Some of the region’s most luxurious properties have made top-level appointments this week, including two hires at Jumeirah Group and another within Anantara. Read on to see them all.
Irene Renart, senior sales manager at Jumeirah Muscat Bay
Jumeirah Muscat Bay has appointed Irene Renart as its senior sales manager. Renart is no stranger to luxury Gulf hospitality, joining from Four Seasons Dubai where she was cluster sales manager – corporate and groups.
Her move to Oman was announced by the Jumeirah hotel’s DOSM Juliette Schwartz. She said: “We are delighted to welcome Irene back to both Jumeirah Group / Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts and to Oman, a place that is very special to her as it marks her Middle East debut nearly 10 years ago.”
In her new role, she will target European markets, and be the key contact for European partners while based in Dubai.
Zhao Bo, speciality chef at Sheraton Beach Hotel
Sheraton Beach Hotel has brought in a new speciality chef for Chinese restaurant Peacock. Chef Zhao Bo brings nine years of experience to the plate, having started out in Beijing.
Over the years, he’s worked with many well-known hospitality groups including Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, Crowne Plaza and now Marriott International.
From 2019 to 2020 he was junior chef de cuisine at Mandarin Oriental Doha; and was junior sous chef for Shangri-La Hotels in Sri Lanka before that.
Tamer Farouk, GM at Hilton Bahrain
Hilton Hotels has announced Tamer Farouk will take the reins of the upcoming Hilton Bahrain. Stepping in as its general manager, he will steep the hotel towards a successful opening in the first quarter of next year.
“I look forward to this new opportunity and I am proud to be able to lead the phenomenal team at Hilton Bahrain,” said Farouk. “My ultimate goal is to ensure that this hotel becomes a top choice for both leisure and business travellers visiting the area by delivering outstanding customer service and amenities.”
Farouk is bringing more than 25 years of Hilton experience across Egypt and different GCC countries to this upcoming Hilton hotel. Previously he served as GM of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Doha from 2017 to February 2021.
Taha Mohamed, EAM at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island has brought in Taha Mohamed as its executive assistant manager (EAM), his first time holding the position.
He announced his move to the UAE capital on LinkedIn, saying: “[I am] ready to disrupt the scene and set the trend in W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, soak it and rev it up with W Hotels! new success chapter with Marriott International has just begun, cheers for everyone’s success and here’s to the journey.”
Mohamed was previously at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel in Japan as assistant director of rooms. Here he handled over 1,000 keys and 250 team members, responsible for the entire rooms division, including front of house, housekeeping and fitness and recreation departments.
New team at Days Hotel by Wyndham Deira
The newly-opened Days Hotel by Wyndham Deira has bolstered its leadership team. The property has introduced its management team across four key departments: marketing, F&B, front office and training.
All four of the hoteliers have taken up a clustered position, with the nearby Wyndham Dubai Deira also falling under their remit. Mary Kiliny has been named cluster front office manager; Giampaolo Scarfi is cluster F&B manager; Shayne Monasterio is cluster marketing manager, and Juan Marsh is cluster training manager.
New team at DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences
The upcoming DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences has unveiled its leadership team. In doing so, the hotel has ushered in a host of firsts for the group; employing the first female security head in Hilton UAE, and the first Emirati sales lead.
Set to open later this month (October), the hotel’s leadership team comprises professionals from Ukraine, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and Russia. The wider hotel team hail from more than 30 countries between them, capable of conversing in 20 different languages.
With women accounting for 60 percent of the leadership team, some noteworthy appointments include Fatuma Abdul as the first female head of security at Hilton in the UAE, Amna Alraeesi as the first Emirati sales lead at Hilton in the UAE, and Nadia Kaser heading up a 100 percent female commercial team.
The leadership team includes Vikram Jamwal as GM who joins from the Hilton Durban in South Africa. Alongside him is Katia Kosynska as front office manager from Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Doha before that. Commercial manager Kaser meanwhile has over a decade of experience and has held hospitality roles in three continents.
Liana Julius joins as an executive housekeeper from Hilton Durban also; while Natalia Krutova moves up to F&B manager after 11 years of working in the industry.
Giacomo Puntel, resort manager at Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort
Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort – a super luxury property of just 70 keys – has named Giacomo Puntel as its resort manager. Though the Italian national has worked for a myriad of luxury properties in the past, it is his first time moving away from the F&B department.
In his new role, he will be leading the team of the upcoming resort. The property will feature suites, beach and pool villas. Villas will have a private pool, an outdoor dining area and direct access to the beach. Dining options will include a Mediterranean al fresco restaurant and Arabic-Indian speciality dining. An additional bar lounge will offer views of the distant Dubai skyline.
No stranger to Anantara, Puntel had previously served as director of F&B of the nearby Anantara The Palm Dubai, located 15 minutes by boat from his new property. He held the role from September 15 to October this year.
Andy Nicholson, GM and director of experience at Inside Burj Al Arab
