling a luxury product. He will continue in this role which has now been expanded to cover markets such as Russia, the Middle East and India – countries that Silversea considers to have huge potential growth over the next few years.
Bagaeen at Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
Tareq Bagaeen has been promoted to become the new director of sales, GCC, at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. Bagaeen is responsible for all matters pertaining to room sales for the travel industry and corporate accounts from the GCC and Levant. Bagaeen was promoted from his previous position as sales manager, which he has held for the past year. Prior to that, he was the sales manager and sales coordinator at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, where he started his career.
New faces at InterCon Mzaar
The InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the appointments of Ihab El Hajjeh as financial controller and Lina Matraji Salhab as PR manager at InterContinental Mountain Resort & Spa, Mzaar Lebanon. El Hajjeh has 10 years experience in the finance and hospitality field and has worked with Holiday Inn Dunes Beirut, Crowne Plaza Dubai and InterContinental Abu Dhabi. He was previously financial controller at Al Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Lina Matraji Salhab joins InterContinental Mzaar from her previous position as the owner’s representative at Sheraton Coral Beach, Beirut.
New executives join Al Murooj Rotana
Hatem Salem has joined the Al newly opened Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites as business development manager. He has worked with the Hilton, Accor and InterContinental groups. Gustavo Maurelli has been appointed executive chef. He has extensive previous experience at Rotana properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Stefan Borchardt moves as executive sous chef for the dining outlets Waterside, Latino House and Zaika, having worked in Germany, China, Bermuda and the UK.
Boven flies high at Etihad
Etihad Airways has appointed Geert W Boven vice-president, commercial. He will oversee all communications and take overall responsibility for worldwide marketing and guest sales, commercial planning as well as Etihad Holidays. His previous work experience includes stints with the Dutch tour operator Oad Group and with carriers Martinair and KLM.
Gulf Air appoints GM Ireland
Gulf Air has appointed James Harrison its new general manager for Ireland. He moves from the airline’s headquarters in Bahrain, where he was general manager Corporate Sales. His stint with Gulf Air began in November 2003, and he has served with the airline in London and Dubai.