Aiana Hotels & Resorts gets new SVP Operations

Qatar-based global hotel management company Aiana has appointed Indian national Murlidhar Rao as its new Senior VP of Operations.

Bringing three decades of experience to the role, Rao will be responsible for strategic planning, luxury project development, design, management and operations.

Amruda Nair, joint MD and CEO, Aiana Hotels & Resorts, said: “It is with great excitement that we welcome Murli to Aiana. Murli’s earnest passion for hospitality, keen eye for detail and extensive experience offers the ideal platform to build upon Aiana’s launch in the Middle East.

“The Aiana brand promise seeks to fulfill a gap in the market for experience driven, non-traditional accommodation and service offerings that are locally relevant and flexible. I am confident that Murli is the right fit to lead the charge to help Aiana grow as an industry leader for innovation, guest satisfaction and performance.”

Rao’s experience includes pre-opening luxury resorts in the Maldives and Caribbean, leading operations across South East Asia, and setting brand standards for a repositioning from mid-market to the premier segment across leading luxury hotel brands including Four Seasons, Kempinski, Mandarin Oriental and Alila.

Speaking about his appointment, Rao said: “It is a privilege to be a part of a brand with a strong sense of being, honesty and above all innovation. I look forward to working closely with the team to position Aiana as the brand of choice for the conscious traveller across all destinations.”

Rao holds a 1st class Honours diploma in Hotel Management from Bombay’s Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition and an Honours Certification for Intermediate Level of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).

Currently under construction, Aiana’s flagship project, Aiana Suites and Residences in Doha will consist of 180 keys.