Property developer and holding company Seven Tides has appointed the general manager and four senior executive committee members for its 5-star hospitality venture, DUKES Dubai hotel and hotel apartment project that is set to open in Q1 2016.
The appointments are:
Mete Atakuman – General manager. Bringing more than 20 years of experience, the Australian hotelier has vast experience of Dubai-based brands, having previously worked with the Jumeirah Group to oversee the takeover of the Jumeirah Bodrum Palace, Turkey as well as managing several high profile pre-opening projects in China and Azerbaijan for the international luxury hotel chain.
“Mete has a proven operational and commercial track record when it comes to spearheading new hotel projects, and his experience of conveying luxury brand concepts will be instrumental to our success as we introduce this uniquely British brand to an expectant market in the region,” said Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, developer of DUKES Dubai.
Laetitia Pardo – Laetitia joins DUKES Dubai as DOSM. A French national with hospitality industry experience on two continents, she will position DUKES in the region as well as ensuring a healthy market mix for the luxury property’s leisure, business and MICE segments. Over her 17 year career, Pardo has worked for renowned hotel groups such as Atlantis The Palm, Hilton International and Sofitel, as well as iconic properties including The Savoy in London.
Richard Mazeau – A former French naval officer, Richard takes on responsibility for DUKES Dubai’s recruitment strategy as the new director of human resources. Previous experience includes Anantara Doha, where he oversaw recruitment from pre-opening, the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, as well as managing HR and training for One&Only Resorts, Dubai.
Avnish Kumar -Director of engineering. Avnish Kumar, has been at the sharp end of the industry in the region for a decade as a pre-opening specialist, working with TIME Hotels, Mövenpick and The Address Hotels amongst others.
Navin Shah – Director of finance. A qualified chartered accountant with over 15 years’ experience, he has held a number of executive director positions, and has worked on high profile brand and property launches for Zaya Hotel Management, The Address Hotels and Accor in the UAE, as well as for Millennium & Copthorne covering the Middle East and Africa.
“The success of DUKES Dubai in the UAE is contingent upon its leadership team and their ability to position the brand as a market leader and deliver its distinctly unique character in today’s extremely competitive marketplace,” added Bin Sulayem.
Centrally located on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, just 10 minutes’ drive from Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road, and only 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport, DUKES Dubai hotel and hotel apartments is set to add a distinctly British flavour to the city’s luxury hospitality offering.
The 273-room hotel and 227 hotel apartments will offer world-class leisure, conference and entertainment facilities including a stunning private beach, indoor pool, outdoor infinity pool and state-of-the-art gym, along with five food and beverage outlets.
