Mövenpick Resort Petra, a leading five-star property in Jordan, has appointed Rania Bawalsa as its new hotel manager, becoming the country's first hotel resort to appoint a local woman to the senior position.

Bawalsa’s career in the hospitality industry began in 1996 as a housekeeping coordinator for Le Méridien Amman Hotel. The enthusiastic Jordanian moved on to join Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts as executive secretary for the general manager’s Office at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, where she honed her pre-opening and development skills. Her career then took her to Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel & Towers, where she was eventually promoted to food and beverage manager. In 2010, she accepted the role of communications manager and personal assistant to the hotel manager of Mövenpick Resort Petra and Mövenpick Nabatean Castle Hotel.

Known as an individual who inspires and motivates her colleagues, Bawalsa is looking forward to build on her solid experience. “It has always been a dream of mine to run a hotel and I plan to take this exciting challenge very seriously,” she said. “It is an incredible honour for me to be Jordan’s first woman to hold such a senior position in our beautiful country. Setting an example for aspiring young females in the kingdom will be part of my mission.”

As Mövenpick Resort’s Petra’s hotel manager, the young female leader seeks to inject a new wave of excellence into the resort, focusing on service and superior experiences for guests and team members. “We have always made it our priority to make every visit, every experience and every second of a guest’s stay truly remarkable on all levels,” Bawalsa continued. “Of course, the gorgeous rose-red city of Petra also serves as an ideal backdrop to make dreams come true.”

On the historic occasion, Michael Nugent, regional director of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in Jordan said it was a well-deserved promotion. “Her remarkable efforts, achievements and vision are completely in line with Mövenpick’s ideals. I have no doubt that her personable approach and often contagious energy will take Mövenpick Resort Petra to new heights.” - TradeArabia News Service