Steffen Opitz joins Kempinski Hotel MOE Dubai as hotel manager

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Dubai has appointed Steffen Opitz as hotel manager.

Opitz began his luxury hospitality career with Kempinski Hotels 20 years ago and has since worked with the luxury brand in hotels across the world, including Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The new position marks Opitz's first appointment as hotel manager; his experience spans hotel management, food and beverage, guest relations and luxury service delivery.

Opitz began his career in 1998 at the Kempinski Hotel Adlon Berlin, Germany, located in his home city. From here, he moved to work on the pre-opening of Kempinski Hotel Heiligendamm, Germany as food & beverage project manager, responsible for establishing eight new F&B venues.

His first role in the Middle East was at the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, managed by Kempinski, in 2004 as F&B assistant. He then moved to China with the Kempinski Hotel Dalian as restaurant manager.

In 2006, Opitz returned to the UAE as deputy director food & beverage at Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, before moving back to China with Kempinski Hotel Shenyang, where he was F&B manager on task force during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Food and beverage manager roles followed at several hotels including Swissotel The Stamford Singapore and St. Regis Hotel Bangkok, before Opitz rejoined Kempinski Hotels in Asia as director of food & beverage at Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Centre in 2012.

Since then, he has worked as executive assistant manager at The Stafford London by Kempinski and director of food & beverage at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul, Turkey, prior to returning to Dubai as hotel manager at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.

Opitz is fluent in English and German and is a member of several international hospitality associations, including the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Bailliage De Singapore.