Philip M. Barnes, regional vice president, United Arab Emirates and general manager, Fairmont Dubai is pleased to announce the appointment of Henning A. Fries as general manager, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.

“We are delighted to have Henning at the helm of this recently debuted (October 2009) Fairmont flagship at a time when our brand is enjoying growing momentum in the region,” said Barnes, adding, “we believe the combination of his strategic vision and his extensive experience will further strengthen our position in the capital.”

Fries' responsibilities will include overseeing the performance and day-to-day operations of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, the 369 room property in Abu Dhabi, which includes a world class portfolio of food and beverage offerings and over 25,000 square feet of function space.

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A seasoned hotelier, Fries brings a wealth of experience to this position with a career spanning over 25 years across four continents, where he has held executive positions with leading hotel companies, from Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, to nine years with the InterContinental Hotels Group, including one of London's most esteemed five star hotels, The Churchill InterContinental.

Fries first joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (then Canadian Pacific Hotels) in 1987 where he held progressives Food & Beverage roles at The Fairmont Empress, The Fairmont Royal York and Fairmont Chateau Laurier.

2005 saw the seasoned hotelier out of the hotel realm and into venture capital and the private equity industry as a consultant for hotels and hospitality related enterprises. In this role, he advised private investors and developers on a variety of different projects, including city centre hotels, resort properties, as well as restaurant and private member clubs.

He rejoins Fairmont Hotels & Resorts from his most recent position as Regional Director, U.A.E. Refad Hotels & Resorts & General Manager, The Monarch Dubai.

Fries holds a diploma in Hotel Management from Hotel School SBC, Trier, Germany and an Executive MBA from the Henley Business School, United Kingdom.