Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has appointed Emiel Van Dijk as the general manager for both Swissôtel Al Ghurair and Swissôtel Living Al Ghurair in Dubai.

Van Dijk brings 18 years of experience to the team, having worked in numerous divisions of hospitality across various countries. He is proud to take the role as figurehead for Swissôtel’s first property in the UAE, featuring 428 guest rooms and suites, as well as 192 hotel apartments.

In his current position at the company’s flagship hotel located in the heart of Dubai, Van Dijk will be responsible for the overall performance, operations and strategic directions in conjunction with the in delivering exceptional results. In keeping with the Swissôtel philosophy, Van Dijk advocates sustainable processes in order to decrease the ecological footprint of the property.  

Throughout his journey with the Swissôtel brand, which started in 2006 and a position at the Swissôtel Berlin, Van Dijk gained essential insights across European properties, including Swissôtel London and Zurich, where he moved up through the ranks from director of sales and marketing to director of operations. His subsequent move to Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul, paved the way for his current role at Swissôtel Al Ghurair. His achievements in Istanbul have resulted in an array of prestigious accolades including the 2013 Europe Luxury Hotel Award, World SPA Awards consecutively in 2014, 2015 and 2016 as well as inclusion in the Condé Nast Traveller Gold Lists in 2013.     

Van Dijk said: “I am honoured to bring my years of experience to bear within Swissôtel’s Dubai flagship. As a longstanding member of the Swissôtel family, my overarching mission is to translate the central philosophy of ‘Swissness’ to guests, which is interpreted as a commitment to service, warm and generous European hospitality values and a belief in bringing a sense of well-being and vitality to guests. I am also passionate about creating and delivering internal programs that align employee skills and knowledge with our global brand standards." - TradeArabia News Service