Nobu Hotel Riyadh, the first luxury boutique hotel in Saudi Arabia, has announced key management appointments in preparation for its much anticipated opening.

The hotel will follow Nobu Hospitality's first Las Vegas project, a boutique hotel within Caesars Palace Las Vegas.

The company was founded on a partnership between acclaimed chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert de Niro and film producer Meir Teper.

Designed by the Rockwell Group Europe and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the hotel is set in the heart of downtown Riyadh on King Fahd Road and features 99 rooms and 35 suites.  It will accommodate three restaurants, including its signature Nobu restaurant, the Market Place all-day dining restaurant, and Zan Tea House; event facilities of two ballrooms with separate green rooms, six meeting rooms and personalised offsite catering; VIP lounge and the Abariz Spa.

Speaking about the new appointments, Nobu Hotel Riyadh's general manager Mark Carnazzola said: "I am extremely delighted to welcome our experienced and talented Executive Managers to the hotel and I look forward to working with them in opening this very exciting hotel. With their appointments I know we will be able to deliver to our guests the distinctive and memorable luxury Nobu service with our valued colleagues; matching the quality and unique luxury facilities that the hotel will behold."

Timothy Magee, director of Finance: From Brisbane, Australia, Magee has 30 years experience in the hospitality sector. He started his career in hospitality managing RSL Entertainment businesses in Queensland before joining the Accor Group in 2006, where he held positions in Tasmania and then Victoria at the Sofitel Werribee resort before joining the Lancemore Hotel as Group financial controller. He further continued his career with the RACV Royal Pines resort on the Gold Coast as a finance manager and then Hilton Hotels & Resorts as director of Finance for the Northern Territory.

At Nobu Hotel Riyadh, Magee's financial experience and approach will focus on bottom line performances to achieve the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.

Hana Al Toaimi, director of Human Resources: From Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, Al Toaimi has been working over 20 years in the Human Resources sector. She first built her experience in the Education field in different schools and then developed her skills in the Hospitality business, mainly in the East region of the kingdom where she is from.

In her last position as HR manager for Coral Hotels in Al Khobar, Al Toaimi was responsible for over 200 colleagues from a variety of nationalities and succeeded in introducing numerous HR practices and maintaining a positive and cohesive team environment.

At Nobu Hotel Riyadh, she will personally be responsible for ensuring the hotel's colleagues are recruited, welcomed to the kingdom and its cultures, engaged, nurtured and developed to deliver the very best of Nobu's renowned guest service standards.

Amr Essa, Director of Rooms: From Alexandria, Egypt, Essa has more than 20 years of experience in Rooms and Food and Beverage operations. Raised in the UAE, he has been exposed to different cultures from a very young age. He was actively part of the pre-opening management teams for Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Dubai in the UAE, Sheraton Sharm Al Sheikh in Egypt, and Thunderbird Resort in the Philippines.

With Nobu Hotel Riyadh, Essa will share his knowledge in dealing with pre-opening situations that require high flexibility, quick decision making, and hands on leadership, by empowering his team to ensure every guest is satisfied with their entire stay and experience a vibrant atmosphere of service.

Ahmed Dahmash, Director of Sales & Marketing: From Cairo, Egypt, with 25 years of luxury hotel management, Dahmash is no newcomer to the hospitality business. From sales manager to country director of International Sales with Hilton Worldwide, Dahmash's experience includes both hotel based and corporate office based positions in the Middle East, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait City.

Before joining Nobu Hotel Riyadh, he was in Egypt as executive director at GCI Hospitality Management, a leader in providing unique and streamlined solutions to the hospitality industry.

At Nobu Riyadh, Dahmash will bring his vast experience of the region and passionate approach to market the unique product, showcasing it to both local and international guests. - TradeArabia News Service