PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

JOSÉ CANALS APPOINTED AS MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA AT BARCELÓ HOTEL GROUP

Barceló Hotel Group appointed José Canals as the new managing director for the Middle East and Asia. Canals, who was already responsible for the Mediterranean and North Africa regions there, will now spearhead the expansion of the Spanish group’s presence in the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.

CROWNE PLAZA & HOLIDAY INN KUWAIT AL THURAYA CITY PROMOTE ZAID MASHINI TO CLUSTER DIRECTOR OF OPERATION

Zaid Mashini has been appointed as cluster director of operation – deputy general manager at Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn Kuwait, Al Thuraya City. He previously held the position of cluster director of sales and marketing for four years at the property. Mashini brings 15 years of expertise in the industry to the role.

TWO NEW SENIOR TALENTS JOIN GATES HOSPITALITY UAE

With five homegrown concepts in their expanding portfolio, Gates Hospitality welcomed two new appointees to their senior management team. Richard Cowling, director of operations, returns to the group following his previous two-year tenure with the company, where he held the role of GM at Reform Social & Grill. Additionally, Andrew Donald joins the team as GM of Dubai’s popular gastropub Reform Social & Grill.

BRICE PÉAN APPOINTED AS NEW GM AT ROYAL MAXIM PALACE KEMPINSKI

Egypt’s Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski has announced the appointment of Brice Péan as its new general manager as of January 12, 2021. Péan has over 30 years of experience in the luxury hospitality field, including senior management roles with Hilton Hotels in Vienna, Cairo, Adelaide, Fiji and Shanghai.

THE CHEDI MUSCAT WELCOMES NEW GENERAL MANAGER

The Chedi Muscat appointed Thomas Guss as its new GM. Guss comes from a family of hoteliers and brings a wealth of luxury experience from his work in the industry across Europe and the Middle East. He is an accomplished hospitality professional with over 30 years’ experience in the luxury hospitality industry.

AFIF SALIBI BECOMES GENERAL MANAGER OF RAFFLES DUBAI

Accor has made Afif Salibi its new general manager of Raffles Dubai.

This marks the third time Salibi has worked at the hotel in Dubai’s Wafi area. He first joined as part of the pre-opening team in 2007 as assistant front office manager and then again in 2014 as director of operations.