Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of Emaar Properties, has appointed Ibrahima Gaye, as its corporate director of engineering.

Gaye is an engineering expert with over 20 years’ experience, 14 of which have been in the hospitality industry.

To focus on innovative initiatives for a high-level engineering operations set-up, Gaye will lead and liaise with the Property Engineering teams to develop standards and practices that are on par with international standards. He will ensure that leading advances in engineering are integrated as part of the operations, especially to support Emaar Hospitality Group’s digital transformation.

Olivier Harnisch, chief executive officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “With a fast-growing portfolio of hotel projects in the UAE and other international markets, we are committed to developing world-class hotels and serviced residences that assure the highest standards in guest service. This involves having an engineering team on board that can provide all necessary support from hotel development to operation stage. Ibrahima Gaye brings extensive and specialised industry experience that will contribute to the seamless functioning of our properties.”

Gaye said: “Emaar Hospitality Group has set a distinct imprint in the hospitality industry with its elegantly designed hotels and serviced residences that are set in central locations. Providing innovative engineering services is central to delivering high quality guest service and to ensure that each hotel operates to the highest standards of operational efficiency. We will continue to focus on introducing innovative engineering approaches across our current and upcoming portfolio of hotel projects.”  

Reporting to Chris Newman, chief operating officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, Gaye will be responsible for providing strategic direction for the entire Engineering function of the group.

Previously, he was area engineering and design director for Africa and Indian Ocean with a leading hotel group overseeing 30 operational properties and 12 projects. Prior to that, he was regional engineering director for sub-Saharan Africa where he managed operations for 20 properties. He has also worked with other international hotel brands.

Gaye completed his Baccalauréat Serie C in Senegal and holds a diploma in BTS - Electro Technique and DUT GEII (Electronic, Electrical and Computing Engineering). - TradeArabia News Service