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Marriott Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi appoints executive team

ABU DHABI, January 15, 2017

A new executive team has been set up for the launch of Marriott International's second Marriott Hotel brand property in Abu Dhabi, developed by Al Forsan Hotels.

Positioned in Al Forsan International Sports Resort, located within Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, the 400-key Marriott Hotel Al Forsan showcases the Marriott Hotels brand innovation by offering sophisticated design, modern services and amenities that enable the next generation of travellers to ‘Travel Brilliantly’ through every aspect of their stay, a statement said.

From modern guest rooms, high-tech meeting rooms, six signature culinary offerings to extensive sports facilities including an equestrian centre and polo field, a waterski and wakeboarding lake and two indoor paintballing areas - it really does offer something for everyone whether a leisure or business traveller, it said.

In September 2016, Richard Bleakley was appointed general manager of the Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi. Bleakley has extensive experience within the hospitality industry, beginning his career as an area sales manager for Marriott in the UK. Prior to his new role, Richard was general manager of Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi which was the first property to launch in the capital as a Marriott endorsed brand in 2014 and has seen phenomenal success under his leadership. During this time, Richard was awarded the prestigious, Diamond General Manager of the year award by Marriott International. Since his appointment, he has been focused on bringing together a team of industry experts to form the foundations of the management team.

Speaking ahead of the hotel’s opening, Bleakley said: “We are extremely proud to open Marriott Hotel Al Forsan in Abu Dhabi, a property that we believe offers facilities unlike any other resort, not just in the capital but the entire UAE. I am fortunate to be leading an incredibly experienced and diverse team made up of more than 50 nationalities, who bring their strengths and expertise to position the property as a destination within a destination. We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome guests to experience a combination of sophisticated design and innovation, as well as delivering an unrivalled hospitality experience in the capital.”

The property executive team members include:

• Saad Al Ghamdi has been appointed as director of sales and marketing. In his new role, Al Ghamdi - who started his career with Marriott in 1999 - will see his fourth hotel opening with Marriott International across two different countries and three distinct Marriott International brands. He will be responsible for sales and marketing for the property.

• Naleem Ariff, the property's new director of operations, has more than 13 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and joined Marriott in 2006, where he was appointed Restaurant and Bar manager of JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai. Previous appointments include the role of Food and Beverage director at Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club in the UK, followed by director of operations at the Northampton Marriott Hotel, UK, and then director of operations at Leicester Marriott Hotel, UK. In 2015, Ariff made the move oversees to the UAE where he was appointed as director of operations at Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi, before stepping in as acting general manager at the same property in 2016. In his new role as director of operations, Ariff will be overseeing the entire operational team to ensure a successful opening of the second Marriott Hotel in the capital.  

• Alan Paul Myers, director of engineering, has over 38 years’ engineering experience in the hospitality industry and started his career with Marriott International in 1997. Prior to this appointment he was director of engineering at The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, Egypt. Throughout his career, Myers has coordinated numerous projects, renovations and hotel openings and will now in this leadership role oversee the completion of the property, in addition to being responsible for the upkeep and maintenance.

• Albena Angelova Teophilova, director of finance, has over 10 years of experience with Marriott International. Starting her career with the company in 2000, Teophilova brings strength and depth of finance management expertise to her new role as director of finance at Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Abu Dhabi.

• Petra Solle, multi-property director of human resources, has previously worked as a HR professional across a variety of Marriott hotels in the UK. Solle brings a solid knowledge of Marriott operations and HR 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 and more recently director of human resources, Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Downtown Abu Dhabi. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: UAE | Marriott | Al | Abu | Dhabi | Forsan |

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