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Appointment

Ignace Bauwens has been promoted to Regional VP Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (MEA) at Wyndham Hotel Group

Wyndham Hotel Group has revealed the promotion of Ignace Bauwens to regional vice president for Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (MEA). Based out of Wyndham Hotel Group's office in Dubai, Bauwens has led the Middle East and Africa region since 2016. His newly expanded role underlines the company's plan to unite the broader region, in recognition of the strong economic ties between India and the Middle East. In this new role, Bauwens will be responsible for driving Wyndham Hotel Group's continued growth in both established and new markets across this larger region. Bauwens has been working towards expanding Wyndham Hotel Group's portfolio of hotels across the Middle East and Africa, including in key GCC states such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The addition of the Eurasia region to his remit will add responsibility for overseeing expansion in additional high-growth countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Bauwens has more than three decades of experience in hotel operations, having previously held leadership roles with Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), Accor and InterContinental Hotels Group; he also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Hotel Management from Vives Brugges (previously HTI Brugge) in Belgium. He had an early start into the hospitality industry, working at his family's restaurant along the Belgian seaside as a child. Wyndham Hotel Group expanded its footprint in the Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (MEA) with a number of significant openings throughout 2017 and early 2018, bringing the total number of hotels across the region to 95. This consists of 42 hotels in Eurasia, 45 hotels in the Middle East and 8 hotels in Africa.

Wyndham
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Development Opening

Middle Eastern Debut for Element brand with opening of Element Me’aisam in the UAE

Marriott International today announced the debut of Element Hotels in the Middle East and Africa with the opening of Element Me"aisam in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Owned and developed by Dubai Properties, Element Me"aisam presents a fresh, appealing concept for short and long stays in the city with its eco-conscious ethos and innovative programming.

Element® By Westin
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

Alain Gobeil has been appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Fairmont The Palm Dubai

A Canadian national, Gobeil joined Fairmont The Palm in May 2016 as executive chef and has almost two decades' of international experience from across three continents. His food and beverage experience both in and out of the kitchen have developed from working within five star ski resorts in France and Canada, to luxury resorts and hotels within the Cayman Islands, Egypt, UK and the UAE. Gobeil holds a certificate in Hospitality Management and has worked with other Fairmont sister properties in Canada, Dubai and Abu Dhabi bringing a wealth of knowledge to his new role as food and beverage director.

Accor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

Trevor MacLeod has been appointed as Executive Chef at Fairmont The Palm Dubai

Trevor MacLeod who is a Canadian national, joined Fairmont The Palm's culinary team in September 2016 as a former executive sous chef. During this period, he worked in unison with Gobeil in creating and developing an exceptional culinary team. Trevor brings over ten years' experience to his new role as executive chef, having worked within multiple independent restaurants and leading hotel brands across the UAE, Canada, China and the Philippines, including Fairmont sister properties in Jasper and Banff, Vancouver, Abu Dhabi and China.

Accor
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Appointment

Alfio Bernardino has been appointed as General Manager at Mövenpick’s upcoming hotel in Dubai Media City

Two new General Managers have joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts' growing Dubai team as the hospitality firm prepares to open another two properties in the city in 2018.Maria Lamarche, former Hotel Manager at Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba, Jordan, has been promoted to GM of Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai and Alfio Bernardino has been appointed as GM of Mövenpick's upcoming hotel in Dubai Media City, moving from his previous role as GM of Radisson Blu Dubai Media City. Alfio Bernardino, is an Italian national with more than 20 years of industry experience in Europe, the Middle East and Indian Ocean, many of which have been spent working for Carlson Rezidor. A graduate of Cornell University, his move to Mövenpick marks his fourth GM position.Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will launch at least two more properties in the UAE over the next few years, growing its portfolio there to nine by 2020. The Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Al Burj Business Bay in Dubai is scheduled for completion in 2019, while the company will make its debut in Ras Al Khaimah in 2020 with the opening of Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island.

Mövenpick
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

Maria Lamarche has been promoted to General Manager at Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai

Two new General Managers have joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts' growing Dubai team as the hospitality firm prepares to open another two properties in the city in 2018.Maria Lamarche, former Hotel Manager at Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba, Jordan, has been promoted to GM of Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai and Alfio Bernardino has been appointed as GM of Mövenpick's upcoming hotel in Dubai Media City, moving from his previous role as GM of Radisson Blu Dubai Media City.Maria Lamarche's hospitality career spans more than three decades and several continents having worked for international hospitality names including Starwood, InterContinental Hotels Group, Millennium & Copthorne, Hilton and Rotana.In her previous role at Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba, Maria, who is a national of the Dominican Republic, was recognised for her operational and management expertise, implementing several successful initiatives to improve guest satisfaction, reduce costs and increase profits.

Mövenpick
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

Corah Caples has been appointed as Director of Operations at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah

Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah has appointed Corah Caples as director of operations. Caples has more than 10 years of management experience in the luxury hotel industry across all aspects of hotel operations, from food and beverage outlets, to spa facilities and rooms. In her new role, Caples will be responsible for the effective operational management of the hotel, overseeing the heads of departments to ensure they achieve and exceed their revenue and guest satisfaction targets. With a Masters degree in Hotel and Tourism Management, she has gone on to hold a variety of senior roles across hotels in the UK and Ireland, from general manager at The Beacon Hotel, Sandyford, to resident manager at the five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel in Dublin for over five years. Before taking up her role at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Caples held the position of director of operations at the Conrad Dublin where she was responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the 192-bedroom hotel, managing 195 team members as well as leading the hotel through an 18-month refurbishment project and re-launch.

Hilton
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Development Pipeline

Design Hotels™ welcomes first Dubai-based member: Form Hotel opening May 2018

Opening May 2018 in the heart of Dubai"s Culture Village, Form Hotel will bring a unique and uncharted design concept to the UAE. The flagship property of Smartotels Hospitality and the first hotel in the region to join the Design Hotels™ Community, Form Hotel will merge an emphasis on wellbeing with a carefully curated design concept that will appeal to business and leisure travelers alike.

FORM Hotel
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

Aidan Dempsey has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Ritz-Carlton, Dubai

Ritz-Carlton, Dubai has appointed Aidan Dempsey as the new hotel manager. Dempsey joins the new role with more than 15 years of hospitality industry experience. The Irish national, who moved to Dubai for his new role, previously served as the hotel manager at Marriott's sister brand, The Shelbourne Dubai, a Renaissance Hotel and has worked in other positions in hotels based in the U.S. and London. Dempsey holds a degree in hotel management from Shannon College in Ireland as well as a bachelor's degree in international hotel management.

Marriott
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

James Berry has been appointed as General Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City

Berry, 40, from Northamptonshire, England, began his management career as General Manager in 2008 and brings with him over 20 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry. In his new role, he will oversee the 246 room property where his responsibilities will include over 200 full-time employees, three restaurants, three bars and twelve meeting rooms. Prior to his current appointment, Berry had been serving as General Manager at Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel after spending two years as a General Manager at Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel. Previous to that Berry spent four years with Guoman & Thistle Hotels, now known as glh, in London, as VC General Manager at The Tower Hotel and Acting General Manager of The Cumberland in Marble Arch.Berry has also previously worked with Radisson Hotel Group as General Manager of Park Inn Peterborough, during which, he also oversaw the opening of the Park Inn Rotherham, and at Park Inn Thurrock,

Radisson Hotel Group
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Appointment

James Berry has been appointed as General Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City

Berry, 40, from Northamptonshire, England, began his management career as General Manager in 2008 and brings with him over 20 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry. In his new role, he will oversee the 246 room property where his responsibilities will include over 200 full-time employees, three restaurants, three bars and twelve meeting rooms. Prior to his current appointment, Berry had been serving as General Manager at Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel after spending two years as a General Manager at Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel. Previous to that Berry spent four years with Guoman & Thistle Hotels, now known as glh, in London, as VC General Manager at The Tower Hotel and Acting General Manager of The Cumberland in Marble Arch.Berry has also previously worked with Radisson Hotel Group as General Manager of Park Inn Peterborough, during which, he also oversaw the opening of the Park Inn Rotherham, and at Park Inn Thurrock,

Radisson Hotel Group
Dubai, United Arab Emirates