The Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi and Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi developed by Bloom Properties has revealed the new Executive team who will steer the new opening.
Located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Bloom Central is a 25-storey mixed-use project comprising two blocks. The first consists of the 64-suite Marriott Executive Apartments, 49 Bloom Residences as well as 7,000 square metres of premium office space. The second 
block is home to the 315-room five-star Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi, targeting a mix of business and leisure travellers. While Bloom Residences and offices have already opened their doors to tenants, the Marriott properties are set for completion in summer 2016.
Features at the hotel include contemporary guestrooms, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, culinary offerings and wellness facilities. Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi is targeted at the extended stay market, providing upscale residential living including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.
General manager, David Lance said: “We are proud to open the first Marriott Hotel in the capital city, bringing Marriott International’s flagship brand to Abu Dhabi along with the debut of Marriott’s luxury extended stay product. I am fortunate to be supported by an incredibly experienced and diverse team that is united to ensure the hotel lives up to the brand’s promise to reimagine the future of travel, offering a blend of high-tech and high-touch services. We are looking forward to open our doors later this year for guests to experience a combination of sophisticated design and innovation, within Emirati warmth and hospitality.”
The property executive team members include: Andrew Dickson, director of operations, who brings to his new role 15 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and joined Marriott in 2008, where he was appointed director of operations at Wailea Beach Resort and Spa in Maui, Hawaii. Previous appointments include the role of resident manager in 2009 at JW Marriott in Phuket, followed by director of operations at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square.
Nicholas A. Rana, director of sales and marketing, started his career in the sales discipline at the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel in 2003. Marriott Hotel Downtown Abu Dhabi will be Nicholas’ fifth hotel opening with Marriott across five different countries and three distinct Marriott brands. Nicholas will be responsible for Sales & Marketing for both properties and in seeing through the launch of the first Marriott Hotel in the capital.
Amr Mahmoud, director of engineering, has over 18 years’ engineering experience in the hospitality industry and started his career with Marriott in 2006. Prior to this appointment he was Assistant Director of Engineering at the 1,608 room JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. During his career, Amr coordinated numerous projects, renovations and hotel openings and will now in this leadership role oversee the last phase in the completion of the two properties, in addition to being responsible for the upkeep and maintenance.
Shaun Dean, Multi-Property Director of Revenue, is a hugely experienced revenue leader, responsible for developing and implementing effective commercial sales strategies across the UK region. Shaun began his career in hospitality as a graduate trainee in Paris, France in 1992 and went on to become Marriott’s first UK Director of Group Strategy and Business Evaluation in 2008. As a multi-property Director of Revenue, Shaun will be overseeing 574 keys divided amongst the Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi and the Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi.
Asif Ahmed, Multi-Property Director of Finance, has over 18 years of international experience within the GCC. Starting his career with Marriott in 2001, Asif brings strength and depth of finance management expertise to his new role as Multi-Property Director of Finance, overlooking both the new properties as well as the Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi.
Petra Solle, Multi-Property Director of Human Resources, has previously worked as a Human Resources professional across a variety of Marriott hotels in the United Kingdom. Petra brings a strong knowledge of Marriott operations and Human Resources to her new role, having been a part of the pre-opening team of Courtyard by Marriott, World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi as Director of Human Resources, successfully opening the hotel in December 2014.
