sbe, the leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hospitality venues globally, has announced that Chadi Farhat has been named Chief Operating Officer of the Middle East & Europe Ð transitioning out of his current role at the company as Chief Commercial Officer.
With a hotel in Istanbul, three in London, and one opening in Doha this fall, the Middle East and European markets play a significant role in sbe’s portfolio with even more opportunity for growth. In his new position, Mr Farhat will focus on sbe’s hotel portfolio expansion, overseeing the operations of current and future hotels as well as strengthening owner relationships. This new executive position plays a critical role within the recently assembled leadership team at sbe.
“The Middle East and Europe are core to the future of sbe,Ó said Sam Nazarian, sbe’s founder and CEO. ÒWe’re planning to grow our hotel footprint significantly in this market over the next few years. Not only does Chadi have extensive experience and knowledge of the region, but his passion for the brands is equally as strong.”
“For almost a year, sbe has been building an incredible team of prominent industry executives,Ó said Jorge Giannattasio, Chief Operating Officer at sbe. ÒWe’re happy to have Chadi focused on ownership relationships and development in the Middle East and Europe.”
“sbe is projecting phenomenal growth over the next few years,Ó said Mr Farhat. ÒI’m thrilled to work closer with the executive leadership team, and hotel owners to bring sbe brands to major Middle Eastern and European cities. We have a tremendous, untapped opportunity to create luxury destinations and memorable experiences for our guests in this region and a bigger presence overall.”
sbe’s European footprint currently consists of London landmarks Mondrian London at Sea Containers, Sanderson, and St. Martins Lane, as well as ten Karaky, A Morgans Original, in Istanbul. sbe will make its debut in the Middle East this October with the opening of the highly-anticipated Mondrian Doha in Qatar. Designed by creator Marcel Wanders, Mondrian Doha will feature 270 rooms and suites, eight innovative bars and restaurants featuring both regional and international cuisine such as Magnolia Bakery, Morimoto, and Cut by Wolfgang Puck, an indoor/outdoor rooftop pool bar, ultra-modern meeting and conference venues and a world-class ESPA Spa. Their Middle Eastern footprint will continue to grow with the opening of Delano Dubai in early 2018 and Mondrian Dubai in 2019. Additionally, sbe is currently seeking opportunities to expand their European footprint, setting its sights on Paris and Milan.
Prior to this role, Mr Farhat was the Chief Commercial Officer at Morgans Hotel Group (MHG), where he continued on in the role after the company was acquired by sbe in late 2016. As CCO, he was responsible for guiding and supporting all the revenue processes globally and leading the strategy for driving profitable revenue growth through e-Commerce and revenue management. At the same time, as Interim Chief Operating Officer, Mr Farhat was responsible for the general operation and financial performance of MHG. Mr FarhatÊoversaw the company’s operations, food and beverage, sales, revenue management, eCommerce and digital marketing teams. Mr Farhat also served as Chief Revenue Officer, where he integrated and aligned the functions of revenue management, sales, e-Commerce and digital marketing into a succinct distribution platform that has helped drive a cohesive strategy for the company and positioned MHG for future growth.
Mr Farhat earned his MBA from Johns Hopkins University and his BA in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon.ÊMr FarhatÊis a frequent guest lecturer at New York University’s Center for Hospitality Industry Studies and Cornell University as well as a guest speaker at various revenue management and distribution conferences.
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