Accor appoints VP of Operations for...

Rolf Lippuner to oversee 19 Raffles and Fairmont hotels

Rolf Lippuner has been appointed as Vice President of Operations for the Middle East at Raffles Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Based in Riyadh in Saudi, Lippuner will oversee operations and strategic direction for19 Raffles and Fairmont hotels and resorts across the Middle East.

This latest appointment comes as both brands are set for significant growth in the region, with a combined pipeline of 40 new properties, including three in Saudi, Fairmont Red Sea, Raffles Trojena in Neom and Raffles Jeddah, expected to open later this year.

A seasoned leader with more than 30 years of luxury hospitality experience, including a decade in Saudi, Lippuner brings a wealth of expertise in hotel operations, brand strategy and high-end guest experiences, as well as a passion for talent development and deep knowledge of Saudi’s hospitality sector.

Sami Nasser, Global COO for Fairmont, described Lippuner’s experience within luxury hospitality as “unparalleled” and his understanding of the Saudi market as “invaluable” and “instinctive”.

As Acting CEO and Chief of Asset Operations at AlUla Development Company, Lippuner successfully led negotiations with hospitality brands to drive investment in the kingdom.

He also led operations for two luxury hotels in the kingdom, most recently serving as GM at flagship destination Fairmont Hotel Riyadh, and before that, as General Manager at Four Seasons Riyadh. Here, he spearheaded a five-year plan that secured millions in capital investment and transformed the property’s F&B division into a market leader.

In his new role, Lippuner is tasked with strengthening the performance of both brand's Middle Eastern portfolios, driving financial growth and expanding leadership pathways, with a focus on empowering women in executive roles.

His appointment follows a number of other new hires at Accor, including Islam Samar as Vice President Development, Middle East.

Accor currently counts more than 290 properties across all brands in the Middle East, including 19 Raffles and Fairmont properties, with 130 new locations (40 Raffles and Fairmont) to be added by 2028 and plans to open 45 hotels in Saudi by 2030.

For more information, visit group.accor.com

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