Michael began his career in 1999 with The Rezidor Hotel Group as a Sales Manager at Radisson SAS Hotels & Resort in Erfurt, Germany. He has since gone on to work in Switzerland, Amsterdam, and Dubai.
The 50-story hotel tower is part of Bahrain Bay, a $2.5 billion development master planned by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The project is designed by renowned architect Yousif Daoud Al Sayegh and Associates who designed the Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Oman (Winner of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council's first Estidama Sustainability Award 2008.)
Panos, who is half Swiss half Greek, has an extensive background in the hospitality industry, having held various management positions at different international hotel chains around the world, over the last 20 years. He began his career in the hospitality industry in early 1990, with various internships, before quickly progressing through the ranks.
Marriott International (NYSE/MAR) plans to introduce its Residence Inn by Marriott lodging brand for extended stay travelers in Bahrain later this year, under a long term management agreement with International Trading And Investment Co. W.L.L. The 78-unit property will open in the Juffair district of Manama and will be the first Residence Inn-branded property in the Middle East. Late last year, Marriott announced it would also operate a Residence Inn-branded property in Jizan, Saudi Arabia in 2012; a third Residence Inn-branded hotel will open in Algiers in 2014.
Hotels in Bahrain will be one of the main features on display at the second annual Food & Hospitality Expo 2010 to be held on 12 to 14 January 2010 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC). This will be Bahrain's largest gathering of food, beverage and hospitality industry professionals following last year's inaugural successful event.