Paramount Hotel Dubai has brought in a fresh F&B director (known as executive producer of F&B in the Hollywood-inspired property). Andrew Vieria will head up eight F&B outlets, focusing on further establishing the property as a premium F&B destination.
In his new role, Parkins will be responsible for providing subject matter expertise, leading market research and financial analysis across hospitality and tourism-related assets.
Based in Dubai, Manzoor will lead the hotels and tourism team to advise investors, developers and operators on their hospitality development projects and market entry strategies throughout the MENA region, with a specific focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Conrad O'Riordan has landed in the UAE to head up F&B at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert. O'Riordan will develop and implement a range of new F&B strategies at the five-star desert escape.
Barcelo Hotel Group has appointed Asier Baquero as the general manager of Occidental Sharjah Grand Hotel. Baquero has years of experience in Barcelo, though this is his first post in the Middle East.
Grand Millennium Al Wahda- one of the largest hotels in Abu Dhabi - has a new general manager. Fadi Ammache joins the 840-key hotel with 25 years of hospitality experience behind him.
Valerie Wade, in her role as the multi-property director of sales and marketing whose remit has been increased to include four five-star properties, now oversees JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Al Maha, A Luxury Collection, Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, and Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah.
Sajan Pallipurath, the recently appointed director of rooms has a proven track record of creating and training high-performing teams. Pallipurath has been with Marriott for over a decade. His recent promotion to the position of director of rooms comes as a progression from his previous role as front office manager.
Etienne Els is now the director of food and beverage, praised by JW Marriott for his skills in revenue management and brand strengthening. No stranger to Marriott, he worked as restaurant manager of Sloane's in Grosvenor House Dubai in 2012. He later became operations manager of Siddharta Lounge by Buddha Bar in the same hotel. Moving into a more departmental role, he became assistant F&B manager at the hotel in 2014 and then F&B manager in 2016.
Martijn Zengerink has been promoted to hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah. Working at the property since its transition from Ramada to IHG Hotels & Resorts, he has been a driving force behind a number of the hotel's successes.
Grand Millennium Business Bay has announced the appointment of Anne Liyanage as its commercial director. Liyanage will lead the hotel's commercial team and strategies within.
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai will house its own resident Ayurvedic expert. Dr Arun Aravind, a seasoned wellness professional, joins the team with over 22 years of experience and brings in-depth knowledge of the practice of Ayurveda to the hotel's spa.
Having been a part of the IHCL (Indian Hotels Company Limited) for over 15 years, Sonu Koithara has been an integral part the culinary teams for several hotels in India and recently in Dubai with the opening of Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers. He has big plans to put Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai on the map.
Swiss-born Lionel Dousse, director of food and beverage at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, is bringing 14 years of experience to this role and has previously worked in Djibouti, Ghana and Latvia, as well as the UAE. He specialises in creating dining concepts for pre-opening restaurants and bars.
With over 15 years of experience, Dorsai Khaghani has led a number of successful launches of some of Dubai's biggest and most successful hotel brands. She has previously served as a VIP sales executive for Atlantis Dubai, later moving up to manager of international sales at the famous Dubai hotel.
Originally from Hungary, Greg Kocsis is an experienced hotel manager with international experience in the luxury market, having previously worked in Beverly Hills, Miami, Barbados, London, Oman and Maldives for leading hotel brands over the course of 18 years.
A Taj stalwart, Phillipose has been with the group for close to three decades. Starting as a duty manager for Taj Coromandel Hotel in 1993, he became room director for Taj Boston in 2005, later hotel manager of the same hotel until 2009.
Fairmont The Palm Dubai has announced a top-level appointment within its F&B department. Dinesh Pitigalage has stepped up to the plate as director of F&B at the Palm Jumeirah resort.
Deutsche Hospitality is expanding into the United Arab Emirates by joining forces with Al Hamra the leading lifestyle developer and investment company in Ras Al Khaimah to take on management of the Al Hamra Residences and Al Hamra Village Hotel. The resorts will use the Steigenberger Residences and MAXX by Deutsche Hospitality brand names in future. This expansion will enable Deutsche Hospitality to gain market entry to the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Nikhil Satwani has been made EAM sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights. In his new role, he will head up sales, marketing, revenue and events teams, aligning all their activities with the overarching strategies of the hotel business.