As General Manager at Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha brings his wealth of luxury hospitality experience to the resort, with the goal to become one of Europe's most celebrated hotels. With previous experience at properties with exceptional service standards, Duarte holds a core belief in the inherent nobility of serving others, both his guests and the teams he integrates and leads.
Throughout his career, Duarte has worked at four Aman Resorts in Morocco, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Montenegro, as well as Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol. Most recently, he distinguished himself as General Manager for Discovery Hotel Management, leading the team at Octant Douro in Portugal for the past four years. Duarte holds degrees in Hotel Management and Strategic Marketing from Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland and has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
The Lowell Hotel, the luxury landmark address located in New York’s prime Upper East Side, is excited to announce the appointment of its new Director of Sales and Marketing, Julian Alden. An accomplished luxury hospitality leader, Julian boasts 20+ years of successfully driving revenue and brand awareness for some of New York City’s most prestigious properties and international resorts.
From building and sustaining client relationships with key high-net-worth individuals and accounts worldwide, Julian brings a wealth of knowledge into his new role. Most recently, he served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for the opening team of Six Senses La Sagesse Grenada, leading the team from pre-opening to a successful launch in the international and local market. His new role at The Lowell marks his return to the New York hospitality scene, where he has an extensive history of working with the city’s most renowned properties. Prior to his work in Grenada, he served as Sales & Marketing Director for the opening of The Fifth Avenue Hotel, following positions as Head of Business Development for The Mark Hotel, Director of Sales for the Park Hyatt New York, Director of Sales at The Pierre, and Associate Director of Sales at The St. Regis New York.
A native of Malta, Alden attended the island republic’s Institute of Tourism Studies – St. George’s Bay, St. Julian’s, where he received a Diploma in Hotel Management awarded with Distinction and was recognized with the “Management Student of the Year” by the Malta Hotel and Restaurant Association.
Enthusiastic about his new role, Julian states, “I am thrilled to join The Lowell team as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. It’s an honor to contribute to the legacy of this iconic property, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests.”
The luxurious urban retreat Hotel Arts Barcelona is proud to announce the appointment of Renato De Oliveira as General Manager. With an impressive career spanning two decades in the hospitality industry, De Oliveira brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role.
De Oliveira's career began at Hotel Arts Barcelona in 2004, where he started as an intern and swiftly progressed to Assistant Director of the Rooms Division. Embracing his desire for new opportunities and growth, De Oliveira moved to Asia in 2011, where he assumed the role of Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms Division at The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong. He later held various senior leadership positions at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, The Ritz- Carlton, Santiago, and The Ritz-Carlton Millenia.
Most recently, De Oliveira served as the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, where he successfully led the resort through a critical phase of its ramp-up. In 2023, Renato De Oliveira was awarded General Manager of the Year for APEC, a testament to his exceptional leadership and performance as an expert in managing complex and high- performance hotels and results-driven leader.
In his new role, De Oliveira will oversee all aspects of the property, including maintaining and further enhancing the level of service and product quality to ensure that Hotel Arts Barcelona continues to be the benchmark in the hospitality industry.
“I am thrilled to be back where it all started. My goal is to focus on maintaining and further enhancing — through complete re-imagination of the guest's journey — the level of service and product quality to ensure that Hotel Arts Barcelona continues to be a benchmark in the hospitality industry, resonating with both today's and future travellers,” said Renato De Oliveira.
Renato De Oliveira holds a diploma in Tourism Studies from Brazil's Anhembi Morumbi University and a graduate degree in Hotel Management from the Swiss Hotel Association
Hotel Management School in Switzerland. De Oliveira is excited to return to Barcelona, where his journey in hospitality began.
For more information about Hotel Arts Barcelona, please visit www.hotelartsbarcelona.com.
Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel is pleased to announce the appointment of Ho Chi Ming as its new Executive Chef. With a wealth of experience spanning over 16 years in the hospitality industry, Chef Ming will lead the hotel’s culinary operations, introducing his signature style and innovative approach to international cuisine.
Chef Ming brings an impressive background in Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and broader Asian cuisines, making him a valuable addition to the hotel's diverse culinary team. His extensive experience includes working with luxury hotels and prestigious pre-opening projects over the past decade. His participation in renowned culinary events, such as the Asian Food Festival at Marriott properties, further highlights his dedication to excellence.
His commitment to culinary excellence is reinforced by numerous accolades, including the "Awarded Certificate TAP series" and a Level 3 Food Safety and Hygiene certification from EICH UK.
Commenting on Chef Ming's appointment, Sita Lekshmi, General Manager of Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Chef Ming to our team. His exceptional culinary skills, combined with his passion for creating memorable dining experiences, align perfectly with our commitment to providing outstanding hospitality. We are confident that his expertise will bring a fresh perspective and elevate our culinary offerings to new heights."
Chef Ho Chi Ming is set to introduce a range of exciting culinary experiences at Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, ensuring that guests enjoy an exquisite blend of flavors and innovative presentations.