The British national has an honours degree, Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Restaurant Management from IIMT, Oxford Brookes University in the UK.
General Managers Mahmoud Sakr and Sven Wiedenhaupt have switched roles – Sakr has been appointed as the General Manager, Jumeirah Emirates Towers and Wiedenhaupt, has been appointed General Manager, Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has promoted Ahmed Issa from resident manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi to general manager of Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi.
A recently published white paper penned by TFG Asset Management revealed employee turnover in the UAE's hospitality industry measures approximately 25% - 30% per annum, which is a significant figure that can mainly be attributed to deteriorating staff loyalty. The research addresses the main motivations behind staff's intent to leave, creates a hypothetical scenario to measure the financial impacts, and crafts effective strategies to combat this alarming issue. The following article discusses the potential financial impact of a 30% voluntary staff turnover.
Worldhotels is further strengthening its business development force by appointing Chris Bradley as its new Director of Hotel Development & Sales for the Middle East. The group for independent hotels provides a comprehensive range of services that includes global marketing, sales, training, e-commerce and state-of-the-art distribution and technology to empower the true independence of its members.
In this white paper, TFG Asset Management in collaboration with the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management analyse the hospitality labour market in Dubai and identifies the main challenges facing operators in retaining elite staff. We have conducted extensive research to assess the impact of staff turnover on a hotel's profitability, and as a result, developed relevant strategies to mitigate such challenges.
World’s tallest building? Check. World’s longest driverless metro? Check. World’s first rotating hotel? Check. And now the rotating skyscraper project is soon to become a reality in Dubai by 2020. The Dynamic Tower Hotel was first proposed back in 2008 by architect David Fisher, and will be built by 2020, according to news reports. Each floor of the 1,375ft high, 80-storey hotel will be able to rotate a full 360 degrees. The building will also install wind turbines between each floor and solar panels on the roof, to make it environment friendly and completely self- powered. Dynamic Group’s website reads: “How many stars? This ‘hotel’ will be beyond stars.”
Hospitality industry experts shared their insights on trends, opportunities and challenges ahead of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2017 (AHIC), being held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from April 25 to 27, in a series of exclusive webinars.
It was a successful win for Centro Sharjah general manager Michael Kasch at the Hotelier Express Middle East Awards last night where he took home the GM of the Year award for a chain/ branded hotel.
Mansour joined Rotana Hotels in 2013 as executive assistant manager at Fujairah Rotana Resort and Spa, Al Aqah Beach. In his most recent role, Mansour was general manager of Villa Rotana, a four-star hotel located on Sheikh Zayed Road, having first joined the property in this role in 2015. Prior to his appointment as general manager, he also held the position of executive assistant manager at Towers Rotana. A Lebanese national, Mansour has over 20 years of hospitality experience in managerial positions across the GCC, North Africa and Turkey, having worked for international chains including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Starwood Hotels. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Hospitality Management and certificates from Cornell University.
Meliá Hotels International has appointed Nihad Kattan to the position of regional director of operations Middle East and Africa. Kattan has been appointed to oversee operations across the brand’s set of Middle East hotels, including Meliá Dubai, Meliá Doha and the upcoming ME Dubai and Innside Doha properties in the GCC. Jordanian Kattan has over 30 years of international hotel management experience for five-star deluxe, multi-location and multi-unit hotels and resorts. Over the past five years he has worked at luxury properties in the Middle East, including Marriot International in Dubai, Marriott Hotels in Jordan, Hilton Resort in Fujairah and Cairo Ramses Hilton & Casino in Egypt. He most recently worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as the general manager of the Fairmont Riyadh Hotel. Kattan will work closely with Ahmad Shaban-Fernandez who was appointed as the area director of sales and marketing, Middle East & Africa in October 2016.
Bringing 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, the Egyptian national began his career as a front office shift leader at Rotana Hotels.
The French national holds a B.A. in Hotel Management (VATEL), an MBA in International Hospitality Management from Cornell University and is a certified NLP Coach, with over 16 years of hospitality expertise. Throughout his career Halbi has held various positions such as - strategy and revenue manager, director of reservations, director of rooms and director of operations. He was most recently the director of rooms at the Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas in Qatar. As the EAM, Halbi will be responsible in managing the daily operational and financial performance of all areas of the Hotel, providing senior supervision and support to department heads. He will also play a big hand in the impending hotel room renovation project that is scheduled for 2017.
Deutsche Hospitality is boosting its international sales operations by appointing staff to three new roles. Aghy Sati will take on the newly created position of Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for the Middle East and will be based at the company’s Representative Office in Dubai. The main focus of his activities will be on Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Filipino national graduated with a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering from Don Bosco Technical College in the Philippines in 2001.
STR's preliminary January 2017 data for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, indicates sharp rate declines.Based on daily data from January, Abu Dhabi reported the following in year-over-year comparisons:
Keynote speakers including Chris Nassetta, S ébastien Bazin and Pierre-Fr éd éric Roulot descend on Dubai to offer an international perspective on the dynamic Middle East hospitality industry
Thailand-based Minor Hotels Group has appointed Ramzy Fenianos as Vice President Development for Europe, Middle East & Africa. Ramzy has over 10 years of extensive experience in hospitality and real estate. Focusing on business development, strategic planning and asset management in international hospitality branding and business development, his background includes Bouygues Real Estate Group and Emerige Group in France, and Sama Dubai Holding Group and IFA Hotels & Resorts in Dubai. Prior to joining Minor Hotels Group, Ramzy held the position of Vice President Acquisitions & Development Middle East & Africa at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Ramzy is French and fluent in English and Arabic. He is based at Minor Hotels’ regional office in Dubai, and holds a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Finance, Major Investments and Developments from ESPI (Ecole Superieure Des Professions Immobiliere) in France, as well as an Advanced Certification in Real Estate and Hotel Investment from Cornell University in the US.
FORM Hotel, the upscale hotel brand in Smartotels Hospitality International's portfolio, launches today in the UAE. A pioneering "concept hotel" brand, FORM offers business and leisure travelers accessible premium hotel fundamentals with the flexibility of add-on service and amenity features in a technologically-advanced, design- forward and socially-responsible environment.
Hotel investors, owners, consultants and operators alike share a positive outlook for the Middle East hospitality industry in 2017, with strong market fundamentals in place and attractive investment opportunities on the horizon.