Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, announced four new general managers for hotels in New York, Kuwait and Frankfurt.
“We are pleased to announce these latest management appointments within the Jumeirah team,” said Frank van der Post, COO of Jumeirah Group. “These appointments are a strategic step for the next phase of our ambitious expansion plans, and we remain committed to our goal of having 60 hotels either under development or in operation by 2012.”
In New York, Gary Schweikert is the new general manager of Jumeirah Essex House and regional vice president of operations for the Americas. Schweikert joins Jumeirah from the Flagship Hospitality Group LLC, providing development, operational and asset management services to hotel owners. His experience includes the Plaza Hotel in New York, where he worked as Managing Director, Regional Vice President for Fairmont Hotels, and several senior management positions within Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Mina A’ Salam is also welcoming a new general manager. Mahmoud Sakr has been with the Jumeirah Group for 10 years, working as the hotel manager in the Group’s flagship hotel, Burj Al Arab. Sakr has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked for several hotels throughout Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Jumeirah has appointed Khaled Helmy as general manager for Jumeirah Messilah Beach in Kuwait, which is scheduled to open in 2010. Helmy has over 20 years of experience working for international hotel brands including Hyatt International, The Ritz-Carlton and Kempinski.
Last but not least, Dagmar Woodward will be returning to her home country of Germany to lead the pre-opening team of Jumeirah Frankfurt, scheduled to open in mid-2010. Woodward joins the team in Germany from Madinat Jumeirah’s Mina A’ Salam hotel, where she held the position of General Manager. Prior to joining Jumeirah Group, she was general manager of the Hotel Royal Monceau in Paris.
