Revealed: opening team for Westin Al Habtoor City

The general manager and executive opening team for The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City have been revealed.

The upcoming Westin property will join the already opened St Regis Dubai and the soon to open W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, all located in the Al Habtoor City complex located off Sheikh Zayed Road.

The new Westin hotel is expected to open in summer 2016, and will cover 41 floors, offering over 1,000 rooms.

Khaled Ghaleb is confirmed as the property’s general manager. He joinsThe Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City directly from sister Starwood property Grosvenor House Dubai, where he held the position of hotel manager for four years.

Ghaleb brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to the new Dubai hotel. He has worked across luxury hotel properties in Egypt, France and the UAE, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in hotel management.

Commenting on the hotel’s upcoming launch, Ghlaleb said: “We are now weeks away from opening, and are extremely excited to launch The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City. While the hotel stays true to the Westin brand, our promise to our guests is an urban retreat of endless choices in the heart of Dubai.”

The executive opening team of The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City has now been revealed. Click below to find out who has been appointed to the opening team.

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Hotel manager- Daniel Kingston

Kingston opened the first Westin hotel in India as front office manager in 2006. Kingston re-joins The Westin group from Emaar Hospitality, where he held the role as hotel manager at Vida Downtown and Al Manzil Downtown in Dubai. Kingston was also pre-opening director of rooms at W Doha.

Director of F&B- Reda Sebbar

Sebbar has worked in various roles across the F&B industry, including his most recent role as executive assistant manager at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi.

Executive chef- Carl Stockenstrom

Stockenstrom has worked in five star hotels for 22 years, including stints at luxury properties in Europe and the Middle East. Stockenstrom joins the team at The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City directly from Zaya Nurai Island, where he was EAM of Culinary and F&B.

Director of housekeeping- Ruby Pande

Pande brings 15 years of experience to the role. She joins the new team from the 547 key Grand Hyatt Mumbai where she was executive housekeeper.

Director of rooms- Waleed Abdellatif

Abdellatif brings 20 years of experience to his new role, gained working across Egypt and the US. He has previously worked with The St. Regis Washington and The St. Regis Monarch Beach.

Chief engineer- Lester D’Souza
D’Souza brings 22 years of hotel services and facility management experience to the role, and has been part of several hotel pre-opening teams in the past.

Complex director of human resources- Dara Pinke

Pinke has previously managed six pre-openings including the Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah Dubai, for which she won a Hotelier Middle East Award in 2014.

Complex director of marketing and PR- Candice D’Cruz

D’Cruz joined Starwood in 2011 to open the region’s first St. Regis, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. She has also worked with Emaar, where she led the marketing team at the Burj Khalifa.

Complex director of revenue- Nathalie Massabki

Massabki joined Starwood in 1998, and has worked in hotel markets, from Paris to Cairo. Massabki joins the team from her previous role as area director of revenue, overseeing Starwood’s seven hotels in Abu Dhabi.

Complex director of finance- Bernard Obaro

Obaro moved to Dubai in 1996 to join the opening team of Sheraton Deira. He joins The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City from his previous role as director of finance at Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates.

Complex director of spa & recreation- Amanda Schmiege

Schmiege's new responsibilities will include overseeing the hotel’s Heavenly Spa by Westin, The Westin Workout Fitness Studio, The Westin Family Kids Club and the hotel’s swimming pools. Shmiege was previously general manager of The Red Door Union Square in New York.

Complex director of security- Andrew King

King has spent 15 years in the British Royal Marine Commandos. He was previously head of security for Nokia MEA Region, corporate director of HSE at Jumeirah Group, and director of risk at IHG Festival City.

Complex director of information technology- Vises Kith
The new hotel will be Kith's eight pre-opening experience in 11 years with Starwood, which includes the conversion and opening of Sheraton Dubai, Mall of the Emirates.