Klaus Niefer Starwood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Klaus Niefer as the complex general manager for the Westin Bahrain City Centre and Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre, a property which the group took over operation of in July. The German national joins the team from The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, which he joined as pre-opening GM in 2010. Previously, Niefer was deputy general manager at Le Meridien Abu Dhabi. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, and has worked in several five-star properties in Germany, Australia, the Philippines, and China. Starwood officially took over the two-tower property, which previously housed the Kempinski Grand and Ixir Hotel, reflagging it under the Le Meridien and Westin brands in July. The property’s owner, Majid Al Futtaim Properties, had previously announced it would end its agreement with Kempinski in order to adopt a two-brand strategy similar to properties in Dubai.