PREMIER APPOINTMENT FOR HOLLINSHEAD

Premier Inn has appointed Amanda Hollinshead as its new head of sales.

Hollinshead will oversee the sales operation at the hotel brand’s Dubai International Airport, Dubai Investment Park and Dubai Silicon Oasis properties.

A former senior sales and account manager at Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai, Hollinshead’s new role will be to deliver the Premier Inn Middle East sales and marketing plan to also encourage sales at all Premier Inn hotels in the Middle East.

Hollinshead has also worked for Choice Hotels Europe as a key account director where she was awarded Sales Specialist of the Year in 2007. Prior to this she was hotel sales and account manager for Macdonald Hotels in the UK.

HUNTER TO ALOFT

Todd James Hunter has been appointed executive chef in charge of food and beverage at Aloft Hotel Abu Dhabi.

Hunter, who began his culinary career at the age of 16 at his parent’s restaurant in Australia, has previously worked in London, the Caribbean, and central and southern America.

In the first of two stints in London he worked at the famous Smith of Smithfield’s Restaurant, and later returned for a second stint in the UK capital at Zuma.

Hunter was also part of the opening team at Grosvenor House, Dubai, starting out as sous chef at Buddha Bar, before moving up the ranks to chef de cuisine and finally executive sous chef at the Dubai property.

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NOW ROLE FOR A-MMAN

Accor Hospitality Middle East recently appointed Thierry Szewc as general manager of Ibis Amman — the first internationally branded economy hotel in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Szewc has been with the Accor Group for 35 years and joins the property in the Jordanian capital property following a spell in Sudan.

The French national previously worked in Saudi Arabia as manager of Zam Zam Grand Suites Hotel, Mecca.

ZOTOFF THE BLOCKS

Keen marathon runner Sylvie Zotoff has joined Dusit Thani Dubai as its new director of rooms.

The French national has worked for various international hotel chains including IHG, Starwood and Fairmont at properties in Europe, the United States and Egypt.

Before taking on the new role in Dubai, her last posting was as director of rooms for the transition team at the Fairmont Heliopolis, Cairo.

Zotoff has competed in various marathons including the Chicago Marathon and the San Jose Marathon, and recently participated in the 2010 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in January.

TULIP RECRUITS BLOSSOM

Dozens of employees are on the move at Golden Tulip Hotels in the MENA region, with a large number of new recruits and promotions taking place recently.

One of the highlights includes Frank Mayland who joins Golden Tulip Al Barsha, Dubai, as operations manager. The German national brings with him experience working at properties in Asia and the Middle East.

Other movers and shakers at the company include Paul Diab, director of operations for Golden Tulip Tunisia, who has taken on the added responsibility of the general manager position at Golden Tulip El Mechtel. The same hotel has also appointed Edgar Krohn as director of F&B.

At Golden Tulip Bahrain veteran hotelier Michel Mandrea has taken on the role of general manager, leaving his previous posting at the Golden Tulip Al Barsha, while in Lebanon Gilbert Jaber has been appointed general manager of the Golden Tulip Serenada, Beirut.