PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
James Berry has been appointed as the new general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City. He takes up his new role from Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel, where he held the same position. Berry brings with him over 20 years of experience in the industry. The Ritz-carlton Hotel Company has made Aidan
Dempsey hotel manager. Dempsey joins The Ritz-carlton, Dubai, from his native Ireland, where he held the title of hotel manager at sister Marriott brand – The Shelbourne Dublin, a Renaissance Hotel. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has appointed experienced human resources professional, Abdul Rahman
Al Harbi, as its new director of Saudization. With more than 14 years of experience, including roles with Mövenpick in Saudi Arabia, Al Harbi is now responsible for leading the Swiss hospitality firm’s Saudization Strategy. He will liaise with all hotel HR departments in Saudi Arabia and ensure training programs are developed according to Mövenpick’s Saudization Strategy. Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has announced Emiel Van Dijk as the new general manager of both Swissôtel Al Ghurair and Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair in Dubai. Van Dijk has acquired almost two decades of experience, spanning several divisions of the hospitality industry across the globe, during his career.
Mario Ephrem has been appointed COO of the Al Sultan Brahim group of restaurants. A part of the restaurant’s family since 2012, Ephrem will be responsible for the overall performance and the growth of the establishment in his new role. General Hotel Management (GHM) has named Patrick
Moukarzel general manager of the Al Bait Sharjah, a 53-key hotel, scheduled to open later this year. Since his last role with GHM as a general manager in Suzhou, Moukarzel has managed luxury hotels in Penang, Malaysia and the Maldives. Al Hokair Group has announced the appointment of Omar
Sami Samara as its chief executive officer for tourism and development. With a proven track record in the industry, Samar holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, decision science and management information systems from George Mason University, Virginia, US. Two new general managers have joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ growing Dubai team as part of the hospitality firm’s preparations for opening another two properties in the city this year.
Maria Lamarche, former hotel manager at Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba, Jordan, has been promoted to general manager of Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai, and Alfio Bernardino comes on board as general manager of Mövenpick’s upcoming hotel in Dubai Media City, moving from Radisson Blu Dubai Media City, where he held the same post. Lamarche boasts a hospitality career spanning more than three decades and several continents, having worked for international hospitality names including Starwood, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Millennium & Copthorne, Hilton and Rotana. Bernardino has more than 20 years of industry experience in Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean, many of which have been spent working for Carlson Rezidor. A graduate of Cornell University, his move to Mövenpick marks his fourth general manager position.