PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai announced the line-up of hospitality experts managing its Q4 opening. The team of industry professionals will be led by Maria
Lamarche, who joined the new property as GM a few months ago. Lamarche is a seasoned hotelier who has worked in management roles for international hotel companies across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America for more than three decades. Promoting the property to a global audience ahead of its opening is director of sales and marketing, Mahmoud Al Zaibak, who during his two decades working in the industry has been involved in seven hotel pre-openings in the Middle East. Food & beverage manager
Wael Zarif will draw on his more than 15 years working in F&B roles with hotel groups including Hilton, Steigenberger, Kempinski and Emaar Hospitality Group across the Middle East. Saudi-based Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski has promoted Saeed
Al-aseeri to hotel manager from executive assistant manager, a role he held since mid-2017. Al-aseeri will be drawing on a career of 21 years in the hotel industry, in which he held various senior positions, such as executive assistant manager at Al Faisaliah Hotel and director of sales and marketing at Intercontinental Riyadh. Emaar Hospitality Group has appointed Sharihan Al Mashary as the general manager of Manzil Downtown. Al Mashary has an in-depth understanding of the hospitality and tourism sector, most notably in strategic business development. Four Seasons Hotel Beirut has welcomed Christopher Jordan as the new director of F&B. Jordan brings an extensive wealth of knowledge and global experience, having worked for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for the past 10 years.
Wael Maatouk is the new general manager of the Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts in Al Habtoor City. A results-driven professional, Maatouk brings with him over 20 years of experience acquired across the restaurant and luxury hotel industry. Al Habtoor Group has appointed Rahim Abu Omar as the new chief operating officer – hospitality division. With four decades of experience, Abu Omar rejoins the Group's executive team to steer a solid portfolio of 14 luxury hotels. Phoenicia Hotel Beirut has announced the appointment of its new general manager,
Manrique Rodriguez. Rodriguez graduated from the Glion Institute of Higher Education and went on to build a more than three-decade career within IHG. Rotana Hotels & Resorts has appointed Tom Stevens as area general manager for Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of Congo, where he will be responsible for steering and overseeing the company’s strategic agenda. Accorhotels has appointed Sami Nasser and Marc Descrozaille as COO, Middle East & Africa. Both will be based out of the Dubai regional office and will report directly to Mark Willis who was recently appointed as the CEO of Accorhotels Middle East and Africa. Nasser joins from his recent role as COO, Luxury Brands, Middle East for Accorhotels, while Descrozaille moves to Accorhotels from Movenpick Hotels & Resorts where he served as president for the Middle East and Africa.