Werner Anzinger

General Manager,
Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai

Anzinger is at the helm of the launch of Mandarin Oriental’s first property in the UAE. A hospitality professional with over 25 years of experience within the industry – 21 of these with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group – he provides the strategic direction for this 265-key hotel. He is responsible for overseeing the hotel’s overall operation and performance as well as building a strong culture and highly motivated team.

Colin Baker

Regional Director,
Park Regis Kris Kin

With over 35 years of experience within the hospitality industry, Baker brings with him a wealth of knowledge and an-in depth background of operations, sales and property development earned throughout his years working with IHG, Accor, Marriott and Carlson Rezidor. In addition to being voted as one of the most powerful Hoteliers in the Middle East in 2019, he brings his passion for the job, market insights and world-renowned expertise to his current role of regional director for the Park Regis Kris Kin.

Sophie Blondel

General Manager,
The H Dubai

Blondel is the new general manager of The H Dubai, the 5-star property on Sheikh Zayed Road. Hailing from France, she oversees the entire strategic operations of the 236-rooms property and ensures profitability and return on owner investment. Aided by her well-honed leadership skills, she leads the team in offering guests the finest hospitality experience.

Monther Darwish

Chairman and Co-founder/Managing Director,
Palazzo Hospitality/Palazzo Versace Dubai

One of the most luxurious hotels in Dubai, Palazzo Versace has grown under the helm of Darwish, a successful young Emirati entrepreneur who started his career early in 2000s. His portfolio of businesses spans several sectors and industries, from hospitality to real estate, tourism, general trading and interior design.

Omar Souab

General Manager,
Sofitel Dubai Wafi

Leading the strategic direction and managing pre-opening operations of Sofitel Hotels & Resorts largest property in the Middle East, Souab brings a wealth of hospitality experience with an in-depth background in operations and sales following a 15-year career with Accor Group in Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. Passionate about his profession and with providing audiences with unique and memorable experiences, Souab brings his expertise, strategic market insight and strong leadership skills to the role.

Frank Bechemilh

Cluster General Manager,
ibis Styles and Grand Mercure

Bechemilh has recently been appointed as cluster general manager of the new ibis Styles and Grand Mercure cluster in Dubai, overseeing operations at the 712-room complex. Located close to the GGICO Metro station and Dubai International Airport, both hotels are flagships hotels for the Accor Group within the United Arab Emirates. ibis Styles reimagines Dubai through a contemporary concept that appeases young professionals as well as GGC families, while the opulent Grand Mercure marks a brand entry into the UAE, set to welcome discerning guests appeased luxurious offerings.

Vipin Khattar

General Manager ,
Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Hotel & Residences

Khattar is a success-driven, strategic and passionate hotelier, dedicated to service excellence, possessing a wealth of experience spanning 18+ years in the hospitality business. Since becoming general manager of Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights Hotel & Residences, the highly experienced hospitality expert has overseen the strategic and financial performance of the property. Khattar has received the GCC’s Best General Manager’s Award and GCC’s Best Employer Brand Award from CMO Asia.

Glen Nobbs

General Manager,
Millennium Place Barsha Heights

A hospitality professional with 25 years of experience in hotel operations, management, and marketing, Nobbs has an extensive and rewarding career history, working with Shangri-La Hotels in Sydney, Muscat and Dubai, and Marriot prior to joining Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. He joined as hotel manager of Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai from 2011 till 2014.
A graduate of Ryde College of TAFE in Sydney Australia, Nobbs was named GM of the Year 2016 by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels MEA, and Manager of the Year 2000 by ANA Hotel Sydney.

Kosta Kourotsidis

General Manager,
Fairmont Ajman

Kourotsidis brings along a wealth of more than 23 years of global experience in leadership positions across Germany, Ireland, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Bahrain and the UAE. He is responsible for the overall operations, performance, and strategic directions in conjunction with the brand strategy in delivering exceptional results, at the company’s beachfront resort located in the emirate of Ajman, featuring 252 guest rooms and suites, as well as seven food and beverage outlets.

Fredrik Reinisch

Complex General Manager,
Al Habtoor City

Reinisch has been the complex general manager for the Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection since August 2018, joining the multi-hotel complex from the Habtoor Grand Resort in Dubai Marina. An award-winning hotel complex, Al Habtoor City, Hotel Collection includes three hotels: Habtoor Palace Dubai, LXR Hotels & Resorts, V Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City. Collectively, Reinisch is responsible for more than 1,600 guest rooms and suites, 23 restaurants and lounges, two spas, and 34 banqueting and meeting spaces, including three large ballrooms.

David Allan

Cluster General Manager,
Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Waterfront, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Canal View and Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah

Born in Scotland, Allan started his career with the Radisson Hotel Group at Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, progressing from food and beverage manager to the role of deputy general manager. He is currently on his fifth general manager appointment and has taken the lead for pre-opening the two five-star hotels located in Business Bay. The 432-bedroom Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Waterfront which opened in Q1 2018 while the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Canal View opened its doors in Q4 2019, adding another 206 stylish rooms and suites, in addition to the first Radisson resort in Ras Al Khaimah to open in the Middle East, Q1 2020.

Allan received the General Manager Excellence recognition at the Scottish Hotel Awards in 2013, having previously won the Friendly Service Award for the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, Aberdeen at the same awards in 2011.

Georges Farhat

General Manager,
Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina

During his first few years at the Crowne Plaza Dubai, Georges served under various other titles, including senior sales manager and front office manager. However, it was in 2009 when he took on his first major leadership role as executive assistant manager. By 2011, Farhat had progressed to hotel manager, where he led the team that designed, developed and launched the well-known Brazilian restaurant Chamas. Farhat was appointed as general manager in 2014, a role which led to him being named GM of the Year by a reputable industry publication.

Luke James

General Manager,
Zabeel House by Jumeirah The Greens

James has been with Jumeirah since his appointment to the position of director of operations at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel in 2016. He is now general manager of Zabeel House by Jumeirah - The Greens, having been appointed in April 2018. In his current role, he is responsible for overseeing both the launch and operations of the hotel as part of Jumeirah Group’s new upscale casual brand: Zabeel House by Jumeirah. He has more than 20 years of hospitality experience in a number of F&B and hotel operational management roles.

Sabine Renner

Hotel Manager ,
Park Hyatt Dubai

Since joining Park Hyatt Dubai, Renner’s impact, alongside the commercial team’s efforts, have paved the way for the property to become a market leader in Dubai and a benchmark for hotels in the region. In a meticulously executed strategy to reposition the hotel on the market, she seamlessly brought in new demographics and a diversified guest roster, increasing the number of weekend leisure travellers to the hotel. Renner’s strategy and fine-tuned management skills led to Park Hyatt Dubai achieving the number one ranking within the hotel’s competitive set.

Hind Al Hammadi

Head of Hospitality,
Manazil Group, Marjan Island Resort and Spa and Pullman Hotel Sharjah

An American University of Sharjah graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing & Communication, Al Hammadi is a young Emirati, who followed her father’s passion for the hospitality sector. She split her time between university and Manazil Group, learning a variety of practical and theoretical skills.

Al Hammadi was always eager to work in this field and believes that the industry isn’t just important for businesses, but also customers, employees and the UAE. The future of the hospitality department of Manazil group now includes three news hotels be introduced over the next eight months.

Victor Chalfoun

General Manager,
Waldorf Astoria DIFC

Victor Chalfoun is the general manager of the Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Bringing 18 years of hospitality experience to the first Waldorf Astoria city hotel in the UAE, Chalfoun’s strategic flair and commitment to delivering the True Waldorf Service will be experienced by the hotel’s guests when they visit the property, comprising of 201 guest rooms, 46 suites and 28 residential apartments.

Achieving over 25 honours by leading awarding bodies; World Luxury Hotel Awards, Luxury Travel Guide, World Travel Awards and World Golf Awards during his career, perhaps the most meaningful was his nomination for the CEO Light and Warmth Award, Hilton’s most honourable accolade, during his tenure in South Africa.

Victor Chalfoun

Director,
Market Management, Middle East & Turkey, Expedia Group

David Debeule is responsible for the market management in the Middle East and Turkey for Expedia Group. Debeule, an expert in forging hotel partnerships to drive business growth, has worked with Expedia Group for more than six years and comes with an impressive 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry. In his previous role as an area manager in Quebec, he was responsible for strategic consulting among Canadian hoteliers to improve the client experience.

Debeule, who holds a degree in International Business management, has also worked as a senior market manager in Singapore and a market manager in Montreal. His UAE experience includes working as complex director of revenue management for the Grosvenor House and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort and Spa.

Lorenzo Maraviglia

Hotel Manager,
Four Seasons Hotel DIFC

The hotel manager of Four Seasons Hotel DIFC, Maraviglia has 20+ years of experience in the hospitality industry. He spent seven years in management at luxury hotels in downtown Dubai before joining Four Seasons along the white sands of the Arabian Gulf in fall 2016 at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. Here, he oversaw the front-of-the-house and kitchen teams for two restaurants, including signature Sea Fu and market-style Suq, four bars and lounges, including the chic rooftop Mercury Lounge, and the pool and beach area for over two years.

Following his great success at Four Seasons flagship resort in Dubai, Maraviglia moved to DIFC to take the helm of the group’s second hotel in the city, Four Seasons Hotel DIFC. Under his leadership, the Hotel has been continuously recognised as one of the top hotels within the city and he has transformed the Hotel’s food and beverage offering to make it one of the best places to see and be seen in Dubai.

Hany Samuel

General Manager,
First Central Hotel Suites

Hany Samuel spearheads First Central Hotel Suites’ overall operations and management as the general manager. He is responsible for overseeing brand management and brand performance support at First Central Hotel Suites.

In his multi-faceted role, Samuel leads an international team with staff from multi-cultural backgrounds in growing relationships with clients, developing a culture of excellence and team work and implementing successful and strategic initiatives aimed at exceeding guests’ expectations. He is a seasoned hotelier with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector. He drives revenue, loyalty, culture and quality control as Central Hotels continue to expand rapidly in the region.