Rotana announces new CEO | Connecting Travel

Philip Barnes takes the reins after Guy Hutchinson's move to Hilton

After the departure of Guy Hutchinson (now president of Hilton, Middle East & Africa), UAE-based hotel management company Rotana has announced the appointment of Philip Barnes as its new chief executive officer, effective from 1 March 2024.

Completing almost 25 years at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Barnes has held several senior leadership positions worldwide, in the Middle East, Canada, the UK and the US, including regional vice president of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in the UAE from 2009 to 2011. In this role, he oversaw the operations for Fairmont Palm Dubai, Fairmont Bab al Bar Abu Dhabi, Fairmont Ajman and Fairmont Fujairah, as well as the pre-opening Fairmont Abu Dhabi. He has also worked with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Shangri La Hotels & Resorts.

Commenting on his appointment, Barnes said: “I'm privileged to join Rotana, a homegrown brand synonymous with providing guests with the highest service levels across the region. I look forward to working closely with the wider team to grow Rotana’s legacy and firmly position it as one of the leading hospitality players in the region.”

Rotana vice chairman Selim El Zyr added: “We are proud to welcome Philip Barnes as the new CEO of Rotana. With a rich history of leadership and a deep understanding of the global hospitality landscape, Barnes is poised to elevate our brand delivery and levels of excellence. We eagerly anticipate his innovative direction and vision that will shape Rotana’s next chapter and build on our growing pipeline across key markets.”

Rotana’s manages 100 properties in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye (MENAT) with a portfolio that currently comprises 19,602 keys and six brands, including 10,159 keys across 36 hotels in the UAE and 2,183 keys across eight hotels in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, visit www.rotana.com

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