REVEALED: 2012 Hotelier MidEast Power 50 (20-11)

12 Sami Nasser, VP Operations, Sofitel Middle East, Egypt and Indian Ocean and GM, Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach

12 Sami Nasser, VP Operations, Sofitel Middle East, Egypt and Indian Ocean and GM, Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach
Sofitel has once again extended its regional reach this year with the openings of hotels in Egypt, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

These developments included the debut of the Legend brand in the region at the Old Cataract Aswan on the banks of the River Nile — which originally opened in 1899 and was restored over a three-year period — and the opening of the first thalassotherapy spa facility in the Middle East at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa.

Overseeing these developments is Sami Nasser, who has spent his 25-year hospitality career working for parent company Accor. Appointed to the position of vice president operations and GM of the Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah, Nasser then transferred to Dubai in 2009 to open the Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach as GM and assume his regional role.

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His portfolio now totals 11 hotels in key locations from the UAE to Beirut and Saudi Arabia, but two hotels scheduled to open in enviable Dubai locations by the end of 2013 — Sofitel Resort Spa Palm Jumeirah and Sofitel Burj Khalifa Downtown — are likely to elevate the luxury brand’s reputation further still.

BY THE NUMBERS
Sofitel Hotels open in Middle East: 11 Hotels in confirmed pipeline for Middle East: 6 Middle East hotels opened in past 12 months: 3 Middle hotels signed in past 12 months: 0 Middle East hotels due to open by September 2013: 2 Years in hospitality: 25 Years in Middle East: 4 Nationality: French & Lebanese

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