Marriott International has appointed Stuart Birkwood as cluster general manager for its upcoming properties in Dubai: Aloft Me'aisem, Element Me'aisem, and Aloft Dubai South.
Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), the world's largest hospitality technology conference brand, will be coming to Dubai, UAE on November 14-15, 2017 at the Conrad Dubai. Produced in partnership by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), the only organization producing nonprofit hospitality events at an international level, and Naseba, HITEC Dubai is set to be the region's largest hospitality technology showcase hosting leading hospitality decision makers and technology vendors. HITEC Dubai is an extension of HFTP's tremendously successful HITEC, which just completed its 45th year.
Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations and Development for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International, participated last evening in the kick-off meeting of the advisory council for 2017 HITEC Dubai. The objective behind the high level meeting was to define and outline an agenda for HITEC Dubai based on the rapid innovations in technology and the specific needs of the Middle East region, especially Dubai, in order to keep up with the expectations of international travellers. The advisory council for the mega event also includes representatives from leading hospitality brands in the region including Jumeirah Group, Al Habtoor Group, Marriot International, Hilton Worldwide, Rotana Hotels & Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels among others.
STR's preliminary July 2017 data for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, indicates steep performance declines consistent with the year-to-year shift in Ramadan dates. Based on daily data from July, Dubai reported the following in year-over-year comparisons:
Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection has appointed John Farrelly as multi-property director of sales & marketing for St. Regis Dubai, W Dubai - Al Habtoor City and The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City.
The first M Hotel Brand in UAE under the management of Millennium & Copthorne has appointed Amit Kumar as its new Food & Beverage Manager and Executive Chef In charge.
Crowne Plaza & Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island has appointed Hanita Haidar as director of finance and business support.
Raffles Dubai is pleased to announce the appointment of Wolfgang Wagenleitner as Executive Pastry Chef, overseeing the dessert and bakery operation at the landmark luxury hotel.
With the number of new rooms in Dubai slated to exceed 120,000 by 2019, hotel owners and operators in the city must become increasingly innovative to stand out in one of the world's most crowded hospitality markets.
Paul Dalgleish, Vice President of Sales & Distribution will be responsible for Property, Market and Area Sales Organisations as well as the Global Sales Organisation, whilst leading the Middle East and Africa Distribution Strategy. Previously Vice President of Sales for Marriott International, Paul has played a key role in the rapid expansion of the Middle East and Africa Region, deploying new and innovative sales strategies, whilst ensuring talent development lives as a discipline priority.
Jitendra Jain, Vice President of Digital, Loyalty and Portfolio Marketing will be responsible for the company’s award-winning Loyalty Programs, Partnerships, cross-brand marketing of Marriott International’s regional portfolio and will lead all Digital Marketing, Platforms and Products. A Starwood veteran, Jitendra previously led the Marketing function for the former Starwood portfolio in the Middle East, where he spearheaded the transformation of marketing processes, talent and culture, cultivating a data-driven and forward-looking mindset leveraging digital, brands and loyalty.
Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President of Premium and Select Brands will be responsible for Brand Marketing and Management for Marriott International’s compelling portfolio of Premium and Select Brands and will oversee Restaurants & Bars Marketing as well as Area Field Marketing. Sandra was previously Senior Director, Brand Marketing & eCommerce for Marriott International Middle East and Africa managing Field Marketing, Brand Marketing, Public Relations, Partnerships, Social Media, Digital as well as Loyalty. She was instrumental in positioning Marriott International’s lead in Brand Marketing in the region.
Sarah Walker Kerr, Vice President of Communications Middle East and Africa will be responsible for devising and implementing the overall Communications Strategy for Marriott International in the region, driving visibility, enhancing the perception of the company and its brands and increasing its share of voice in the media. She will provide strategic counsel to the senior executive leadership team, managing Internal and External Communications, Crisis Communications and Reputation Management as well as Brand Communications. A seasoned communications specialist, Sarah was previously Regional Director of Public Relations Middle East, Africa, India & Japan for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
Calbet joins with more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including nine years at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, three years with Spanish Chain BlueBay hotels, and two years with Armada BlueBay Hotel.
A seasoned professional who brings over 16 years of experience to his position, Kaan will continue to grow the hotel’s position within the JLT urban community and surroundings, as well as regional and international markets.
Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai has appointed German-born Patrick Buttgereit as its new executive chef, responsible for overseeing all dining outlets in the hotel.
Roda Hotels & Resorts has appointed Puneet Baijal as the new general manager of Roda Al Bustan Dubai Airport Hotel. Baijal has more than 18 years’ experience in the hospitality industry.
Sofitel The Palm has appointed Ramsey El Saarany as the new director of operations. The 5-star property opened on Palm Jumeirah in 2013.
Thailand-based, global hospitality company Dusit International has appointed Mr Prateek Kumar as Regional Vice President – EMEA region, responsible for strengthening Dusit’s operations and supporting development efforts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For the past two years Mr Kumar was Area General Manager in charge of Dusit’s operations in Dubai. In his new role, he will continue to serve as General Manager of Dusit Thani Dubai while also linking with the company’s head office in Bangkok to supervise operating and pre-opening properties in the EMEA region. Mr Kumar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management from Griffith University in Australia. Prior to joining Dusit International as General Manager of Dusit Thani Manila in 2008, he was responsible for the successful pre-opening of Ascott Raffles Place, a luxury all-suite hotel set in the heart of Singapore’s financial cityscape. He has also worked for Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Renaissance Hotels.
DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) 14 market-leading brands, today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai - Business Bay. The modern hotel features 238 spacious guest rooms and suítes, all with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai or Bay Square. It joins two other DoubleTree by Hilton properties already open in Dubai and eight DoubleTree by Hilton properties open across the Middle East.