. Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba is pleased to welcome Sami Ounalli as new Resort Manager. The passionate Tunisian hotelier gained his in-depth tourism, hospitality and leadership experience over the last 20 years at hotels and travel agencies throughout the Middle East and Africa.
Sami began his career by managing sales and marketing activities at Tunisia’s Dar Jerba hotel complex. Six years at two Tunisia-based travel agencies and destination management companies followed. Hospitality called again 2007 and he accepted the role as Director of Sales & Marketing of Odyssée Resort & Thalasso Spa.
In 2010 he joined Radisson Hotel Group in Tunisia, first as Director of Sales & Marketing and later as Executive Assistant Manager. Before joining Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, his final assignments for Radisson Blu were as Hotel Manager in Rwanda and Chad, where he lead the pre-opening team.
Sami has been involved in the advancement of sustainable tourism in Tunisia, and he looks forward to continuing similar efforts in support of Accor’s sustainability programme, Planet21.
Encouraging creativity and adapting to the trends of guest needs, are at the top of his list of things to do in his new role. “I am pleased to join the team and excited to bring new ideas and creativity to the fore,” said Ounalli.
Sami – who is fluent in Arabic, French and English – obtained his diploma in marketing, business administration and management from the Institute of Higher Commercial Studies of Carthage in Tunis.
A fun and charismatic character who is known as much for his listening capacity as for his frank speaking, Sami also likes discovering new technologies. He is passionate about people, culture and history – which are often the subjects of his many photographs.
The five-star Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba on the shores of the Red Sea in Aqaba features 306 rooms, extensive meeting facilities, wedding venues, wellness areas and a dive centre.
