Hotels

EDDY TANNOUS, VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS - ON SAUDI'S TOURISM EVOLUTION

Hodema Consulting Services sat with Eddy Tannous, vice president, operations – Accor KSA, to hear about the group’s upcoming developments in the kingdom.

What impact is the growth underway KSA having on Accor?

Tourism in Saudi Arabia is going through a very exciting time, and we are proud to be associated with many of its iconic giga projects. Several Accor hotel brands across all segments, from economy and midscale to ultra-luxury, are involved. There’s a very exciting plan to grow our new lifestyle brands under our Enismore umbrella. We are also proud to be What expansion plans can you share with us?

Accor is currently the largest hotel operator in KSA, with 40 operating hotels. We aim to keep our leading position in the years to come. Today, we have a committed pipeline of 39 projects and many more under serious negotiation. accor.com

Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com

HOTEL ALBERGO: A GEM TO BEHOLD, WITH TONY W. GERGESS

A TALK WITH INFLUENTIAL HOTELIER THOMAS PERUZZO OF ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI

Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in east Beirut, a stone’s throw from downtown, the Hotel Albergo is a sanctuary

Thomas Peruzzo, general manager of Armani Hotel Dubai, is a seasoned hotelier and inspirational leader. In this interview, we uncover the secret behind his success and what makes Armani Hotel Dubai such a sought-after place to stay. of luxury and the only Relais & Châteaux property in the country. Old-world charm meets high-end service at this Beirut landmark, as Tony W. Gergess, the newly appointed general manager, explains.

How will your hospitality experience help in your new role as GM of the Albergo?

Having been fortunate enough to have diversified my experience between large luxury chain hotels and authentic boutique hotels, I can bring international management standards to the role. I shy away from cookie-cutter management practices to bring an element of surprise to every guest experience. What do you have planned for the Hotel Albergo?

After the successful launch of our new cocktail bar, Swim Club, we recently opened the Lobby Café, with a lush outdoor terrace and an all-day casual menu. Our next focus will be on revamping the suites with soft touch-ups. The hotel is working on offering more services in the near future, such as a spa and an authentic Turkish hammam. albergobeirut.com

Read the full interview on hospitalitynewsmag.com

What differentiates Armani Hotel Dubai from others in the emirate?

Located at the heart of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, our location sets us apart in an architectural sense, yet inside the hotel, across our guest rooms and suites, and throughout our award-winning restaurants and spa, it is the Armani philosophy that gives us our signature mark. The hotel was the first property built and personally designed by Giorgio Armani himself, and his philosophy was that guests would be welcomed to a home away from home. This is imbued across every element of Armani Hotel Dubai, from our facilities to our people, and this is what makes us stand out in a heavily saturated and highly competitive hospitality landscape. associated with many individual private owners in all parts of the kingdom. We have one of the strongest development pipelines, with over 40 projects in the active pre-opening phase and many more in the planning stage.

You were nominated for the award of Judge’s Choice Most Inspiring General Manager of the Year by Hozpitality Middle East, alongside several others. What makes your leadership inspirational?

You should really ask my team that question! If I were to describe my leadership style, I would say it is anchored in personal passion and driven by collaboration. An open-door policy is absolutely critical in my opinion, as this fosters a culture that is centered around employee empowerment coupled with a workplace environment where ideas are welcomed, innovation is celebrated and we all have each other’s backs. My success is very much dependent on that of my team, and the team at Armani Hotel Dubai is truly exceptional. armanihoteldubai.com

OPENED

EGYPT

IHG OPENS FIRST CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL IN EGYPT IHG has opened the Crowne Plaza West Cairo Arkan, the brand’s first hotel in Egypt.

Part of the Arkan Plaza, the Crowne Plaza features 178 rooms and suites, a variety of F&B outlets, a choice of meeting and event spaces, a Club Lounge, a fitness center and a swimming pool. ihg.com

JORDAN

ROTANA’S CENTRO MADA, AMMAN Rotana is pursuing its expansion plans throughout 2022 with the launch of the first Centro concept hotel in Jordan. Designed for the new generation of traveler, the contemporary 194-room facility features smart technology, in-room entertainment and lifestyle-driven dining venues. The hotel also boasts an outdoor temperaturecontrolled pool on the rooftop, as well as a gym and three meeting rooms. rotana.com

KSA

RADISSON HOTEL GROUP WELCOMES FOURTH BRAND TO SAUDI KSA Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport, the group’s fourth brand in the KSA. This brings the group’s portfolio to over 25 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in operation and under development in Saudi Arabia.

Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport features 471 rooms, including duplex suites, threebedroom villas and connecting rooms. The hotel offers its guests three outdoor pools, two indoor pools, a separate ladies and men’s fitness studio and a spa. radissonhotels.com

KSA

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON JEDDAH CORNICHE IS WELCOMING GUESTS Four Points by Sheraton, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 hotel brands, has announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah Corniche, which is owned by Al Murjan Group Holding. Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah Corniche features 301 rooms, a selection of restaurants, as well as over 570 square meters of flexible meeting space with eight meeting rooms. Other facilities include a health club and a swimming pool. fourpointsjeddahcorniche.com

OMAN

OMRAN GROUP OFFICIALLY OPENS DUSITD2 NASEEM RESORT OMRAN Group officially inaugurated the dusitD2 Naseem Resort, Jabal Akhdar, reaffirming the country’s position on the global leisure tourism map.

Built with an investment of OMR 24 million, dusitd2 Naseem Resort offers over 250 rooms, the sultanate’s first 8,000-squaremeter adventure park, as well as extensive facilities and activities. dusit.com

QATAR

QATAR’S ZULAL WELLNESS RESORT NOW WELCOMING GUESTS Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, an internationally acclaimed wellness resort in Thailand, opened its doors in Qatar on March 29. Spread across 280,000 square meters, Zulal offers two exclusive venues for health and well-being: Zulal Serenity Wellness Resort and Zulal Discovery Wellness Resort. Adults can access a wide range of therapeutic and lifestyle enhancement treatments based upon Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) principles while enabling families to enjoy positive wellness experiences together.

Zulal Wellness Resort will feature high-end Arabian, Mediterranean and fine-dining restaurants, with children’s menus to encourage a healthy approach to food from a young age. zulal.com

UAE

PARAMOUNT HOTEL MIDTOWN PREMIERES IN DUBAI Paramount Hotel Midtown has opened its doors in Dubai with contemporary Hollywood-chic styles and impressive views.

The property features 281 rooms and suites, as well as five bespoke restaurants. Business studios catering to business meetings, social gatherings and special events of up to 150 guests can be found on the hotel’s 15th floor. paramounthotelsdubai.com MILLENNIUM OPENS NEW STUDIO M PROPERTY IN DUBAI Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA has expanded the Studio M brand with a new property in Dubai’s Al Barsha neighborhood, in partnership with Jersey Properties. Studio M is a lifestyle concept that embraces technology and allows people to socialize and interact, offering a unique place to rest and play. Studio M Al Barsha offers 155 rooms and has been thoughtfully designed in vibrant colors. millenniumhotels.com TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA, THE PALM, DUBAI OPENS ITS DOORS Indian Hotels Company’s (IHCL) brand, Taj, announced the opening of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm in Dubai. The resort offers 325 rooms and suites, an array of culinary experiences and holistic wellness at the award-winning Jiva spa. tajhotels.com

OPENING SOON

KSA

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND AND DEUTSCHE HOSPITALITY SIGN EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) signed a memorandum of understanding with Deutsche Hospitality, the umbrella brand of the German hotel company Steigenberger Hotels AG, to develop and operate Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels projects in Saudi Arabia. The agreement includes the right to exclusively launch the first Steigenberger Porsche Design Hotels project in the Middle East. Offering a minimum of 150 rooms, suites and penthouses, the hotels will include a restaurant and lounge concept, exclusive meet-and-greet areas, and worldclass health and beauty facilities. Opening: TBD deutschehospitality.com

UAE

UAE’S FIRST SIX SENSES HOTEL AND BRANDED RESIDENCES ARE UNDERWAY Select Group, the global property developer, and its joint-venture partner Emirates Strategic Investments Company (ESIC), have signed a management agreement with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas to develop the ultra-luxury operator’s first branded residences and hotel in the UAE. Opening: Construction commenced in January 2022, with a targeted completion date of Q4 2024. sixsenses.com MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR INTEGRATED RESORT SLATED FOR RAK WITH GAMING FACILITY ON AL MARJAN ISLAND, RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE Marjan, RAK Hospitality Holding and Wynn Resorts Limited, the US-listed international developer and operator of luxury resorts, have announced a multibillion-dollar integrated resort development on the manmade Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The current scope includes a hotel of more than 1,000 rooms, high-end shopping mall, a state-of-the-art meeting and convention facility, an exclusive spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, a wide array of entertainment choices, a gaming area and other amenities. Opening: 2026 rakhospitality.com

FARES YACTINE APPOINTED REGIONAL VP AT GULF HOTELS GROUP IN MANAMA With a career spanning more than two decades, Fares Yactine is the new regional vice president at Gulf Hotels Group, 15 years after he originally joined the iconic Bahraini property.

In his previous role, he oversaw the owned and managed properties of the group in Bahrain and Dubai. CONRAD DUBAI APPOINTS A NEW GENERAL MANAGER Conrad Dubai has appointed Michael Schmitt as its new general manager. Schmitt joins the hotel with a multiaward-winning background, with much of his career spent working with Hilton and its luxury hotel portfolio.

Prior to joining Conrad Dubai, Schmitt was the general manager of Waldorf Astoria Chengdu, China. He also won the 2020 Asia Pacific Hotel General Manager of the Year award by Stelliers Asia. NEW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR FAIRMONT DUBAI Fairmont Dubai announced the appointment of Nawaf Abdelaziz Nayef Hassan as its director of operations. He will play a key role in overseeing the operations of the hotel across all functions and ensuring the highest levels of guest satisfaction. Hassan will also be responsible for leading the team to ensure full compliance with the hotel operating controls, SOPs, policies, procedures and service standards. PREFERRED HOTEL GROUP WELCOME NEW DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL SALES AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST PHG Consulting, has welcomed Kirk McDonald as director of global sales and development in the Middle East. McDonald brings over 20 years of industry experience to this strategic role and has spent more than 11 years working in UAE. Prior to joining Preferred, he held progressive senior sales positions and consultancy roles for prestigious brands such as Flight Centre, Intrepid Travel, Visit Britain and Emirates.

LUIGI VESPERO PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF F&B AND CULINARY AT WALDORF ASTORIA DIFC Luigi Vespero has been appointed director of F&B and culinary for Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). He joined the property in 2019 and has played a visionary role in the strategic planning of the hotel’s food and beverage, and culinary function, supporting the entire team to deliver unforgettable and seamless gastronomic experiences to guests. TIME HOTELS EXPANDS ITS SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM UAE-headquartered hospitality company TIME Hotels has announced new senior appointments to support the company in its expansion plans across MENA region.

Toufic Tamim joins as vice president – commercial. With over three decades of experience in the hospitality sector, Tamim is an industry powerhouse who will be leading TIME Hotels’ sales, marketing, e-commerce and revenue department.

Mary Joe Estiphan is Time Hotels’ new business development manager. She joins the team from the U.S. and has eight years of professional experience in the hospitality industry. NEW AREA RESTAURANTS AND BARS DIRECTOR FOR MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA AT RADISSON Radisson Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Joseph Chalfoun as area restaurants and bars director, Middle East and Africa.

Based at Radisson’s support office in Dubai, Chalfoun will lead the company-wide food and beverage transformation across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) to drive greater value for its guests, partners and owners.