Patrick Moukarzel has been named as the general manager of Al Bait Sharjah – the 53-key hotel scheduled to open later this year.
Since his last role with General Hotel Management (GHM) as a general manager in Suzhou, Moukarzel has managed luxury hotels in Penang, Malaysia and in Maldives where he shepherded the Soneva Jani from the final stages of construction to full operation.
“If ever there was a reason to leave the paradise of Maldives, it’s for the Heart of Sharjah,” said Moukarzel.
“Its ambitions as a heritage project are remarkable, and Al Bait – the city’s first true luxury hotel – will be right at the centre of it all.”
Hans R. Jenni, director and president of GHM, said: ‘Patrick’s got a great eye for detail and for problem-solving. He knows how to build bridges between what’s in a blueprint and what’s at the heart of a guest’s expectations for a luxury hotel stay.”
Between 2006 and 2012, Moukarzel rose through the ranks from a food and beverage manager at The Chedi Muscat to general manager positions at the luxury hotel group’s properties in Thailand and China.
After schooling at LycéeHôtelier Toulouse, his first job as a fledgling hotelier was as a restaurant manager at the Hotel InterContinental in Dubai.
He worked two more years at an InterContinental in Egypt before returning to Dubai, this time for a stint with Hyatt.
The hotel’s design includes a direct link to a traditional bazaar and marketplace, a round wind tower, thatched roofs and traditional motifs.
GHM also has plans to open two more properties this year in India and Montenegro.
