Gerrit Graef joins The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh as GM

The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh has hired Gerrit Graef as the property’s new general manager to overlook the operations of the hotel.

He joins The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh from his most recent position as hotel manager for The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah and brings with him 20 years of hospitality experience.

Graef began his career in 1997 at Marriott International as director of F&B at Renaissance Cologne Hotel.

After moving to Dubai as director of F&B at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai, he was promoted to director of operations at the same hotel.

After five years in Dubai, Graef relocated to Doha where he took on the role of hotel manager at the Renaissance Hotel, Courtyard and Marriott Executive Apartment Complex.

In 2014, he moved to Bangkok as multi-property general manager to launch the Bangkok Marriott Sukhumvit & Marriott Executive Apartment, Sukhumvit-Thoglor.

Graef said: "I am excited to take on the role of general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh and join The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company family.

"I am confident that, with the outstanding group of ladies and gentlemen at the hotel, we will be able to build on its current success and transform the property to be a benchmark for luxury service in the Kingdom."