Marriott International is gearing up to launch its flagship brand property in Abu Dhabi under the leadership of the an executive team who will steer the new opening.

The group's first Marriott Downtown Abu Dhabi as well as Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi, developed by Bloom Properties, is set to open this summer.

Strategically 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-sq-m 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. Bloom Residences and offices have already opened their doors to tenants.

From contemporary guestrooms, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, outstanding culinary offerings to well-equipped wellness facilities, the hotel showcases the Marriott Hotels brand innovation by offering sophisticated design, modern services and amenities that enable the next generation of travelers to ‘Travel Brilliantly’, through every aspect of their stay. 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.

In May 2015, David Lance was appointed general manager of the Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi. Lance is a seasoned hospitality professional, with over two decades of international experience. Prior to this role, he was general manager of Marriott Executive Apartments, Sukhumvit Park in Bangkok, Thailand. Since joining, he has been focused on pulling together a highly skilled and experienced management team to launch and eventually operate these new properties.

Speaking ahead of the hotel’s opening, David 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, has over 15 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and joined Marriott in 2008, where he was appointed director of operations at Wailea Beach Resort & Spa in Maui, Hawaii. In his new role as, Dickson will be overseeing the entire operational team to ensure a successful opening of the first Marriott Hotel in the capital.  

• 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 Rana’s fifth hotel opening with Marriott across five different countries and three distinct Marriott brands. he will be responsible for sales and 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. Dean 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, Dean 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, Ahmed brings strength and depth of finance management expertise to his new role, 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 UK. Solle 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. - TradeArbia News Service