Insider Stories

The Residence Douz, Cenizaro Hotels and Resorts' second Tunisian property, has announced the appointment of Anis Zayana as its new General Manager. With several years of experience leading prestigious establishments, Anis brings a wealth of expertise that perfectly aligns with the hotel's commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience.  Anis Zayana brings an impressive background in hotel management, having led several renowned properties across Tunisia and Algeria. Prior to joining The Residence Douz, he served as the General Manager of the Golden Yasmin Les Oliviers Palace Hotel in Sfax and headed the Ras El Ain Hotel in Tozeur. A graduate of the Certified Hotel Administrator program from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute in Florida, Anis has earned a reputation as a dedicated leader, seamlessly implementing his knowledge in both management and human resources.   Anis Zayana, General Manager of The Residence Douz said, “I am honoured to join this extraordinary property and the Cenizaro Hotels and Resorts family. As the first desert retreat for the brand, The Residence Douz is a true gateway to the Sahara, and I am excited to lead the team in establishing its legacy in the region. Together, we will create unforgettable experiences for our guests, ensuring this remarkable destination leaves a lasting mark on the luxury hospitality landscape.”  Surrounded by golden dunes and swaying palms, The Residence Douz features 50 elegant villas, two gourmet restaurants, an infinity pool and a luxurious Spa by Clarins. Each villa, from the Sahara Deluxe and Sahara Prestige to the exclusive Royal Oasis and Royal Mirage suites, boasts panoramic views of the sweeping desert landscapes, luxurious amenities, and private relaxation spaces designed for guests to unwind after days spent exploring. 

Dusit International has appointed Mr. Rami Massoud as Vice President of Development for the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Rami Massoud will be based in Dusit’s regional office in Dubai. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, he is an Egyptian national with over 25 years of experience in hotel development, real estate investment, and asset management. During his career, Massoud has worked for hotel brands such as Marriott, Starwood, and Four Seasons and spearheaded projects for top developers including Dubai Holding, Power Holding, and Shuaa Capital across the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Most recently, he served as the Managing Director of Hotel Assets Acquisition Consultants. He holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel management and advanced certification in hotel real estate investment & asset management from Cornell University. Massoud said, “Joining Dusit International is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to a brand with a rich heritage and an incredibly bright future. I am excited to help drive Dusit’s expansion in the EMEA region by identifying new growth opportunities and fostering relationships that will enable us to bring our distinctive Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to more guests around the world.” Massoud is now responsible for the growth of Dusit’s unique portfolio of Dusit Hotels and Resorts across key existing and emerging destinations in the EMEA region.

Stuart Deeson has been promoted to the group’s vice president of operations across all of MEA. This brings the number of hotels under his remit to more than 30, double what he was handling previously as area VP for Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Jordan and KSA. The top job puts him in charge of seven brands, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Alila, Andaz, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. It also sees him managing 9,000 staff and close to 6,000 keys. His responsibilities will only grow as the US company readies to grow by 80 percent in Saudi Arabia, fuelled by its involvement in the Kingdom’s gigaprojects. Hyatt will open the likes of Park Hyatt Diriyah Gate, Grand Hyatt The Red Sea and Miraval The Red Sea (the latter is the regional debut of the brand).   Stuart Deeson’s rise through Hyatt   Deeson began his hospitality career at the age of 16 in the family country house hotel business, before joining the Hyatt family in 1995 and gaining extensive knowledge of Asia and the Middle East markets over nearly three decades. He started his journey with the company as business development manager at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, and got promoted two years later to director of business development at Hyatt Regency Xian in China. In 1999, Deeson was appointed the hotel’s director of rooms and successfully climbed the career ladder to his first executive assistant manager position in 2000, at Grand Hyatt Seoul in Korea. Continuing his journey across Asia, Deeson moved to Japan in 2002 to join the pre-opening team of Grand Hyatt Tokyo as EAM, rooms. Three years later, he took on his first GM role at Hyatt Regency Johor Bahru in Malaysia, before making the exciting move to the Middle East as GM of Park Hyatt Dubai in 2010. Deeson moved to the UAE capital in 2014 and held GM positions at Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt properties before taking on his former role as area vice president and general manager of Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi. Srdjan Milekovic, senior vice president operations – Europe, Africa and Middle East, Hyatt, said, “I am delighted that Stuart has stepped into this new role. With his deep knowledge and experience across the Middle East and Africa, I know he will deliver great value for our colleagues, owners and guests, and successfully drive Hyatt’s purpose forward in the region.”