Global hospitality management chain Swiss-Belhotel International has announced a key Middle East appointment to help steer the company through a ‘watershed period’ in its history as it eyes the launch of three hotels in the region this year.
Mr. Noel Massoud, the Group’s new Vice President Operations and Development in the Middle East, will oversee the opening of Swiss-Belhotel Seef in Bahrain, Swiss-Belinn Ghubrah Muscat in Oman, Swiss-Belhotel Erbil in Iraq, Swiss-Belboutique Tahliya and Swiss-Belhotel Riyadh in Saudi Arabia – with the company looking to operate seven Middle East hotels by 2015.
“Noel is a Jordanian national with more than 30 years experience working in hotel management in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and that experience will be vital for Swiss-Belhotel as we increase our Middle East footprint,” said Mr. Gavin M. Faull, the company’s Chairman and President.
“We would like to extend a warm welcome to Noel and with his assistance we will continue to grow our portfolio and take the our brand of professionalism and passion to new markets.”
Mr. Massoud previously worked for the Intercontinental Group for more than 25 years in senior management positions. He was General Manager of the Kempinski Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, developing the property into the No.1 luxury hotel in the Middle East. His most recent assignment was Paramount Hotels and Resorts’ Vice President Development.
The first and most imminent opening will be the 149-room Swiss-Belhotel Seef on 28 July 2014. Located in the new business district it will provide the area with a high quality four-star hotel, featuring a rooftop bar and restaurant, lobby café, an all-day dining restaurant (Swiss-Café) on the 10th floor with a terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, meeting facilities and a lavish ballroom for weddings which can take up to 250 people.
Swiss-Belhotel is expanding its range of two- to five-star brands in the Middle East, where it operates the existing Swiss-Belhotel Plaza in Kuwait and Qatar’s Swiss-Belhotel Doha.
The Hong Kong-based company will unveil 20 hotels globally this year.
Swiss-Belhotel International currently has more than 120 hotels, resorts and projects in its global portfolio. It has a presence in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
