Ramada Downtown Dubai names new GM

Ramada Downtown Dubai has appointment Shahzad Butt as its new general manager.

Butt has been in hospitality for 25 years and was the cluster general manager of Chelsea Tower Hotel Apartments and Chelsea Gardens Hotel Apartments, and group director of business development for Chelsea Group of Hotel and Hotel Apartments in Dubai before joining Ramada Downtown Dubai.

He started his career in hospitality with Hilton, and later worked with Renaissance and Avari Hotels International, both in Pakistan and the UAE, where he served various positions including assistant manager, regional sales manager and sales and marketing manager.

In his current role, Butt will oversee the day-to-day operations of the 181-key property that was formerly under the stewardship of Samir Arora.

No statement was released on Arora’s future project who continues to be the general manager of the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham in JBR, Dubai, and holds his fort as cluster general manager within R Hotels.

It is expected that Arora will take charge of a new hotel within the group, either in an upcoming property or an existing one.

Meanwhile, Butt commented: “Ramada Downtown Dubai is an excellent property and I aim to further explore its potentials while maintaining the positive stature that it currently enjoys. I am excited to work with our group, R Hotels, and with the passionate hotel team.”

R Hotels managing director Sumair Tariq said: “We are confident that his extensive hospitality experience will lead to great results for the hotel and the group. He has the full support from R Hotels team and we wish him success in his role.”