The Boutique Search Firm
Heads Above the Rest - May 2023

The Newsletter of The Boutique Search Firm, a worldwide retained recruiting firm specializing in hospitality management.

Market update​​​

• Leisure and hospitality added 5,000 jobs in April as the industry continues to grow.
• Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 6,600 over the month and was the fasted growing sector of the market

 
Recent Appointments
 
­­North America​​

• Gadi Hassin has been promoted as Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Selina. He will leverage his 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry across 4 continents and 7 countries, including time at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, The Ritz Carlton, and the Ovolo Group.
• Danny Bufano has been appointed as Director of Restaurants at Tempo by Hilton Times Square. He oversees the 661-room hotel's day-to-night food and beverage operations, including Highball, its signature cocktail bar & lounge.  
• Misoon Kong named General Manager at Hilton Chicago. she will oversee all aspects of hotels operations and provide comprehensive leadership to uphold Hilton's commitment to delivering exceptional guest services and achieving financial success.  
• TradeWinds Island Resorts appoints Kerry Mitruska as Director of Sales and Marketing. He will develop and lead new business opportunities for the popular beachfront landmark.  
• Juan Ayala has been appointed as National Sales Manager at The Omni Homestead Resort. He has held pivotal sales manager positions at esteemed establishments such as Hilton Irvine, Buttes Marriott, and most recently at Colonial Williamsburg Resorts. 
• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection welcomes Lakshmanan Duraisamy as Chief Information Officer (CIO). He brings over 20 years of technology leadership experience.  
• Gaby Aiguesvives has been appointed as Chief Marketing Officer at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. She brings a wealth of marketing and strategic experience from her previous role at Saks/Hudson's Bay Company.  
• Rachel Moosa named Chief People Officer at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. She has more than twenty-five years of Human Resources experience.  
• Courtney Goldstein has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer (CMO) at Vail Resorts. She will lead the company's Epic Pass business, data and analytics, and digital experience as well as marketing for its portfolio of world-class mountain destinations.  
• Arlo Washington, D.C appoints Cordell Nelson as General Manager. He brings with him 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked for a myriad of New York City hotels.  
• Greg Kennealey has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer at KSL Resorts. He takes charge of overseeing the operation, development and strategic direction of KSLR and its growing portfolio of resort properties.  
• Mallory Goldstein named Director of Food & Beverage Outlets at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek. She spent more than a decade in leadership roles within the hospitality industry.  
• Stuart Levy has been appointed as General Manager at The Singer Oceanfront Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton in Riviera Beach. A seasoned hospitality leader with a passion for fostering meaningful relationships and driving growth within the hospitality sector.  
• Rebel Hotels welcomes Mark LeBlanc as Managing Director of West Coast Operations. He brings a wealth of knowledge, extensive industry connections, and exceptional leadership skills to his new role.  
• Scott Little named Managing Director at Salamander Middleburg. He brings a unique range of expertise to his role at the resort, including luxury operations, community and investor relations, real estate development, preservation, finance and acquisition.  
• MDM Hotel Group appoints Sonia Fong as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. She will be leading the sales and marketing efforts across all of MDM's properties, which include the JW Marriott Marquis Miami, Hotel Beaux Arts, and JW Marriott Miami.  
• Laurens Zieren named General Manager at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. With over three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, including two decades spent in various roles across Europe, he brings a wealth of expertise to his new position.  
• Michael Ritz has been promoted as EVP of investments at Peachtree Group. He will oversee Peachtree's credit and equity investments across commercial real estate and other ventures.  
• Peachtree Group promotes Michael Harper as president of hotel lending. He is responsible for the entirety of Peachtree's credit platform for hotels, guiding all facets of the credit business.  
• Jared Schlosser has been promoted as EVP hotel lending and head of CPACE at Peachtree Group. His significant contributions since joining the firm in 2019 have been crucial in advancing Peachtree's CPACE program, which now exceeds $800 million in transactions.  
• Miraj S. Patel named Chairman at Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA). He got his start in volunteer service at AAHOA by serving as a committee member for several years and joining the AAHOA board of directors in 2019.  
• Dan Flannery has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Loews Hotels & Co. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to enhance operational efficiency, improve guest experiences and drive overall business growth.  
• The Ranch Hudson Valley appoints John Bottino as General Manager. He  oversees all logistics of the daily structured schedule including The Ranch's signature morning hikes and creating and managing a vibrant team of program managers.  
• Michael Narciso named Executive Chef at The Ranch Hudson Valley . His journey has been marked by a profound belief in the power of food as medicine.  
• Gina McAlpin has been appointed as Head of Programming at The Ranch Hudson Valley. He has 12 years of experience as a fitness trainer, marketer and sales specialist.  
• Judd Wadholm named SVP and General Manager, Core Brands at Choice Hotels International, Inc. He is now charged with driving the growth and performance of the company's nine upper midscale, midscale, and economy brands in the U.S. market.  
• Highgate appoints Erika Kauffman as Regional Director of Communications. She will oversee Highgate Hawaii's strategic communications, including partnerships such as TableOne Hospitality under restaurateur and Highgate partner Patric Yumul.  
• Highgate welcomes Gary Spencer as SVP Sales & Marketing, Luxury, Lifestyle & Hawaii. He will oversee an integrated sales, marketing and communications strategy for Highgate Hawaii's dynamic portfolio.  
• Antonio Fungairino named Head of Development Latin America & Caribbean Regional Division at The Hyatt The Inclusive Collection. He leads the development strategy for the Inclusive Collection's 10 distinctive resort brands.  
• Scott Strickland has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. He continue delivering the best value and experiences to Wyndham's owners and guests across its 25 brands through a united commercial organization.  
• First Hospitality appoints Matt Schuster as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will lead the company's financial services functions including all financial reporting, treasury operations, corporate financial planning, and analysis.  
• Erik Davenport joined Le Méridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh as Director of Sales and Marketing. He will build on momentum The Stoneleigh's General Manager, Stacy Martin and her team have created as they celebrated the hotel's centennial year.  
• Kathryn Day has been appointed as General Manager at JW Marriott Nashville. He will oversee the property's day-to-day operations and elevate the visitor experience, including staff management and deployment, strategic planning, budgeting, and sales and marketing.  
• Catherine Lee has been promoted as General Manager at 1 Hotel Central Park. She runs daily operations throughout the property, including at Jams, the hotel's restaurant by Chef Jonathan Waxman, as well as the newly opened Park Penthouse.  
• 1 Hotel San Francisco & Treehouse Silicon Valley promotes Ashley Gochnauer as Area General Manager. She brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to her new position, having worked at various hospitality companies and brands.  
• Alyssa Robin has been appointed as General Manager at Treehouse Silicon Valley. She will be responsible for opening efforts and initiatives across the property, as well as day to day operations throughout the 254-key hotel.  
• Anthony Campaniaris named General Manager at 1 Hotel Toronto. He oversees daily operations property-wide, including at the hotel's four unique dining outlets: a sustainably driven, zero-waste restaurant, 1 Kitchen, a lobby bar.  
• Nicholas Gold has been appointed as Vice President of Operations at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. He brings valuable experience to his role overseeing the property's day-to-day operations.  
• Concord Hospitality appoints Marsha Ray as Executive Vice President of Operations. She will oversee the opening and expansion of Concord's newest full-service hotels and resorts across North America.  
• Grant Hart has been appointed as Director of Sales at Fenway Hotel. She will handle training and supervision of the sales and event planning team to generate and execute meeting business in the corporate, government, sports, and social market segments.  
• Justin Leonard named President at DiamondRock Hospitality Company. Prior to joining DiamondRock, he was at Walton Street Capital for 23 years, most recently as a Senior Principal where he was responsible for the oversight of the firm's hotel investments.  
• Briony R. Quinn joins DiamondRock Hospitality Company as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. She previously held roles at a number of audit and consulting firms, including Arthur Andersen and Beers & Cutler.  
• Jeffrey Donnelly named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at DiamondRock Hospitality Company. He was Managing Director of Equity Research at Wells Fargo Securities where he co-founded Wells Fargo's Real Estate & Lodging Equity Research Platform.  
• Jessica Sherbert has been appointed as Director of Sales at The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando. She will oversee all sales initiatives for The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando, including strategic planning for group, leisure, and wholesale sales.  
• Anca Flynn joined Epicurean Atlanta, Autograph Collection as Director of Outlets. She will put more than two decades of success in hospitality and food service to work for the hotel's three popular restaurants and bars, Reverence, The Office Bar, and Aerial Kitchen & Bar.  
• Epicurean Atlanta, Autograph Collection welcomes Tony Waterford as Banquet Manager. He will work closely with Flynn to guide the success of future sales and catering events and ensure memorable experiences and takeaways at every touch point.  
• Richard Bartoni named Director of Food & Beverage at Hotel Valencia Santana Row. He will develop and lead a team responsible for all food and beverage operations relating to the restaurant, catering, and events on property.  
• Luigi Romaniello has been appointed as Managing Director at Waldorf Astoria New York. He plays a pivotal role in redefining the next era of Waldorf Astoria New York, further delivering on Conrad Hilton's vision of this hotel as the "greatest of them all."  
• Jasmin Howanietz named Executive Director of Sales at Waldorf Astoria New York. She plays an instrumental role in driving the commercial strategy to establish the hotel as the pinnacle of luxury in Manhattan.  
• Tom Nolan has been appointed as Chief Operations Officer (COO) at New Castle Hotels & Resorts. He has more-than-30-year of experience.  
• Jon Benson named General Manager at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa. With over 35 years of experience at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, he has held positions in 13 hotels and five years in its corporate office.  
• Paul Rohadfox has been appointed as Executive Chef at TETRA Hotel, an Autograph Collection Hotel, and AC Hotel® Sunnyvale Moffett Park. He was part of the opening team for the revival of the historic Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs.  
• Luis Munoz named Director of Food & Beverage at TETRA Hotel, an Autograph Collection Hotel, and AC Hotel® Sunnyvale Moffett Park. He brings nearly two decades of executive management and leadership experience to his new position.  
• EOS Hospitality welcomes Brittany Norton as Area Director Of Sales. She demonstrates her ability to lead high-performance teams, develop comprehensive sales strategies, and foster strong relationships with key clients and stakeholders.  
• Kimpton Saint George Hotel announces the appointment of Ligia Santos as Director of Sales & Marketing. She will strengthen Kimpton Saint George's presence in Toronto and beyond through new marketing initiatives while supporting her team.  
• Tom Counts named Director of Sales at Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall Boston. His core responsibilities include overseeing all members of the Sales and Marketing teams, selling guest rooms, managing accounts, preparing and presenting proposals.  
• Danielle Dymond has been appointed as Hotel General Manager at Radio Hotel. she will serve as the strategic business leader of property operations at the 221-room hotel and be responsible for creating and maintaining a high-performing service culture.  
• Marcus Shell joins Uptown Social, Share House, Bodega Ann St. and By The Way as Director of Culinary Operations & Executive Chef. He plans to use his unique approach of culinary artistry, studied technique and creativity to help drive innovation.  
• Marriott Long Beach Downtown announces Rahul Vir as General Manager. He directs day-to-day management of the 12-story property and has been instrumental in spearheading a top to bottom renovation now underway.  
• Susie Klein named Director of Business Development at Miraval Resorts & Spas. She brings more than three decades of excellence in hospitality and a passion for wellbeing to her role.  
• Michael Grapkowski named Director of Revenue Management at Tempo by Hilton Times Square. He will manage and maintain group and transient inventory controls, including room accommodation, and helping to develop, monitor, and adjust pricing strategies.  
• Will Loughran has been appointed as Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Concord Hospitality. With over 30 years of experience in the global hospitality industry, he has a wealth of industry knowledge and has held executive roles at some of the hotel brands.  
• Emanuela Setterberg Di Vivo has been appointed as Managing Director at The Vineta, Oetker Collection. With a career in the luxury hospitality industry spanning almost three decades, She brings her immense experience in the international luxury hotel space.  
• MDM Hotel Group appoints Florencia Tabeni as Chief Operations Officer (COO). She will be overseeing all aspects of sales & marketing, revenue management and human resources, She has also been fundamental in the latest property renovations.  
• Fouad Malouf has been promoted as Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Red Roof. He will support Gharib by overseeing the company's day-to-day operations.  
• Ashley Ochse has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Waldorf Astoria Chicago. She  is primed to lead the sales team in driving revenue and further enhancing the hotel's esteemed reputation as a premier luxury destination in the heart of Chicago.  
• Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa announces the appointment of Michelle Lee Marr as Spa Director. She will be responsible for managing SiSpa's day-to-day operations.  
• Zack Gharib named President at Red Roof. He brings more than two decades of senior management experience in franchising, operations and brand management with companies such as Marriott, Vacasa, LaQuinta by Wyndham and Highgate Homes.  
• Dawn Freeman has been appointed as Director of Sales at Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown. With over a decade of experience in driving revenue growth and cultivating client relationships, She will elevate the hotel's sales strategies and expand its market.  
• Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown welcomes Chase Chasteen as General Manager. He boasts an extensive 17- year tenure in the hospitality industry, marking Le Meridien Fort Worth Downtown as his ninth full service hotel and sixth under the Marriott banner.  
• Virgin Hotels Chicago appoints Anderson Foote as General Manager. He will oversee the operations of the 250 room luxury lifestyle hotel as well as popular dining outlets Miss Ricky's, Two Zero Three, and Cerise Rooftop.  
• First Hospitality announces the appointment of Nadia Panasyuk as Vice President of Revenue Strategy. She will lead the area revenue team, supporting all 70+ properties in the First Hospitality portfolio.  
• Charlotte Sørensen O’Donahue named Director of Food & Beverage at Emery, Autograph Collection. She will oversee all aspects of the hotel's dining operations from Emery's upscale Northern Italian Restaurant, Giulia, to Spyhouse Coffee Bar and Lounge.  
• Bradley Burwell joined Colliers as Executive Vice President. He will work alongside group leader Mark Owens, who is one of the foremost experts in the hospitality industry.  
• Kim Harris Jones has been appointed as Member of the Board of Directors at Caesars Entertainment, Inc. She will bring a unique perspective and in-depth experience to the Caesars Entertainment Board of Directors.  
• Daniel Texeira named General Manager at Romer House Waikīkī. He has 15-years of experience in the hospitality industry  
• AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu appoints Hayato Nogaki as General Manager. He will oversee managerial operations of Oahu's first AC hotel located in the heart of downtown Honolulu, which celebrated its grand opening on March 3, 2024.

Europe​

• George Georgousis has been appointed as General Manager at Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection. Grace Hotel Auberge will also be welcoming new destination-inspired experiences as well as a new seasonal Mediterranean menu.
• Chris Franzen named Managing Director at Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort Lake Lucerne. He has spent more than half of that time in the Gulf States, where he held management positions within the Hyatt group across the United Arab Emirates.  
• Andaz London Liverpool Street appoints Jad Lian as Marketing Communications Manager. He is focused on injecting fresh ideas and creativity into the guest experience at Andaz London.  
• The Woodward welcomes Jean-Marie Le Gall as General Manager. His tenure as Director of Sales and Marketing at prestigious establishments such as the Plaza Athénée Paris and Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris further highlight his extensive skillset.  
• Arnoud Vink has been appointed as Chief Development Officer at Louvre Hotels Group. He will be responsible for the group's development strategy in France and internationally.  
• Mike Grove has been promoted as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at HotStats Limited. He has been with the company for the last 6 years and his leadership skills and vision as COO have been instrumental to the ongoing success of the business.  
• HotStats Limited promotes Tanya Venegas as Chief Experience Officer. She has played a crucial role in creating, delivering, and enhancing our amazing HotStats Customer Success team and she will continue to deliver exceptional customer service in this new challenge.  
• Stéphane Ormand has been appointed as Sales and Revenue Director at Adagio. He will be responsible for driving the company's distribution and commercial strategy in close collaboration with the operational teams.  
• Felix Schaller named Area General Manager & General Manager at 1 Hotels, Europe & 1 Hotel Copenhagen. He oversees world-class operations in the European market, managing existing hotels and handling pre-opening responsibilities for Treehouse Manchester.  
• Spencer Yeo has been appointed as General Manager at Treehouse Hotel London. He is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations.  
• Axel Krueger named General Manager at art’otel London Hoxton. He brings with him 17 years of experience in premium hotel management.  
• Diego Di Gaetano has been appointed as General Manager at art’otel Rome Piazza Sallustio. Tasked with bringing the art'otel brand to life in Rome across all hotel operations, he brings over 20 years of experience in hospitality.  
• The Resident Edinburgh appoints Gillian Mylles as General Manager. Resident Hotels will operate the Upper Upscale hotel, developed with Mactaggart Family & Partners, becoming the sixth ''The Resident'' branded hotel within the group's portfolio.  
• Accor’s Dubai World Trade Centre Hotels named Anirudh Chaturvedi as Cluster Director of Finance. He has 13 years of experience in finance and hospitality, including serving the Middle East region, specifically the UAE and Qatar, for the past six-plus years.  
• Mickael Meunier has been appointed as General Manager at Le Grand Hotel Cayré. He will spearhead the Le Grand Hotel Cayré launch and lead his incredible team to deliver brilliantly considered experiences and memorable stays.  
• Véronique Baudet named Accommodation Director at Le Grand Hotel Cayré. She will play a pivotal role, bringing extensive experience and a wealth of historical knowledge to the new property.  
• Le Grand Hotel Cayré appointed Bruno Brangea as Executive Chef. He promises to enchant both hotel guests and locals alike with his meticulously crafted dishes.  
• Oscar Blackstone has been appointed as Bar Manager at Le Grand Hotel Cayré. He joins the team at Le Grand Hotel Cayré following roles at Chez Caché, Les Bains, Lockwood, the Social Club at Wanderlust, and Silencio.  
• EHL Hospitality Business School welcomes Nicole Brändle as Member of the Board of Directors. For the last five years she was the Head of Economic Policy and Education at HotellerieSuisse, as well as a member of the management board.  
• Marie Forestier has been appointed as Member of the Board of Directors at EHL Hospitality Business School. For more than 10 years she has served as the Director of the renowned Hotel Bon Rivage by Lake Geneva.

Asia

• Ankur Raj has been appointed as Director of Revenue Management at Crowne Plaza Greater Noida. He will be responsible to contribute optimizing revenue generation activities while supporting the leadership teams with various business activities.
• Dean Dimitriou named General Manager at The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel. He will spearhead strategic development, drive commercial growth, and foster a culture of service excellence, leading The Murray, Hong Kong to new heights of success.
• Crowne Plaza Greater Noida appoints Ankita Palit as Crowne Meetings Director. She will be responsible for revenue generation, creating new business opportunities through MICE, weddings and outdoor catering vertical.
•  The Calile Hotel welcomes Chris Kemlo as General Manager. His reputation for delivering elevated customer service and driving business success will stand him in good stead to lead The Calile team.
•  Lakshmanan Ramanathan has been appointed as General Manager at Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan. He brings a wealth of knowledge and a demonstrated track record of excellence to his new role.
•  Manmeet Singh named General Manager at Novotel Guwahati GS Road. With an extensive career spanning 25 years across various segments within the hospitality industry, including business, resort, and luxury hotels.
•  The Ritz-Carlton announces the appointment of Shri Raj Goswami as Associate Director of Food & Beverage. He brings 12 years of unparalleled experience in luxury hospitality.
• Shrikant Patro has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton. His journey from Associate Director to Director of Restaurants and Bars at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu reflects his unwavering dedication and profound expertise.
• Pushkar Bhat named Director of Sales & Marketing at The Ritz-Carlton. With over 15 years of illustrious experience across renowned hospitality brands, his dynamic approach and strategic acumen are poised to drive revenue growth at Ritz Carlton.
• The Ritz-Carlton announces the appointment of Priyanka Gupta as Director of Sales. Her dynamic leadership promises to guide her team towards achieving property priorities and revenue goals at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune.
• Kavindra Tiwari has been appointed as Director of Human Resources at The Ritz-Carlton. His leadership ensures comprehensive Human Resources operations that embody a results-driven approach at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune.
• Amit Chawla named Director of Food and Beverage at Hyatt Regency Delhi. His extensive experience also includes roles with other renowned brands such as Aloft and Courtyard by Marriott and participation in task force teams for the pre-opening of hotels.
• Hilton announces Joseph Khairallah as Area Vice President, Head of Japan, Korea & Micronesia. He will oversee Hilton's 32 trading hotels and future pipeline growth, as Hilton expands its regional footprint. 
• Audrey Lim has been appointed as Director of Human Resources at The Ritz-Carlton. She brings over 20 years of experience working as a trusted Human Resource and Talent Partner to blue chip multinational corporations in regional and global roles. 
• Jin Kim named Executive Assistant Manager of Rooms at The Ritz-Carlton. He will oversee all Room operations, including Housekeeping, Guest Services, The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, The Ritz-Carlton Spa and the Fitness Centre.
• Nikita Ramchandani has been promoted as Multi Property Vice President at Marriott International. Her responsibilities will include streamlining process, managing owner relations and providing support to General Managers in achieving their goals. 
• Pjey Mayandi has been appointed as General Manager at M Social Phuket. He brings more than 18 years of expertise to this contemporary, design-led hotel, which opened its doors in late 2023. 
• Kieran Twomey named Regional Head of Operations at Shangri-La Group, MEIA. His journey with Shangri-La began in 1992, and over 25 years, he has held various leadership roles across the globe, including China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. 
• Crowne Plaza Gurgaon appoints Gaurav Apte as Area General Manager. He will oversee the operations and strategic initiatives of IHG properties in South West Asia while also leading the team at Crowne Plaza Today Gurugram to further elevate guest satisfaction. 
• Suveer Sodhi named Cluster General Manager at Courtyard and Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru. With over 17 years of distinguished experience in the hospitality sector, he brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success to his new role. 
• Aloft New Delhi Aerocity appoints Preeti Jayant as Human Resources Manager. She brings a wealth of expertise garnered from her previous role as Human Resources Manager at Hilton Garden Inn, Lucknow.

­­
South America​

• Alan Pujol has been appointed as Vice President of Operations at Sandos Hotels & Resorts. He brings with him decades of industry experience, which he will lend to the brand's ten major resorts in some of the world's most well-known beach destinations in Mexico.
• Neal Herman named President at Punta Cacique. He brings more than two decades of luxury hospitality and development experience, most recently serving as President and COO of Las Catalinas.  
• Williamsburg welcomes Selena Coles as its newest Public Relations Specialist. Her responsibilities include media relations, promoting Visit Williamsburg's initiatives and attractions to a global audience, and developing strategic communications plans.

Middle East​

• Karim Abdelhamid has been appointed as General Manager at Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort. He has 25 years of rich experience in managing luxury and lifestyle properties globally. 
• Gregg Nielsen named Director of Sales at Jumeirah Group. He will be responsible for driving Jumeirah Group's ethos of exceptional customer satisfaction. 
• Amid Yazji has been promoted as Cluster General Manager at Gulf Hotel, Novotel Al Dana Resort, Gulf Executive Residences Juffair, and Bahrain Airport Hotel. He will be responsible for the strategic direction and operational management of Gulf Hotels 
• Reem Garash joined HVS MEA as New Partner for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With over 12 years of unparalleled experience in hospitality and expertise in strategic planning, finance, and business development, She brings invaluable insights to support HVS's growth strategy. 
• Tobias Ernst has been appointed as Director of Operations at Shangri-La Jeddah. He will lead Shangri-La Jeddah's operational initiatives, implementing strategic plans to enhance efficiency, elevate guest experiences, and further solidify the hotel's dynamic reputation. 
• Ismail Ibrahim named General Manager at Mercure Muscat. His career has seen him take on leadership roles in establishments across Oman, the UAE, and Egypt for the likes of Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, IHG, Mövenpick and Wyndham. 
• Rahul Sharma has been appointed as General Manager at One&Only The Palm in Dubai. His responsibilities extend to overseeing the resort's restaurants, including Zest, STAY by Yannick Alléno, 101 Dining Lounge and Marina, and The Lounge. 
• Sara Serpilli named Art Manager at Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown. Her vision for the role includes initiatives such as artists' residency programmes and enhanced art tours, ensuring that art remains a central component of the hotel's ambience. 
• Jad Frem has been appointed as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara and Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts. He brings expertise in devising impactful sales and marketing strategies. 
• Ranganath P Nayak named Director of Groups & Events at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara and Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts. He remains dedicated to enhancing groups & events operations. 
• Shangri-La and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri appoints Ellen Porrmann as Director of Operations. With over twenty years of experience in the hospitality industry, she comes to the team from Shangri-La The Shard, London, where she served as director of rooms.