Insider Stories

Cecilia Natalia Hage has been appointed as the new Marketing Public Relations Manager at Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown. Cecilia will lead the team with the wealth of knowledge she had gained while working with big multinational companies in various industries across the world, including Oculus Meta, Parrot, NBCUniversal, Burberry, L'Oral, BNP Paribas, Schneider Electric, and Intercontinental Hotels Group. With this new role at Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, Cecilia has come full circle since her first internship in 2013 was also at Intercontinental Hotels Group, in one of its most iconic hotels Phoenicia in Beirut. In her new position, Cecilia aims to disrupt the marketing field in the hospitality industry with innovative and bold campaigns. She is looking to boost the hotels business both internationally amongst tourists looking for an exceptional stay, and amongst residents like herself who are eager to live truly unforgettable and shareable experiences. Cecilia has always had a passion for Marketing and Communications and wanted to use her creativity in that field. Determined to make this a career, Cecilia enrolled in some of the best universities in the world; McGill University (Canada) and Bocconi (Italy) for her Bachelor of Commerce, and ESADE Business School (Spain) for her Masters in Marketing Management. She has also majored in Finance and International Business at university to understand all pillars of a business and eventually launch her own brand one day. Cecilia can immerse herself in any professional industry. She really believes that understanding the brand itself, its values, and especially why it exists are the most important things. Once shes aligned with these, she lets her creativity and her outgoing personality operate, all the while being in line with the business objectives. Having traveled and lived in countries all over the world since she was a child (France, Lebanon, Canada, Italy, Spain, UK, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and now UAE), Cecilia is able to draw from different cultures and adapt quickly to new environments. A true multicultural enthusiast, Cecilia learned to speak 5 languages: French, English, Arabic, Spanish and Italian. When she is not working, Cecilia enjoys singing, playing the guitar, blogging, photography and sports. She loves entertainment, discovering new restaurants and places to visit, meeting new people, and most of all, traveling. For more enquiries, visit www.hotelindigodubai.com call 04 210 2222, or follow @hotelindigodubai for the latest updates. About Hotel Indigo Just as no places are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are alike. Each Hotel Indigo draws inspiration from the local neighbourhood, culture and popular food, drink and design trends to create a warm and vibrant atmosphere. Our hotels provide a gateway to discover and explore some of the worlds most inspiring cities and neighbourhoods. For more information, visit www.hotelindigo.com.

With a strong belief and passion in talent development, The Lux Collective’s well-loved resort LUX* South Ari Atoll announces its recent internal promotions and names the key players in Culinary and Food & Beverage teams.

Shantla is an experienced professional with 10+ years in the field of hospitality and marketing. Over the years she has gained valuable expertise during her journey across a number of reputed international hotel chains like Hyatt, Accor, Hilton and IHCL which has added to her existing professional accolades. Prior to joining Conrad, she was spearheading Marketing Communications and PR as a Cluster Director for IHCL (Taj) Hotels in Hyderabad. She focused on aligning marketing strategies for their Hyderabad hotels and improved the brand presence with various activations and alliances. Having pursued her MBA in Marketing and HR, Shantla comes with an in-depth knowledge encompassing marketing communications strategies, digital and social media marketing, and PR and media management. In her new role at Conrad Bengaluru, Shantla will oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive marketing campaigns, establishing brand associations, and managing media and PR activations. On her appointment, Shantla said, “I am elated to join the dynamic team at Conrad Bengaluru and be a part of this iconic property. In my new role I seek to create engaging conversations with our guests and build a strong presence in the luxury space while maintaining the brand integrity and strategically positioning the hotel as preferred destination for exceptional and inspiring experiences.”

Caesars Palace is a globally renowned brand, known as the “home of the greatest entertainers in the world” with headlining acts including Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Elton John and Adele. This legacy of entertainment excellence is set to grow in the UAE with Caesars Palace Dubai, spearheaded by Aneesh.   Fuelled by his passion for music and entertainment, Aneesh joins the Caesars Palace team with 20 years of experience in the nightlife and music industry and an impressive track record spanning borders – from long-term stints in the UK and India, working along with the Middle East, Southeast Asia & Europe.  Over his prolific career, Aneesh has collaborated with leading global brands including The Ministry of Sound, UK Trade and Investment - The Exchange, British Council, VH1 Supersonic Festival and W Hotels along with tech giants like Xiaomi and JBL. Working alongside such names, he gained extensive experience in business development, brand building, music programming and curation, events consultation, project management and record label & artist relations.  As an international artist, he has many achievements under his belt including being invited to officially remix 3 different Grammy Nominated Artists, surpassing 5 million Spotify streams as the highest streamed artist of Indian origin for Underground Music, the 1st person of Indian origin to hit the USA Billboard Dance Chart and ranked #4 in Asia’s Top Ten Music Producers.  As Entertainment & Nightlife Director, Aneesh will develop and lead a comprehensive entertainment programme and bring innovative entertainment concepts to life. Aneesh brings his commercial acumen and nuanced insight into the entertainment business to reinforce the resort’s entertainment legacy, elevate brand visibility and create memorable guest experiences that will continue to represent and enhance the resort’s distinguished presence in the region. About Caesars Palace Dubai Caesars Palace Dubai is an immersive luxury lifestyle resort located in the heart of the Bluewaters community. Offering a curated selection of unforgettable experiences for families and couples, the hotel is renowned for its contemporary design and uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s skyline. 

Bridgeton Holdings has named Teach Mayer as general manager for Dawn Ranch after the property’s acquisition by Bridgeton earlier this spring. Dawn Ranch, which operated as a wedding venue since its cabins closed their doors three years ago due to a flood, has now reopened as a full service luxury resort under Bridgeton’s operation. Located on the banks of the Russian River in Sonoma County’s artistic enclave, Guerneville, Calif., the historic property previously had played host to vacationers from San Francisco and around the globe for over 100 years since its original opening in 1905. Today, Dawn Ranch’s 15 acre-property offers an escape to the old-school magic of the Golden State, a riverfront resort is a virtual natural preserve with 53 cedar-topped individual cabins with access to wide open meadows, wooded nature trails and lush gardens that supply on-site restaurant, Agriculture Public House, as well as wedding and event spaces for up to 300 guests. Mayer, who helped to open Bridgeton’s Marram Montauk as general manager, has been tapped to lead the reopening of this Sonoma County gem. “We’ve created an experience where guests seeking an escape from their busy lives, whether nearby in the Bay Area, or joining us from afar, can reconnect with nature and their own creativity to embrace slow-paced luxury,”  said Mayer. “Personally, I enjoy the more laid back, rustic, grounding spirit that Sonoma County offers in contrast to nearby Napa. Each guest is invited to curate their own perfect stay, with majestic redwoods and private river access onsite, the Sonoma Coast just 20 minutes away and passionate winemakers nearby, there’s simply so much to choose from.” “Mayer has been an integral part of the Bridgeton Holdings team, helping to shape the guest experience at Marram Montauk,” said Atit Jariwala, CEO of Bridgeton Holdings. “His enthusiasm for each property and destination is invaluable, and we are thrilled to have his energy and professionalism at Dawn Ranch.” Mayer has more than 30 years of experiential resort hospitality and management experience. She has been with the Bridgeton Holdings brand since 2019, playing an integral role in the pre-opening and opening of Marram, Montauk’s beachfront barefoot luxury resort, where he led high level operations with a focus on guest experience. Previous to joining Marram and Dawn Ranch, Mayer served as general manager of Sound View in Greenport, N.Y., under the Filament Hospitality brand. He began his career with Club Med Resorts in 1991, holding numerous hospitality management positions across Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East for close to 15 years.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis has named Karen Mcfarlane as its new spa director. A spa and wellness hospitality veteran with more than 20 years of experience, Mcfarlane most recently served at Jumby Island Resort, a member of the Oetker Collection, in Antigua, where she spent the last 11 years. “I am pleased to welcome Karen to the Four Seasons Resort Nevis family,” said Yvette Thomas-Henry, regional vice president and general manager for Four Seasons Nevis. “Her passion for excellence and her commitment to training and development is sure to enhance and elevate the spa, wellness and fitness offerings at our Resort. I’m excited to see what her fresh perspective will bring to our unique Nevisian offerings.” In her new role as spa director, Mcfarlane will oversee both the resort’s spa and fitness operations, which include a 12,000-square-foot spa facility, featuring 11 treatment rooms, six of which are located in private Nevisian huts. The spa is set in a garden amid lush greenery and flowers, surrounded by tropical plants and flora native to the island. “It is truly an honor to be joining the Four Seasons Resort Nevis family,” said Mcfarlane. “I am looking forward to developing the Spa's wellness experiences while infusing the rich natural elements of Nevis so that our visiting guests can experience the authenticity of the island.” Originally from Jamaica, Mcfarlane comes to Nevis having worked in several Caribbean resorts, including  Carlisle Bay, Blue Waters Hotel, Sandals Resort and Spa and, most recently, Jumby Island. She began her career as a nail technician and massage therapist and transitioned through several learning and development programs, including a scholarship through the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association to study Spa & Hospitality Management at the University of California.

Sahara Hospitality Ltd announces the promotion of Ms. Ash Sharma as the Hotel Manager of Hotel Sahara Star from her most recent position as the Rooms Divisions Manager. This is an essential change keeping in mind the continuous developments at the hotel. With over 24 years of experience within the Sahara Group, Ms. Ash Sharma is a skilled hospitality professional. She joined Hotel Sahara Star, as an Assistant Front Office Manager in 2007 and progressed to become the Front Office Manager in 2009. Over the course of her tenure at Hotel Sahara Star, she continued to grow and develop in her career. She went on to be a part of the management team in 2019 as the Rooms Division Manager. “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to become the Hotel Manager of this wonderful property. With this new responsibility, I am looking forward to the hotel’s innovative plans to further enhance our guests experiences by delivering exceptional luxury paired with courteous and intuitive service.” - speaks Ash Sharma on her appointment. “We are glad to announce this internal promotion as we seek to further strengthen the core team of Sahara star in lieu of the hospitality and tourism sector bouncing back post the difficult times. Going forward we will be fully focused on improving our brand standards with a key focus on increasing our room inventory and bringing together a host of many new amenities including our newly launched World Club membership, Jean-Claude Biguine Salon and a state-of-the-art 7500 Sq. ft gymnasium." - comments Mr. Manish Sodhi, CEO, Hotel Sahara Hospitality Ash would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of day to day activities and functioning of the hotel while striving to further enhance service quality and brand value in future , continuing to offer guests with memorable experiences.

The St. Regis Mexico City has appointed Rodrigo Rizzi as general manager. Rizzi is an veteran hotelier with more than 22 years of experience in hospitality with such luxury brands as JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton Company. In his career at Marriott International, Rizzi has worked in 10 countries, participated in four hotel openings, and was recognized as the “Best General Manager of the Year” in Caribbean and Latin America. In his most recent role, Rizzi served as general manager of the JW Marriott El Convento Cusco for four years, leading the hotel to its recognition as a number one brand and winner of the “Best Luxury Hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America.” With vast experience in operations, finance and business development, Rizzi has positioned himself as an innovative leader in the luxury hospitality industry. “I am very excited to be part of The St. Regis Mexico City family and the legacy and modern sophistication evoked by the brand, which has defined the art of luxury hospitality in Mexico City,” said Rizzi. “I feel honored to join a team of talented professionals and continue strengthening the House of Astor by offering a unique, innovative and exquisite travel experience for our guests.”

St. James’s Hotel & Club Mayfair in London, part of Althoff Collection, named Francesco Sardelli as general manager. Originally from Puglia, Sardelli moved to London in I989 where he started out as a room service waiter at Grosvenor House. With 30 years’ experience in the luxury hospitality industry, he worked his way up to general manager, most recently at The Kensington Hotel-Doyle Collection. He has also held management roles at other top London hotels including The Baglioni, Brown’s Hotel and The Stafford. “I am delighted to be joining St. James’s Hotel & Club, a hotel steeped in history and with so much potential for further evolution,” Sardelli said. “There is exceptional dining at Michelin starred Seven Park Place by William Drabble, elegant design and spacious rooms and suites. The location too is exceptional, being in a quiet cul-de-sac but so close to Green Park and the glamour of Mayfair.’

The Schoolhouse Hotel, a newly opened full-service boutique hotel in White Sulphur Springs, Va., with 30 guest rooms, a rooftop bar, and flexible ballroom space, has named its culinary team for its flagship Varsity Club restaurant and grill. The Varsity Club offers upscale southern staples such as crab cakes with lobster corn chowder, and shrimp and grits. Leading the culinary team are father-son duo, Executive Chef Adeyemi Allen and Sous Chef Corte Allen. Chef Adeyemi Allen comes to White Sulphur Springs from the Ballantyne Luxury Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., where he served as the executive banquet chef since 2018. Chef Allen is no stranger to White Sulphur Springs or The Schoolhouse Hotel. He walked the halls of the school as a student years ago, and graced its basketball court in league games. After touring The Schoolhouse Hotel and the fond memories it brought him, Chef Allen was excited about the opportunity to come home and do creative things with the hotel. He has also worked under Chef Peter Timmins at The Greenbrier and served as lead chef at The Greenbrier for four years. Sous Chef Corte Allen grew up in Staunton, Va., before graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. After graduation, Corte worked the country club scene in Baltimore, Md., before departing to The Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World. He later cooked at the Bay Colony golf and Country Club before joining the opening team at Rosendale Events in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked under Certified Master Chef Rich Rosendale, as well as Steven Halliday, CEC. Sous Chef Allen brings a modern twist to southern comfort foods and is excited to bring his vision to The Varsity Club, as well as The Rooftop.

After just over a year serving as F&B director at Nikki Beach Dubai, Matthew Maynard has moved up to the position of general manager of the venue. Nikki Beach Dubai is the flagship outlet of the wider Nikki Beach Resort & Spa. Before heading to the emirate, Maynard spent much of his career in London, including a year as general manager of Plum & Split Milk, a trendy restaurant in King’s Cross. He has also worked with Fortnum & Mason as its restaurant development & training manager before moving up to new business & events operation manager. In his new role, the venue described his duties: “Mathew aims to embrace the brand’s rich heritage and further enhance Nikki Beach’s six core elements of music, dining, entertainment, fashion, film and art. Guests can expect exciting culinary and entertainment updates, as Matthew works together with resident DJ Mademoiselle Sabah.”

Originally from Indonesia, Maya Damayanti lives and breathes her life as a health practitioner, valuing the importance of balancing body, mind, and soul, with a key focus on self-love and healing. She brings over 15 years of experience to Siyam World from her time working to develop spa brands and train staff at global luxury hotel and resort groups across Bali, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and the Middle East. Damayanti was awarded ‘Best Spa Manager 2016’ by the Indonesian Spa Professional Association (IndSpa), the Indonesian Wellness Master Association (WMA) and Wellness & Healthcare Entrepreneur Association (WHEA). With her result-focused, innovative approach, and eye for detail, Maya will lead the Veyo Spa team, oversee all spa operations, and be responsible for the development of spa marketing initiatives, treatment offerings, and promotional activities to eventually expand spa revenues.