Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has appointed Stefan Bollhalder as managing director, Madinat Jumeirah.

Bollhalder will oversee the group’s flagship Arabian resort, which last year welcomed more than 590,000 guests, and takes up his position with immediate effect reporting directly to Doris Greif, senior vice president, Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA).
 
Bollhalder brings to Jumeirah more than 30 years’ experience in luxury hospitalit, having gained considerable expertise during a long and distinguished international career working in Switzerland, New Zealand, Brunei, Indonesia, Germany, Nepal, Azerbaijan, China, Hong Kong and France.  Bollhalder trained as a chef with Swiss Hotel School Pontresina before taking up a number of management roles with Hyatt International, including general manager positions in Kathmandu, Baku and Hamburg. He moved onto work with Shangri-La Group and acted as general manager for a number of its properties in Asia and Europe. Bollhalder joins Jumeirah Group from the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, where he was general manager and area manager for Europe.

Stefan Leser, CEO Jumeirah Group, said: “Stefan Bollhalder brings a wealth of experience to Jumeirah and will be a great addition to the leadership team. Madinat Jumeirah is a very special destination. It is a Dubai landmark and a flagship property within the Jumeirah portfolio. Stefan’s expertise in operating complex hospitality offerings and delivering results at scale is highly valuable, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Group.”  

Bollhalder added: “This is my first role in Dubai and I’m very much looking forward to living and working in this exciting city, and being part of the Jumeirah family. Madinat Jumeirah is a sophisticated resort with broad appeal that offers a wide range of guest experiences. Being managing director of such an intricate and important resort for Dubai and the Jumeirah Group will enable me to draw on my experience in managing high-profile mixed-use properties as well as my passion for food and great dining.”

A Swiss national, Bollhalder speaks German, English, French and Malay and has a number of professional qualifications from leading hospitality and business institutions including Cornell University. - TradeArabia News Service