IHG Motels & Resorts has introduced the appointment of Haitham Mattar as managing director for India, Center East and Africa (IMEA).
The trade veteran – recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Travel & Tourism Industry title on the World Travel Awards – will take up the function on April 18th.
Mattar is a well known trade chief within the IMEA area, with over 25 years of expertise in hospitality and tourism and an impressive community throughout the trade.
Haitham Mattar stated: “I’m delighted to affix the IHG household as soon as once more and have a chance to steer such a various area with huge potential.
“The tourism and hospitality panorama in IMEA has remodeled considerably in recent times, offering us with an incredible alternative to supply world-class hospitality choices to each home and worldwide travellers.
“Constructing on IHG’s robust efficiency monitor report and development plans, I sit up for working with the group, in addition to our companions, as we sit up for the subsequent chapter of journey within the area.”
In his new function with IHG, he’ll tackle a broad management agenda to drive the enterprise within the Center East, Africa and the south-west Asia area.
He shall be overlaying each growth and operations tasks throughout a portfolio of 165 lodges and a robust pipeline of over 100 properties, representing manufacturers throughout luxurious and life-style, premium, necessities and suites collections.
Haitham Mattar joins IHG Motels & Resorts from the Saudi ministry of tourism the place, as senior advisor and a member of the chief management committee, he contributed to the event and implementation of a sustainable tourism technique.
Earlier than then, he spent 4 years as chief government of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Growth Authority, reporting to His sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, member of the supreme council and ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
Guided by this imaginative and prescient, Mattar was answerable for creating and implementing the primary ever tourism technique to place Ras Al Khaimah as a worldwide journey tourism vacation spot, connecting the world to the emirates’ pure landscapes and wealthy cultural heritage.
Underneath his management, Ras al Khaimah was recognised because the Middle East’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination for 3 consecutive years by the World Travel Awards.
He beforehand spent 11 years at IHG Motels & Resorts from 2000 to 2011 in numerous operations, business and gross sales and advertising and marketing positions primarily based in IMEA.
In his new function, Mattar shall be primarily based in IHG’s Dubai workplace and can report back to Kenneth Macpherson, chief government, Europe, Center East, Asia and Africa (EMEAA).
Macpherson stated: “I’m more than happy to welcome Haitham again to IHG and lead our enterprise in IMEA at such a vital time for the journey and tourism trade.
“Haitham has a wealth of expertise inside the sector and has been on the forefront of a number of necessary strategic initiatives within the area during the last decade.
“I’m assured that his data, various expertise, together with cross-continent and native experience shall be invaluable, as we glance to proceed driving our restoration.”
IHG at present operates 165 lodges throughout eight manufacturers in India, Center East and Africa together with: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Resort Indigo Vacation Inn, Vacation Inn Specific, Staybridge Suites, voco and Six Senses.
There are an additional 102 properties within the growth pipeline because of open inside the subsequent three to 5 years.
