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The new team at W Dubai - Al Habtoor City

New appointments at W Dubai - Al Habtoor City

DUBAI, May 2, 2016

W Dubai – Al Habtoor City has announced its core team as it readies itself for a summer opening.

Taking the helm as general manager of W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, Peter Katusak-Huzsvar is set to lead a team of bold and witty talent.
 
With over eight years’ experience overseeing the opening of W hotels across Europe, Middle East and China, Katusak-Huzsvar's journey with the W brand began in the Middle East as director of operations for the opening of W Doha Hotel and Residences in Qatar, followed by general manager for W St. Petersburg, Russia and W Guangzhou, China.  
 
Speaking of the opening of W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, Katusak-Huzsvar said: “We are incredibly excited to introduce the W brand to our target audience of iconic and everyday disruptors in the vibrant city of Dubai. W Dubai – Al Habtoor City is destined to turn the hospitality sector in the region on its head and set the pace for what’s new on the global stage. My team and I can’t wait to open our doors so residents and visitors to the UAE can experience the unexpected.”
 
Reporting to complex general manager Ignace Bauwens, who leads the teams of all three hotels at Al Habtoor City Hotels Collection, including The St. Regis Dubai and The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City, Katusak-Huzsvar is joined by a strong team of professionals:
 
Justin Kim, hotel manager, W Dubai Al Habtoor City boasts extensive experience working with Starwood hotels and most recently as director of operations, at W Retreat & Spa in The Maldives.
 
David Contreras, executive chef, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, was born in Argentina and holds over 15 years’ international culinary experience in five-star hotels across Argentina, Mexico, Algeria and the UAE. Most recently he held the executive chef position at The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, and before that executive sous chef positions at The Address Downtown and The Palace, The Old Town.
 
Marco Neukom, director of welcome, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, has previous experience in the region across rooms and guest services at W Doha, the Westin Abu Dhabi and opened recently the new W in Verbier, Switzerland, as welcome office manager.
 
Kenny Yen, director of style, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, joins from W Taipei where he was director of style overseeing the entire housekeeping operation, including public area and laundry within the 405 room hotel. Yen’s past experience includes the iconic St. Regis New York.
 
Muhammed Basheer, chief engineer, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, joins from The Meydan Hotel in Dubai, where he was resident engineer.

Vijay Chandran, food and beverage manager, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, has worked in the service and hospitality industry for more than 12 years at Sheraton, Jumeirah, Zaya Nurai Holding. He has previous experience with W Hotels from his five years spent at W Doha.

Nancy Huang, whatever/whenever manager, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City was a key member of the pre-opening team for W Guangzhou, China as whatever/whenever manager, before she took up the welcome office manager position at the same hotel. Nancy also has previous Starwood experience working at The St. Regis Aspen Resort in Colorado and St. Regis Lhasa Resort in Tibet.
 
This core operations team at W Dubai – Al Habtoor City will be supported by a team in complex roles to assist with delivering unique experiences and services to hotel guests:
 
Dara Pinke, director of human resources – complex, has previously managed six pre-openings including the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah – a role that saw her win a coveted Hotelier Middle East Award in 2014.
 
Bernard Obaro, director of finance – complex, first came to Dubai in 1996 to open the Sheraton Deira. Most recently he was Director of Finance for Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates.
 
Candice D’Cruz, director of marketing and PR – Complex, joined Starwood in 2011 to open the region’s first St. Regis, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. Previously she worked with Emaar and led the marketing for Burj Khalifa, home to the Armani Hotel Dubai.
 
Nathalie Massabki, director of revenue – complex, joined Starwood in 1998 and has worked across markets as diverse as Paris and Cairo. Most recently, she was area director of revenue for Starwood’s seven hotels in Abu Dhabi.
 
Neville Coelho, IT compliance manager– complex, has been with Starwood’s for almost a year, previously worked with Marriott Hotels and Resorts for nearly eight years, assisted in opening the few hotels India and sub-continent.
 
Slated to open in May 2016, W Dubai - Al Habtoor City is set to be Dubai’s new style summit, where iconic design and contemporary luxury set the stage for exclusive and extraordinary experiences. The hotel’s 356 guestrooms – including an Extreme WOW suite, a two-bedroom duplex suite are nestled within a 33-storey gleaming box. The specialty restaurant is Namu, combining the best flavours from Korean and Japanese cuisines, and Level 7 is a culinary crossroads of Mediterranean cuisine.
 
Following the successful debut of the W brand in Doha, W Dubai will become the second hotel in the Middle East, joining a portfolio of 47 W Hotels across the world, with five regional openings scheduled within the next two years. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Habtoor | Dubai | appointment | City | team | Al | W |

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