Luxury hospitality in the Middle East is bringing in some top notch experts! From Jumeirah’s new communications appointment and Ritz-Carlton’s latest strategic leader in Ras Al Khaimah to Hyatt’s new trailblazers in Saudi Arabia, Grand Millenium’s new GM, the UN’s new Sustainable Tourism Ambassador, a wellness guru elevating IHG’s newest sanctuary in Oman, and more — these industry veterans are set to redefine excellence across the region.

Gucci Press Director joins Jumeirah Group

Jumeirah Group has appointed Julien Soyez as Vice President of Communications. Coming from a prestigious background of brand marketing and communications for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Cartier, Louis Vitton, and recently, Gucci, Soyez will be responsible for overseeing the global communication strategies for luxury hospitality company, Jumeirah. 

Soyez brings extensive experience in branding, public relations, and strategic communications, and his appointment is part of Jumeirah’s broader strategy to enhance its global brand presence. He will be working closely with Jumeirah’s leadership to drive the group’s communications and public relations efforts.

New DoSM for Ritz-Carlton RAK

Keti Gvritishvili brings more than a decade of luxury hospitality experience to the Ritz-Carlton, Ras Al Khaimah, as the new Multi-Property Director of Sales & Marketing. Her career in the Middle East started in 2014, Doha, where her results-driven performance quickly saw her rise to leadership positions in the luxury hospitality industry.

Known for her ability to develop strategies that drive growth, she has worked for the likes of Marriott International at W Dubai. Now, in her new role, Gvritishvili will oversee the operations across sales and marketing for the Al Hamra Beach and Al Wadi Desert resorts for the Ritz-Carlton. 

Hyatt Red Sea hires

The rise of the Red Sea Development has paved the way for two new general managers for the Hyatt in Saudi Arabia. First, Jean-Francois Durand joins Grand Hyatt The Red Sea as General Manager. He brings 30 years of experience within Hyatt with career highlights including his recent role overseeing Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla in Jordan, before moving to ensure the smooth opening of the 430 room luxury Grand Hyatt which is due to open by the end of 2025. 

Also in the Red Sea, Juan Paolo Alfonso is the new General Manager of the luxury wellness resort, Miraval The Red Sea. Alfonso’s hospitality career began in 2003 and has taken him across the U.S., Caribbean, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Oman before joining Hyatt in 2019. His appointment marks the international debut of the Miraval brand outside the U.S.

Shebara Resort welcomes new General Manager

Carla Puverel has been appointed as the General Manager of Shebara Resort by Red Sea Global Hospitality (RSGH). She brings 20 years of luxury hospitality experience from top resorts in the Maldives, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, and is expected to drive excellence and exceptional service at the resort.

MEA MD for Hyatt

With Hyatt’s aforementioned hotel openings across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) it’s unsurprising a new Managin Director has been appointed for the region. Stephen Ansell, who joined Hyatt in 1996 brings nearly 30 years of hospitality experience to the role which will oversee 38 hotels and play a key role in the expansion into Saudi Arabia. Ansell’s previous roles include senior positions across Europe, including General Manager at Park Hyatt Zurich and Area Vice President for Central Europe. His extensive expertise will support Hyatt’s ongoing growth in the MEA region.

Wellness expert for IHG Hotels

Brining over 20 years of experience in luxury spas across the Maldives, Bali, Vietnam, and Oman, Indah Megayani has been appointed as Spa and Wellness Director at the newly launched Jala Spa & Wellness in Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort & Spa. As a certified practitioner in yoga, meditation, sound and crystal healing, Megayani has been pivotal in designing and curating the spa’s offerings in the mountaintop sanctuary by IHG Hotels & Resorts.

New GM for the Grand Millenium Muscat

Grand Millennium Muscat has appointed Glenn Nobbs as its new General Manager. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Nobbs has worked with prestigious brands like Marriott, Emirates Hotels and Resorts, and Shangri-La. He previously served as the General Manager of Millennium Place Barsha Heights Dubai. In his new role, Nobbs aims to elevate service standards and introduce new concepts to the hotel’s dining outlets. His leadership will be crucial as the hotel continues to expand its presence in the region. 

RoyalJet’s new CEO

RoyalJet, a premium private jet operator in Abu Dhabi, has appointed Shafiul Syed as their new CEO. Bringing more than 35 years of aviation experience and having led major brands and startups through business and culture change while keeping focus on safety, customer service, and strategy, Syed succeeds Mohammed Husain Ahmed, now Advisor to the Chairman. Syed’s priorities in his new role include maintaining impeccable safety standards, excellent customer service, and evolving the business to meet new challenges.

Turkish Airlines’s new GM for Dhaka

Turkish Airlines has appointed İslam Güre as the new General Manager for its Dhaka operations, effective September 1, 2024. With 10 years of experience at the airline, Gure brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role, where he will oversee operations and strengthen the airline’s presence in Bangladesh. He previously served as Regional Sales Manager in St. Petersburg, Russia. With a fleet of over 444 aircraft, Turkish Airlines connects passengers to 345 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Sustainable Tourism Ambassador for UN announced

FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been appointed the UN’s Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism in the ‘sport’ category. With a strong background in promoting eco-friendly tourism practices within motorsport, he has reduced emissions per employee by 8.3% over a five year period. Plus, he has received more than 40 environmental accreditations since his election as FIA President. This new role will see more advocacy and education around sustainability in motorsport as well as implementing sustainable practices.

New MEA President for SITA

Selim Bouri has been appointed the new Middle East and Africa (MEA) President for global air transport technology leader, SITA. Bouri, who succeeds Hani El-Assaad, brings extensive experience in aviation, secure communications, and technology. He has held key roles at Airbus and other global firms. SITA CEO David Lavorel emphasised the importance of the MEA region to the company and expressed confidence in Bouri’s ability to drive future growth. SITA serves 115 airports and 103 airlines across the MEA.