Smart Hospitality Solutions (SHS), a specialist hotel operating and management company based in Dubai, has appointed Avsar Koc as its new chief operating officer.

Koc, a commercial and hotel operations specialist with more than 30 years in the hospitality business, also orchestrated to launch multiple hotel brands under the RRH&R portfolio, where he served as chief commercial officer and co-founder.

Koc brings both operational know-how and commercial expertise to his new role at SHS. In prior years, Koc oversaw the commercial operations of Kempinski Hotel’s portfolio in India, Middle East & Africa, which included nine hotel openings in five years in diverse markets.

He has also held senior positions at Jumeirah Hotels, Hilton Hotels Corporation, and Hilton International in various parts of the world. A passionate hotelier and traveller himself, Koc is regarded highly as a leader in the industry.

Executive Chairman Reto Wittwer said: “The time is right to bring a COO into to our senior leadership team as we prepare to move into a period of strategic growth. Koc brings the right blend of commercial savvy and operational experience to this key role and we look forward to working with him.”

Executive vice chairman Ulrich Eckhardt added: “Koc is an experienced hotelier with the necessary passion and drive to help us grow Smart Hospitality Solutions. He will be a valuable member of our team and we are confident that he will help drive innovation and profitability across all of our brands.”

Smart Hospitality Solutions (SHS) manages three global brands - Blazon Hotels, Contempera Hotels, and Softouch Hotels, and the addition of Koc bolsters their ability to move forward with the company’s strategic expansion plan. - TradeArabia News Service