Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has today announced that it will manage a luxurious urban resort in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, which is currently under development and due to open in 2017. Mandarin Oriental, Dubai will be located on Jumeirah Beach Road, with direct access to the golden sands of Jumeirah Beach – one of the most sought-after waterfront locations in the city.
Ayse Ocal Abbas has been appointed to the role of area e-commerce marketing manager. With more than eight years' experience in marketing, Abbas will act as the e-commerce lead within the area to execute the group's e-commerce strategy to maximise the direct online revenue potential. She will work in close collaboration with the area revenue generation team and hotel marketing teams to drive online profitability and provide research and analyses on the latest online developments and market trends within the area.
Wiebke Siemering has been appointed as the area e-commerce partner manager. Siemering joins the team from agoda.com where she was the market manager and team leader for the UAE. In her new role Siemering will manage existing global, theatre and country level OTA and affiliate relationships to ensure terms and conditions are correctly applied and optimised. She will also be tasked with identifying, contracting and rolling-out new potential area, regional and local partners to drive incremental business to hotels within and outside the area.
The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), one of the world's leading hospitality business management schools and a part of the global luxury hotel company Jumeirah Group, will host the 32nd EuroCHRIE Conference from 6–9 October 2014.The European Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (EuroCHRIE) is the official federation for Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and Africa of International CHRIE, the leading international organisation that supports education and training for the tourism and hospitality industry. The annual conference is a signature event of EuroCHRIE and EAHM is honoured to have been chosen to host the conference for the second time in six years.The theme of EuroCHRIE Dubai Conference in 2014 is 'Hospitality and Tourism Futures' and will reflect how the world of Tourism and Hospitality has changed. It will consider what the future challenges and opportunities are and how these changes need to be reflected within tourism and hospitality education. The conference will also provide an opportunity for EuroCHRIE and International CHRIE to find ways to change, develop and to fulfil their mission in developing the industry leaders of the future.The event is open to both members and non-member of EuroCHRIE who will have extensive networking opportunities and experience authentic Arabian hospitality at its best.
Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, the Ottoman inspired resort located on Palm Jumeirah, has announced the appointment of Yvonne Luedeke, the new Director of Marketing and Communications.
Fernando Gibaja, a Spanish national, joins Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah as the new General Manager, effective from 5 October 2014. Fernando Gibaja will be responsible for building on the success and reputation of the award-winning resort, taking over from the current General Manager Stephan Schupbach, who is promoted to Regional Vice President Operations for Jumeirah Group.
Hold on to your departmental hats! A new mobile minibar solution is blowing onto the hotel scene that is radically changing the way hoteliers will be managing their in-room amenities forever. ABreez by Mobile Simple is a breath of fresh air for food-and-beverage managers looking to increase their bottom lines through more effective merchandising and control costs through more efficient posting processes . . . room attendants desiring a way to simplify daily tasks by making the mundane process of checking minibars and snack trays more fun . . . and owners begging for a new way to stop revenue losses, heighten inventory control, improve employee efficiency and stop guest complaints altogether.
As occupancies continue to improve worldwide, Danat Hotels & Resorts (www.danathotels.com) is deploying Nor1's eStandby upselling product to help its upscale hotel portfolio realize thousands of dollars in upselling revenue each week, as travelers increasingly seize the opportunity to pre-book premium inventory via targeted offers, prior to check-in.
In his new position, Salibi will oversee the day-to-day operations of the luxury property. He brings with him more than 12 years of industry experience, of which seven years were spent with FRHI Hotels & Resorts.
Jumeirah, the global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has revealed plans to launch a new contemporary lifestyle brand. The new brand, which is called VENU, is designed to appeal to the modern traveller whose expectations revolve around their own lifestyle – clean, contemporary, cool and effortless. To mark the launch of VENU, the company is revealing the visual identity of the brand and announcing the appointment of a top hotelier to lead its development. Furthermore, the Dubai-based developer Meraas Holding is in discussion with Jumeirah Group to operate the first VENU hotel on Bluewaters Island in Dubai.
The Ukrainian national has joined this month and brings 12 years’ total experience in PR, marketing and sales, including four years in the Middle East. Gernega started her career in Kiev, Ukraine in 2002 specialising in events sales with a local brand hotel, before joining Hyatt Regency Kiev during its pre-opening phase in 2006 as sales and marketing manager. She then joined pre-opening office of Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah in Dubai in 2010, working for three years as a PR and marketing manager.
Xavier Halbi H04 has been promoted Director of Strategy of the Hyatt Regency Dubai & Galleria. He is in charge of the revenue and strategies of all departments of the hotel and apartments. He was previously the Director of Reservations of the Hyatt Global Contact Center - Dubai, whose replacement also reports to him now. Xavier is an NLP Master coach and he joined Hyatt hotels in Dubai in 2005.
Fuchs first joined Jumeirah in 2006, working at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai for three years as director of food and beverage. He re-joined the company in 2010 as hotel manager at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers to assist with the pre-opening of the hotel. Stefan’s previous industry experience spans over 15 years working for well-known brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Kempinski Hotels. His international experience has been gained from working in Europe, the Middle East and Russia where he held senior roles in operations, food and beverage, catering and conference services and his most recent position as hotel manager at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.
The Dubai hotel market saw occupancy levels fall to 50.3 percent in July as overall demand within the city reduced due the summer heat and impact of Ramadan, according to the latest HotStats survey of full service four and five star hotels by TRI Consulting.
Baum, who previously held the same position at Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, will work alongside general manager Holger Schroth, who has been at Emirates Palace since 2013.
Over a period of 20 years, Ashor has worked with international hotel chains in Egypt, the Netherlands, and Germany, before moving to the UAE six years ago. At Centro Capital Centre, Ashor will lead the operations at the 414-key property. He will also incorporate new initiatives to expand the hotel’s market reach in regional and international markets while aiming for high quality and guest satisfaction levels. The Egyptian-Dutch national holds an undergraduate degree in hotel management and completed an MBA in marketing and communications in the Netherlands.
Ayla Hotels group has announced the appointment of Khaled Raslan as Assistant Director of Sales – Ayla Bawadi Hotel. With his extensive sales background, he will support the hotel in maximizing revenue and developing new sales strategies. Raslan brings ten years’ experience in groups, corporate and leisure sales from previous sales positions at TUI Group, Starwood Group, IHG as well as Holiday Express. He also has airlines and destination management experience from working at Emirates Airlines Group. Known in the industry for his professionalism, efficiency and engaging energy, Raslan will be responsible for increasing business to the Ayla Hotels from the core UAE market. Commenting on Raslan’s new appointment, Director of Sales & Marketing, George Titus said, “We look forward to Raslan’s contribution in our ongoing success and are pleased to welcome him to our Ayla Family.”
Abu Dhabi’s Hotel price index (HPI) decreased from 90.6 in May 2014 to 80.1 in June 2014, a decrease of 11.5 per cent, according to Statistics Centre- Abu Dhabi (SCAD). In its report, which provides an analysis of the hotel establishments price index during the month of June 2014 compared with May 2014 and the same period of 2013, SCAD said the HPI decreased by 3.8 per cent year-on-year, from 83.3 in June 2013 to 80.1 in June 2014.
In 2013, after successfully opening Renaissance Tlemcen, Marriott's first property in Algeria, Andre Saade (IMHI 1995) has been appointed to the position of General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Dubai Green Community, a position which also oversees the Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Green Community. With over 18 years of experience extending from Sales and Marketing to Rooms Operations, Mr. Saade has been the perfect choice to lead the renovation of this spectacular Dubai hotel near Dubai World Central in Jebel Ali.
Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has announced Sandra Farrero as the new Director of Marketing and Communications at Madinat Jumeirah, effective Sunday, 17 August 2014. Sandra joined Jumeirah three years ago in June 2011 to co-lead the pre-opening and launch phase of Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa in Mallorca. During this period and under Sandra’s commercial leadership, the team positioned the property among the top luxury hospitality leaders in Mallorca and secured the acceptance in American Express’ prestigious Fine Hotels & Resorts programme.