Getting to know you: Hotelier's expert panel
Theresa S. Dommett
Director of business development
Meydan Hotels & Hospitality
American Theresa Dommett has nine years experience of sales and events in the UAE. She joined The Meydan from Atlantis The Palm in December. Prior to that, Dommett worked at Jumeirah Emirates Towers for six years. She has previously held roles at Atlantis in The Bahamas and resorts across the Caribbean.

Thomas Inasu
Banquet manager
JW Marriott Dubai
Thomas Inasu has been working with Marriott for more than six years, firstly at the Baltimore Marriott in the US and then at JW Marriott Dubai for the past four years. His background is in restaurants and Inasu was previously director of beverage.

Arne Silvis
General manager
Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa
Arne Silvis has been general manager at Al Maha for eight and a half years, bringing with him a wealth of experience from managing conservation and activity-based leisure resorts in Zambia, Namibia and Botswana. The Emirates-owned resort was rebranded under The Luxury Collection by Starwood six months ago.

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Mahmoud Abualsoud
Catering and conference services manager
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre
Mahmoud Abualsoud started his career in his home country of Egypt, firstly with Accor and then moving to Marriott in Alexandria. He came to Dubai with Hyatt Worldwide Reservations and then transferred into Hyatt’s events management team. An events manager role at Shangri-La Dubai followed before Abualsoud joined the pre-opening team of Ritz-Carlton DIFC.

Lucile Falguieres
Director, conference services and catering
Fairmont Dubai
After graduating in hospitality management in Switzerland, Lucile Falguieres was taken onto the leadership and development programme in the f&b division at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. She then moved to sales and marketing and after five and half years, was promoted to director of conference services and catering at Fairmont Dubai.

Chadi Melhem
Sales manager, conference and banqueting
Emirates Palace
Lebanon-born Chadi Melham began his career in his home country working in various roles in F&B and front office. He moved to Abu Dhabi for the pre-opening of Emirates Palace in 2005 and has worked his way up in the conference and banqueting team.

Natalie Kurz
Director of conference and events
Mövenpick Hotel Deira, Oceana Hotel & Spa, The Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa and Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel
Natalie Kurz joined Mövenpick in August 2009, firstly in the pre-opening office and then launching the events divisions at Ibn Battuta Gate and Mövenpick Deira. Two more properties will follow over the next 12 months. Previously, Kurz worked at InterContinental Abu Dhabi and prior to that, she held roles for different brands and individual boutique hotels in a variety of locations, from Australia to Egypt to Spain.