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(From L-R) Avnish Kumar, Navin
Shah, Abdulla Bin Sulayem, Mete Atakuman, Laetitia Pardo, Richard Mazeau
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Seasoned hotel operator Mete Atakuman to lead pre-opening EXCOM team as
luxury British-themed hotel and hotel apartments on Palm Jumeirah count down to
Q1 2016 opening
Dubai-based luxury property developer and holding company Seven Tides has
appointed the general manager and four senior executive committee members for
its latest five-star hospitality venture, DUKES Dubai hotel and hotel apartment
project.
Seasoned
general manager, Mete Atakuman, will head up the team and brings more than 20 years’
industry experience to the role with emphasis on openings and acquisition.
An
Australian citizen, Atakuman, has vast experience of Dubai-based brands, having
previously worked with the Jumeirah Group to oversee the takeover of the
Jumeirah Bodrum Palace, Turkey as well as managing several high profile
pre-opening projects in China and Azerbaijan for the international luxury hotel
chain.
“Mete
has a proven operational and commercial track record when it comes to
spearheading new hotel projects, and his experience of conveying luxury brand
concepts will be instrumental to our success as we introduce this uniquely
British brand to an expectant market in the region,” said Abdulla Bin
Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, developer of DUKES Dubai.
Atakuman will lead
a seasoned EXCOM team which includes Laetitia Pardo who joins DUKES Dubai as director
of sales & marketing. A French national with hospitality industry
experience on two continents, she will play a pivotal role in positioning DUKES
in the region as well as ensuring a healthy market mix for the luxury
property’s leisure, business and MICE segments.
A strong team
leader with 17 years’ experience in both the hotel and serviced apartment
sector, Pardo has worked for renowned hotel groups such as Atlantis The Palm,
Hilton International and Sofitel, as well as iconic properties including The
Savoy in London.
Former French naval
officer, Richard Mazeau, takes on responsibility for DUKES Dubai’s recruitment
strategy as the new director of human resources.
Previous experience
includes Anantara Doha, where he oversaw recruitment from pre-opening, the
opening of the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, as well as managing HR and training for
One&Only Resorts, Dubai.
The fourth new
member of the executive team, director of engineering, Avnish Kumar, has been
at the sharp end of the industry in the region for a decade as a pre-opening
specialist, working with TIME Hotels, Mövenpick and The Address Hotels amongst
others.
Rounding out the appointments
list is Navin Shah, the hotel’s director of finance. A qualified chartered
accountant with over 15 years’ experience.
He has held a
number of executive director positions, and has worked on high profile brand
and property launches for Zaya Hotel Management, The Address Hotels and Accor
in the UAE, as well as for Millennium & Copthorne covering the Middle East
and Africa.
“The success of
DUKES Dubai in the UAE is contingent upon its leadership team and their ability
to position the brand as a market leader and deliver its distinctly unique
character in today’s extremely competitive marketplace,” added Bin Sulayem.
Centrally located on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, just 10 minutes’ drive
from Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road, and only 45 minutes from Dubai
International Airport, DUKES Dubai hotel and hotel apartments is set to add a
distinctly British flavour to the city’s luxury hospitality offering.
The 273-room hotel and
227 hotel apartments will offer world-class leisure, conference and
entertainment facilities including a stunning private beach, indoor pool,
outdoor infinity pool and state-of-the-art gym, along with five food and
beverage outlets.
For more
information, please visit www.dukesdubai.com or www.dukesoceana.com
