Marriott International has appointed Andrew Henning as general manager of The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, ahead of the property’s opening this year.

In his new role Henning will oversee operations at the 151 key resort, which is the first polo and equestrian-inspired St. Regis hotel globally.

Prior to joining The St. Regis Dubai, Polo Resort & Club pre-opening team, Henning held the position of general manager at the historical 206-room Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Warsaw, Poland since 2013.

Originally from Larne in Northern Ireland, Henning has worked with Starwood since December 2003 when he started as director of food and beverage at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh. Within seven months he was promoted to executive manager, overseeing the hotel’s operational departments.

Following his time in Edinburgh, Henning moved to London as executuve assistant manager of The Park Lane Hotel with responsibility for all hotel operations for two years. In 2008 he took on his first general manager role in Albania at the Sheraton Tirana, before moving to The Westin Dublin where he served as general manager from 2009 until 2013.

Henning said: “Following the long-standing association with polo, the sport of kings, it is an honour to lead the team at the world’s first St. Regis Polo Resort. This is an exciting project with a great team behind it, and we are confident that it will significantly contribute to Dubai’s dynamic hospitality landscape. I look forward to the adventure ahead with a wonderful team.”

The new resort reinforces Dubai’s standing within the global polo circuit and St. Regis’s rich polo history dating back to the Astor family, founders of the original St. Regis New York in 1904. Designed around four lush polo fields, The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club is located just 30-minutes from Dubai International Airport in Dubailand.

The resort will offer travellers a selection of 96 guestrooms, 30 suites and 25 villas. Recreation facilities will include Dubai’s second Iridium Spa with a world-class facility featuring six treatment suites complemented with steam and sauna facilities. In addition there are two tennis courts, a large outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up bar and hot tubs overlooking the polo fields.

The Al Habtoor Polo Club and Academy is located on the grounds of the resort where guests can enjoy riding lessons and pony club activities. The academy will offer a full programme for both adults and children designed to improve skills in show jumping, dressage and polo, with tailored tuition from experienced professionals. - TradeArabia News Service