Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre has welcomed Sara Barakat as director of events and Khodr G Elmasri as associate director of Events.

Barakat is a highly-educated executive arriving from an international background spanning Africa, Europe and the GCC. Elmasri brings nearly a decade of GCC luxury hospitality experience to Le Méridien Dubai along with extensive F&B knowledge and a track record encompassing substantial opening and pre-opening occasions at various high-end properties, said a statement.

Barakat’s experience includes events-focused positions at luxury properties in Egypt and Abu Dhabi as conferences and events sales manager and director of conferences and events, respectively. Her career to date includes special projects, operations background as well as well as a period focused on hospitality marketing.

Barakat’s education and training consists of schooling from the Red Sea to Luzern. She holds an MBA in International Hospitality Management from International Hotel Management Institute in Switzerland and speaks Arabic, English and French.

Elmasri is a Six Sigma and HACCP certified manager speaking Arabic, English and French. His career consists of significant Marriott International experience, including five years at W Doha Hotel & Residences in Qatar. His latest Marriott role, and most recent position, was complex associate director of events/groups at Al Habtoor City Complex in Dubai.

Elmasri worked on both pre-opening and opening projects at the palatial Dubai destination featuring three Marriott International properties - Westin, St. Regis and W Dubai.

With 5,500 sq m of event facilities covering 24 rooms, including three technologically-advanced ballrooms, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre is an industry leader for conferences, social events and other diversified events.  - TradeArabia News Service