Luxury European hotel operator the Oetker Collection has announced plans to expand its portfolio of hotels into the Middle East and North Africa. The Germany-based company said it will open its first hotel in the region in Morocco in March 2012, and begin construction on a property in Abu Dhabi in four months.

The Oetker Collection currently has four hotels in operation, one in Germany and three in France. The Mena region will be the company’s first foray outside of Europe because it is a ‘perfect fit for us’, said Samir Daqqaq, senior vice president of development for the Middle East and Africa.

“There are a lot of plush and elegant hotels [in the region], but we truly believe there is a niche that we can fill in these markets. Our definition of luxury is more sublime and more focused on real service,” he told AMEInfo.com.

At a press conference in Dubai this week, the company unveiled its Palais Namaskar in Morocco, which be located a 30-minute drive from Marrakech International Airport and near the medina Jemaa El-Fna – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel was built at a cost of $68m and will offer 41 uniquely-designed villas and suites.

One of the more luxurious aspects of the hotel is that it offers guests a private jet service that will take them from Casablanca Airport to the hotel in just 30 minutes. The private jet also can be utilized for transfers to other Oetker Collection properties.

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will experience some of the world’s strongest inbound tourism growth over the next five years, reveals research unveiled today at WTM Vision Conference.

Nadejda Popova, of Euromonitor International Travel & Tourism Industry, revealed Saudi Arabia and UAE will see consistent growth between 2010 and 2015.

The Travel and Tourism Global Overview report tips Saudi Arabia to have one of the largest compound annual growth rates in the world of 12.3 per cent for arrivals over 2010-2015 which will result in an additional 9.3 million visitors to the country.

This makes Saudi Arabia the fifth largest country in terms of absolute arrivals growth over the forecast review.

This growth is driven mainly by the religious tourism to Mecca and Medinah, supported by infrastructure developments in air transportation and travel accommodation. Saudi Arabia also continues to be one of the most economically stable markets in the Middle East thanks to its status as the world’s leading oil exporter.

It is investing heavily in economic development, including the creation of six mega cities that will help generate employment, attract investment and drive business tourism.

The United Arab Emirates will see an annual increase in arrivals during the forecast review period of 6.9 per cent, resulting in 3.6 million new arrivals, being the 14th largest country in terms of absolute arrivals growth over 2010-2015.

Significant infrastructure developments are taking place in the United Arab Emirates which are expected to contribute significantly to the growing number of arrivals to the country.

Dubai is also set to seal its position as a global air transportation hub upon the opening of the world’s largest airport, Al Maktoum Airport, with a capacity of 160 million passengers a year.

Ms Popova stated that in a climate of regional political and economic uncertainty, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been capable of dealing with challenging external events as demonstrated by the resilience of their respective travel and tourism industries, partly thanks to intra-regional travel, with Saudi Arabia also benefiting from robust religious tourism demand.

Popova added the expansion of the hotel sector in the region could result in an oversupply as supply outpaces demand, which would impact rates and RevPAR.

Positives for the region are its strong air transportation sector and the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in Qatar.

The “contagion of instability” and oil price rises are potential weaknesses, although Popova did point out that the UAE itself has remained “stable,” during the region’s recent political and civil unrest.

Popova also said there will be an absolute increase in outbound trips from the UAE of two million between 2010 and 2015.

World Travel Market Exhibition Director Simon Press said: “The Middle Eastern tourism industry should take heart from these generally positive findings.

“Euromonitor International’s research shows the region’s travel and tourism industry is a strong position and will grow in global importance.”

Dubai, which is home to the world’s tallest building and the largest shopping mall, will open the world’s tallest hotel in mid-to-late 2012 at Shaikh Zayed Road.

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai

Spread across two iconic towers, the 1,614-room JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is set to become one of the region’s most desirable destinations, Marriott’s President and Managing Director for International Lodging Ed Fuller told a news conference in Dubai on Monday.

The height of the twin towers will be at 365 metres. Dubai is already home to the world’s four tallest hotels that include Rose Rotana at 333 metres, Burj Al Arab at 321 metres, Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel at 309 metres, and The Address Downtown Dubai at 306 metres.

The upcoming Marriott property is owned by the Emirates Group and the company is expected to invest around Dh2 billion in the property, a top executive of Emirates Group told reporters at the news conference.

The Emirates Group is a vast organisation with manifold business interests in the aviation, travel, tourism and leisure industries.

In Dubai, it will be the second Marriott Marquis in the world after Florida that opened last year. It is planned to open in two phases, Fuller said, adding that the first phase will comprise of 800 rooms and the second will bring the total number to 1,614. The US brand has planned to open 43 new hotels in the Middle East and Africa. The UAE will get the largest share in these hotels, as ten new properties will be added in the country. Marriott currently operates seven hotels and hotel apartments in the UAE and new properties will add over 3,000 rooms in the country.

Carrying a title bestowed only on the finest properties in the Marriott portfolio, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai will encompass two iconic towers and will feature an enticing array of 13 distinctive restaurants, bars and lounges; a luxurious Saray Spa; 4,015 square metres of conference and event space including two ballrooms and 22 breakout rooms; exclusive executive floors and six presidential suites.

IAN Appleyard reports from the sporting capital of the Middle East where Brits are heading for a weekend at the races.

The Meydan hotel and, below, the grandstand overlooking the Meydan racecourse.

Granted, it is more expensive than any trip to the tracks at York or Doncaster – but, as a once-in-a-lifetime treat, it will leave memories that last a lifetime.

Horse lovers are not the only ones marvelling at the sporting delights in Dubai. A quick glance at the emirate’s fixture list shows a wealth of choice.

Since the discovery of oil in the 1960s, and the birth of the United Arab Emirates in the 1970s, Dubai has risen from the desert like a golden oasis to become a playground for the rich and famous. Finding cheap deals is still pretty hard but, in the current global economic climate, many prices are dropping. The emphasis, however, remains firmly on sophistication, excellence, and style.

From the moment I saw the stunning city skyline dominated by the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa skyscaper, the term “jaw-dropping” entered my head. The Meydan, home to the richest horse race in the world, the Dubai World Cup, also boasts the world’s first trackside five-star hotel, and almost all of its 230 suites have unobstructed views of the track. Sun-worshippers can choose to relax on the roof of the hotel by the side of an elegant pool.

With a grandstand spanning 1.5 kilometres and holding up to 60,000 people, the Meydan is a colossal structure. The Dubai International Racing Carnival is between January and March and the invitation-only Gold Cup is staged on March 26.

In December, the opening round of the International Rugby Board’s Sevens World Series attracts around 120,000 fans. Staged at The Sevens venue, on Al Ain Road, it was a rip-roaring carnival of rugby union played in a party-style atmosphere. Aside from the IRB games involving 16 nations in the main stadium, there were also hundreds of amateur, youth, and invitation games on six adjoining pitches spread over three days.

The rugby “village” was heaven for beer lovers or champagne swiggers and a rock concert after the final on the Saturday night offered another lively way to let your hair down.

For golf devotees, the PGA Dubai Desert Classic, at the Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club, is in February. The Dubai World Championship is held in December at the new Greg Norman-designed Earth course, at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

This year’s final of the Dubai Tennis championship, between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, attracted a 5,000 capacity crowd.

Another of the great sporting events held is the World Offshore Powerboat Championship over two days in December at the Dubai International Marine Club.

Once you have done watching the professionals in action, why not try something out for yourself? There is no shortage of activities to get the adrenalin going. For starters, there’s the Playnation complex where indoor skydiving requires a leap of faith into an 80mph upward gust. For us, just two or three minutes in this wind tunnel was enough to get the blood pumping.

The Soccer Circus turned out to be an interactive football challenge, offering tests in passing, shooting, or dribbling.

Heading into the Arabian desert for a jeep safari, we discovered a strong stomach is needed to cope with the twisting and sliding around the sand dunes.

Camel riding is far more gentle on the soul, evoking images of Lawrence of Arabia. And no jeep safari is complete without a meal around a camp-fire as the sun goes down, coupled with a spot of belly-dancing (not a participator sport).

The stunning Jumeirah Beach Hotel is shaped like a giant wave, with a private beach and its own fabulous water park. Best of all, it looks directly on to the Burj al Arab on whose helicopter landing pad, 211 metres high, Federer and Andre Agassi once mocked up a game for a TV advertisement.

The Burj Khalifa is the centrepiece of the new “Dubaitown” District. Standing more than 828 metres tall, it glistens in the desert sun and can be seen from 95 kilometres away. From the very top, Tom Cruise filmed scenes for his next Mission Impossible movie. We didn’t go quite that far – there was more than enough to take in from the observation deck.

From here, it was easy to how Dubai has grown at such a rate. Out at sea, not far from the shoreline, sit the islands of “The World”, shaped like countries of the globe. According to its developers, 70 per cent of the 300 islands have not been sold yet. For now, all but one is uninhabited – Greenland – and that is a showpiece owned by the ruler of Dubai.

Billions of dollars worth of real estate projects have been put on hold since the property crash. What has been done is amazing , but for now, the cranes stand idle waiting for the green light to shine again.

Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts will be out in force at Arabian Travel Market 2011 (ATM) between May 2-5 – promoting its current 13 developments in the Middle East and global expansion, which is concentrated on Asia.

The rapidly expanding chain has four more properties coming up in Dubai – Mövenpick Hotel & Residence Jumeirah Lake Towers; Mövenpick Residence at the Square; The Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa; and Oceana Hotel & Spa. Its growing UAE portfolio will also include properties in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi.

Other regional developments include two hotels in Saudi Arabia, Mövenpick Beach Resort Al Khobar – set to open in June – and Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh, and one project in Oman, the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Salalah.

The region’s premier travel trade exhibition is a convenient opportunity for Mövenpick Hotels & Resort to promote its collection of newly opened hotels regionally and globally – and this year it will be promoting a total of 26 properties from its stand.

Asia has been a clear growth area with the Mövenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa in Singapore and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Cebu among the recent openings and 12 exciting signed projects within Thailand, China, Malaysia and India.

Andreas Mattmüller, Chief Operating Officer for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts Middle East and Asia, said the company always enjoys attending ATM and this year it is especially excited, given the number of new properties opening in the Middle East and Asia. “The show is perfect for us as it enables us to network with key trade buyers, raise brand awareness and generate sales leads,” he said.

Alongside the networking benefits, the show provides an excellent forum for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts to promote its range of summer offers – room rates will be reduced by up to 25% throughout the summer and Ramadan – and enables tour operators to negotiate intra-regional and outbound deals.

During the week-long show, the hotel company will officially launch its Circle M loyalty programme, which provides members exclusive discounts on food and beverage, and rooms, at participating hotels regionally.

We often hear people say ‘home is where the heart is’  which means that home is the place one loves to be. Home is one place that offers freedom, privacy, comforts and everything else one looks for in life.

Realizing this fondness of people to get the feel of being at home wherever they go the concept of  hotel apartments or service apartment is fast catching up and is becoming the need of the future. Travelers the world over prefer  furnished  apartments  as against  hotels for all practical purposes,  including the privacy factor,  which the apartment hotels are able to guarantee to the fullest to its occupants.

Dunes Hotel Apartments, Dubai,  caters to this segment of travelers who prefer to have a homely atmosphere even when they are on the move on business or on a holiday. For discerning travelers in Dubai who are in the look out for hotel apartments, that are cozy,  with a home like atmosphere,  then Dune Hotel Apartments will be the right choice and offers value for money.  Dune Hotel Apartments is owned by Mohammed Jaber Abdulla Al Harbi, a leading  business investor and is managed by the hospitality division of HAS group.   The company has three such hotel apartments in UAE, all strategically located, to provide maximum convenience and comforts to its valued  customers.

Vast Potential

It was in the year 2003, the company took the foremost decision of entering  into hotel apartment business and got into action.  The group’s Managing Director saw the potential in Hotel Apartment business and soon the company had its first property Oasis Court in Bur Dubai. However, this company was handed over back to the owner in 2010.  Dunes started its first hotel apartment in 2007 with its property at Muhaisnah, near Lulu Village.  The company then  opened its second property in Barsha, located behind the Mall of the Emirates.  The third and brand new property of the company was opened on March 17, 2011 in OUD Mehta, opposite American Hospital, Dubai.

Dunes Hotel Apartment located on Amman Street in Muhaisnah is an  ideal location in the city both for tourists and business executives.  Dunes Hotel Apartment at Barsha is ‘the’ location  for corporate  clients as well as for leisure travelers who are looking for something out of the ordinary in Dubai, to make their stay both enjoyable and memorable one.  Dunes Oud Mehta is majestically located closed to Dubai’s historic Creek, a central and an ideal location with an array of facilities like hospitals, malls, and other services in close vicinity.  All these apartments offer 1B/R and 2 B/R apartments  as well as 3 B/R Royal Suits for those who want to enjoy the felicity  of   luxury living.

Having built a reputation that is hard to beat in terms of quality, service, facilities, amenities and locations, the company is all set to go on a massive expansion plan with two more apartments to come up in the near future.  A new deluxe hotel apartment in Al Barsha Area (Ivory Grand Hotel Apartment) with  220 deluxe room capacity and a  380 unit deluxe 5 star hotel in Fujairah (AI Salam Palace Hotel and Resort) are in the pipeline to take the total tally of groups hotel apartments properties to 5.

Convenience and Comfort

General Manager of Dunes Hotel Apartments Rochelle Lobo states “the thrill of providing world class services, the pleasure of interacting with varied customers and good returns on the investment were the reasons that prompted the company to get into hotel apartment business”.

For those who are in the look out for hotel apartments in Dubai which are comfy, reasonable and with a standard better than those of the other hotel apartments, Dunes hotel apartments provide the best bargain that money can offer.  All their hotel apartments are fully furnished and equipped aimed at providing convenience and luxury to their customers.  The company has spacious accommodations which are better than those of the hotel rooms with other facilities like lounge/sitting area, kitchen/cooking facilities etc,. Other amenities like individually controlled air conditioning, satellite TV channels, covered car parking facility, currency exchange, airport transfers and tour arrangement are provided for the customers.  All kitchen accessories including  microwave, toaster, utensils and washing machines, iron and iron board are provided.  Recreational  facilities like state of the art gymnasium, steam bath, temperature controlled swimming pool and Jacuzzi are provided for the occupants.

At Dunes Family hotel apartments customers can book apartments for a day, week, month or even for a year and that too at an affordable budget.  To put it succinctly,  Dunes Hotel Apartments is an one-stop-dwelling  centre  with their  strategic locations, easy access to Dubai’s innumerous attractions and venues.  To the budget conscious travelers Dunes Budget Apartment Hotel offers lavish and  hospitable service at a discounted price.

There is a marked difference between staying in a hotel and staying in an hotel apartment apart from the space factor.  As Rochelle puts it “ A hotel apartment gives the customer a ‘home away from home’ feeling which is not found in hotels.   In hotel apartments the occupants are free to cook their own meals, entertain guests in their living room  without the barriers of rules and regulations and indulge in the simple pleasure of ‘being at home’.  Unlike hotels, which usually cater to short term guests,  Dunes hotel apartments  accommodate the needs of long  term guests and also cater to families and corporate clientele”.  Rochelle says they  target corporate clientele, leisure travelers, families and guests who come for a short holiday or business executives.  “We also have a large number of guests who stay with us for a long duration, enjoying the services we offer and the availability of modern day conveniences like laundry, housekeeping, internet, concierge, 24 hour reception and security services.
What is it that makes Dunes Apartment Homes a cut above the rest?  Rochelle is quick to add “our hotel apartments function as per standards set by  DTCM & Dubai Municipality.  The   difference between us and others is in terms of the quality of service.  We strive hard to stay true to our tagline ‘a stay that’s sure to make a difference’ and we have spared no efforts to live up to this unique identity for our apartment homes.  We have a battalion of well-trained and disciplined staff who ensure a comfortable and hassle-free stay for our customers.  We are the first company in Dubai to organize a city tour to our staff so as to acquaint them with the knowledge of the city.  The knowledge of the staff would go a long way in providing vital information and assistance to our esteemed guests”.

Rich Dividend

The reputation  earned by the company has borne good dividends as the  awareness spread through by word of mouth has immensely benefited the company brining in more and more customers.  The company is also registered with a number of reputed booking websites like booking.com, agoda.com, wotif.com and a few others.

Recession had a bad impact on the hospitality industry and Service Apartment industry was also badly affected.  Though many Hotel Apartments in Dubai are running under loss and some are even closed down following recession, Dunes has been able to maintain its standard and quality largely due to the efforts of its dedicated work force.  Recession is still the major challenge facing the industry says Rochelle. “During recession many guests were asking for discounts which, at times is not feasible as the rates we charged were not enough to meet the overhead costs”, she points out.

Rochelle Lobo, who has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Wollongong, Australia, now manages a dedicated team of over 150 staff working under the Umbrella of Dunes Hotel Apartment.  With the company going in for a expansion drive in the next two years,  she expects her hospitality division team to grow to over 500 members by the year 2013.  However, the journey so far has not been easy  mainly  because hotel business has evolved beyond expectations in the last one decade.  Today service is the name of the game in this industry.  Rochelle points out that their experience of the past few years has helped them to gauge the needs and requirements of the customers and make them more customer-centric.  Dubai is a cauldron of people of diverse nationalities and their needs and requirements differ.  However, for the well-trained staff  are able to face this challenge with ease and that has given the company a distinct edge over their competitors.

It is said that success entails lot of hard work, dedication, innovative approach  and willingness to take risks and face challenges. Dunes Hotel Apartment is  armed with all these vital components and in the coming years it is sure to forge ahead with more vitality to strengthen its position in the field.

There is no doubt that Dubai is world’s most top destination for this place offers you all that you ever dreamed of. From huge shopping malls to beautiful beaches and world’s top buildings and architect, Dubai brings all the fun that you can have.

There is something epic about Dubai: it’s not just the world’s tallest tower or the first seven-star hotel, the reclaimed islands or the indoor ski slope, it’s the sheer vision of those Emirates who had the courage and ambition a decade ago to build something extraordinary out of the desert.

You would love to roam in Dubai as this city provides you with every good experience one can get for a lifetime. Dubai may have taken a knock in the current global recession but nothing will hold this city of the future back for long. Already visitors from all over the world are streaming through Dubai’s new airport terminal, which houses the world’s largest single floor space, and flocking to Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping centre. Dubai has a mission to be the biggest and the best and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower opened in January 2010, is symbolic of Dubai’s ‘the-sky-is-the-limit’ attitude.

Expatriate workers may pine for home or for the ‘good old days’ before the notorious city traffic, but most visitors find Dubai with its sandy beaches and all-night entertainment an exhilarating experience. In Dubai there is a never ending fun and visitors from all over the world can get anything they want. You name it and you can claim it in this extraordinary city of lights fun and full entertainment. So plan your vacation for Dubai and experience the world’s hottest destination ever.

The Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport is built for convenience. A stone’s throw from the international terminals, with a free shuttle bus to boot, it would be easy to dismiss the hotel as a quick stopover joint for the businessman on the go.

But a closer look at the hotel — which opened in March 2010 — reveals a healthy mix of business and leisure travellers, a modern minimalist design and a decent sized restaurant, where guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast.

It’s little wonder that the hotel is buzzing when we visit (so much so that our photo shoot is re-scheduled due to the sheer volume of people checking in or out and enjoying a free breakfast before going about their day).

The success of the hotel is, according to cluster general manager Ziad El Khoury, part branding, part positioning and partly what the hotel is offering — which is actually a great deal, considering the brand’s mid-market statistics.

“The hotel is 381 rooms over four floors, and it offers guests signature power showers, satellite TV in every room, wireless internet access throughout the public areas, 24-hour fully equipped gym, laundry service, meeting rooms, and we also offer complimentary breakfast for all our guests which is a USP for us,” El Khoury explains.

“Definitely being at the airport for the airport hotel is also a USP, and it definitely helps the airport itself, because before we opened there was a lack of mid market segments around the airport.

“Here there were only the five-star or the higher category properties, so we gave more options for business and leisure travellers coming to Dubai — they can now stay in a branded offering with a competitive price and a quality service,” he adds.

The hotel’s design has also been carefully thought about, with the finished look hitting the right mix of spacious and cosy, while matching the brand standards that can be seen in the three other Holiday Inn Express properties in Dubai (which are located in Jumeirah, Safa Park, and Internet City).

“The aim was to utilise the space we have here, we don’t have a great amount of space but we have what we need for our concept,” he says.
“We have aimed for something with oriental inspiration to match our spaces, and have kept the look very simple and minimal.”

Keeping things simple is something of a buzzword for the brand, which came in to the region just over three years ago, and has already firmly established itself in the Middle East market as a successful model for budget hotels.

“The brand is meeting the expectation for where we want to position ourselves,” confirmed El Khoury.

“Holiday Inn Express was launched in the Middle East in 2007, and it definitely has given a boost to the mid-market, being an internationally branded chain.

“Dubai was struggling just a little bit in terms of its branded
mid market segment. So the brand is doing well, and with the
airport hotel, we are on par with the expectations — month on month it is growing and moving up compared to the previous month.

“In terms of financial results as well, this has also continued to grow month on month and so we are looking forward to a good 2011 here,” he concludes.

Dubai, the shopping and holiday destination of the Middle East has witnessed the opening of a new Hotel Apartment from Dunes Hotel Apartments, a group that manages two such properties at strategic locations in the city Barsha & Muhaisnah.

Dunes Hotel Apartments provides tourists and business visitors a home away from home accessible to the Dubai International Airport, various shopping destinations and financial nerve centers of the city. The new property Dunes at Oudh Mehta is in the proximity of leading hospitals in and around healthcare city, social and entertainment clubs, shopping malls such as Lamcy Plaza and Wafi City, and is also very close to the business hubs of Dubai- the Dubai World Trade Center & Dubai International Financial Centre.

Speaking to Rochelle Lobo, the General Manager, she said The downturn has not forced us to scale down our operations. All our properties have been doing well, due to increased number of visitors to the city for DSF and various exhibitions and conferences.
Faisal Abdul Rehman, the Asst. General Manager added that Hotels and Hotel Apartments offering the best customer service are getting enough business even during the downturn. Our properties have always received the best reviews from guests on almost all the prominent booking channels and travel review sites.

Dunes Hotel Apartments Oudh Mehta, will provide its guests – Internet access in all rooms, satellite television, fully equipped kitchen with utensils, safe deposit lockers, laundry, international direct dialing, 24 hours security, concierge, Foreign exchange, airport transfers, car rentals, flight reconfirmation, Tourist Visas and tour package arrangements. The Property also has state of the art gymnasium, temperature controlled swimming pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi and a multi cuisine restaurant.

Dunes Hotel Apartments is managed by HAS Hospitality division which is also set to open a 220 room Deluxe Hotel Apartment behind Mall of Emirates.

As the tagline denotes, a stay in any of the Dunes properties will be A stay thats sure to make a difference

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates welcomes Andreas J Magnus as its new F&B Manager. Magnus will be responsible for overseeing the hotel’s six F&B outlets – which include Sezzam, KGrill, Mosaic Chill, Aspen, 1897 Bar and Evory Lounge, the hotel’s catering and banqueting operations and the ongoing development of its restaurant concepts.

The Norwegian national moves to Dubai from the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he served in a similar position, managing the successful completion of all day-to-day operations and personnel management for nine food and beverage outlets, including fine and casual dining venues, a café, bar and room service.

Magnus’s hospitality career began in the F&B department in 2002, as a trainee and Banquet Captain at the Lausanne Palace and Spa in Switzerland. He has since worked in his native Norway, the United States and Russia, in the front desk, banqueting and restaurant departments, before moving to Dubai to manage the F&B operations at Kempinski’s landmark Dubai hotel.

“We are very pleased to have Andreas join our team and we look forward to the ideas and skills he brings with him from having worked at several top quality European and American hospitality establishments. His restaurant, banqueting and conference experience as well as his confidence in managing a multi-cultural team make him the perfect person to take on this role,” said Alejandro Bernabé, General Manager, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.

Commenting on his appointment, Magnus added: “This is my first professional position in the Middle East region and I am excited to be here. From what I have seen of Dubai, it is a very dynamic and competitive hospitality market and I look forward to the huge learning opportunity this new position is bound to represent.”

Magnus holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with a dual major in Hotel and Resort Management, from Northwood University, Hotel Institute of Montreux Campus in Switzerland as well as a Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management, from the Institute Hotelier “Cesar Ritz”, also in Switzerland. He speaks seven languages including fluent Norwegian and English, Swedish, French, German and basic Russian and Italian. When not busy with his management duties, Magnus enjoys reading, cooking, travelling, getting to know new cultures and spending time outdoors.