Hilton Worldwide has announced general manager appointments for two of its key markets in Middle East & Africa.
Andreas Searty, currently serving as general manager at Hilton Doha in Qatar, has been appointed to the role of cluster general manager for Dubai with responsibility for three Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded properties - Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Residences and Hilton Dubai Creek.
Additionally, Haakon Gaarder-Larsen, currently serving as general manager at Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya in Saudi Arabia, has been appointed to the role of general manager of Hilton Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, one of Hilton Worldwide’s most prominent and well-known properties in Africa.
| Advertisement |
Both appointments are effective immediately with Andreas Searty reporting to Christian Grage, newly appointed Vice President of Operations for Arabian Peninsula and Gaarder-Larsen reporting to Jan Van der Putten, Vice President of Operations for Africa & Indian Ocean.
Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide Middle East & Africa said: “Our three Dubai properties and Hilton Addis Ababa are very well established and distinguished within their respective markets by guests, businesses and the community. I am delighted we have two company leaders with the best credentials, experience and style to further enhance the leisure and business offering within our hotels and to ensure we continue to be a good corporate citizen within our local communities.”
Searty, a fluent Arabic and German speaker, is a seasoned professional with a 30-year international hospitality background. He has worked across the world including UK, Kenya, Oman as well as Qatar, where he was responsible for the opening of Hilton Doha, the company’s first hotel in the country which, in its first year of operation, has become an attractive and popular addition to the city landscape.
Norwegian national Gaarder-Larsen started his career as a trained chef in Lausanne, Switzerland, a city famous for its world-class hospitality training. He has enjoyed a career spanning Europe, USA and the Middle East with particular highlights including the launch of the famous El Mojito bar at Nile Hilton in Cairo, which was subsequently featured in Conde Nast Traveller and in March 2013 was awarded the global honour of Hilton Garden Inn General Manager of the Year.
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
