Centara Hotels & Resorts has appointed Shadi Refai as the general manager of the Centara Muscat Hotel in Oman, which will open in Q1 2016.

Refai is an Italian national with 16 years of experience in the hotel industry. His hospitality experience encompasses many recognisable brands such as The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common, US; The Ritz-Carlton Doha, Qatar; Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies; Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, Lebanon; and Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand.

Before joining Centara, he was the executive assistant manager at Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa, Philippines.

“Having an extensive background in the hospitality industry with leading brands, in many key markets, Shadi provides an international perspective that will help Centara to develop a strong presence in the Middle East,” said Chris Bailey, chief operating officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. With the expansion in the Middle East, Centara believes that the Centara Muscat Hotel is a vital part of the overall growth strategy.

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading hotel group, with 48 deluxe and first-class properties across Thailand, as well as 24 hotels and resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Bali, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Laos, Oman, Turkey and China.

Centara also operates 30 branches of Spa Cenvaree, an award-winning spa brand, together with six branches of the value brand “Cense by Spa Cenvaree.” - TradeArabia News Service