JA Resorts & Hotels announces the appointment of Karen Merrick as General Manager at multi award-winning island resort, JA Manafaru. JA Resorts & Hotels recently announced the appointment of Scottish National, Karen Merrick to take over the operation of multi award-winning JA Manafaru, the private island resort in the Maldives. Karen is the second female General Manager in the JA Resorts & Hotels portfolio of 8 properties, and currently one of few female General Manager in the Maldives. She joins the JA Manafaru team to maintain the islands longstanding popularity with international guests and to communicate the unique soul of the island with her innate understanding of Maldivian culture and heritage. Karen’s career spans 30 years across a variety of boutique hotels in the Indian Ocean and Europe. This will be Karen’s fifth leadership role in the Maldives, as she has a personal connection to the area with a home on Addu island with her Maldivian husband, Alim. Prior to joining JA Resorts & Hotels, Karen has spent the last three years running the Song …

Mahmoud Sakr was recently welcomed as the new Managing Director of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel and Royal Residences. Mahmoud brings over 30 years’ experience and joins from Jumeirah Emirates Towers where he was General Manager and Area General Manager – City Hotels. Originally from Egypt, Mahmoud is passionate about providing a personalised guest experience at this award-winning resort on Palm Jumeirah. As one of Jumeirah’s most experienced business leaders, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s journey over the last 20 years. He is a seasoned hotelier and his dedication to his employees and guests alike sets a great example and is highly commendable. Mahmoud’s strong market knowledge and excellent operational knowledge makes him well placed to take on the challenge of managing Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Prior to joining Jumeirah Group, Mahmoud worked for Le Méridien for 13 years across Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Senegal. Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi Waterpark recently appointed Jason Harding as Managing Director. He brings extensive experience to the role, having worked in the luxury hospitality industry …

It has been announced that Barron Hilton, son, entrepreneur and philanthropist sadly passed away at his home in Los Angeles on September 19th 2019, aged 91. “Today the world of hospitality mourns for one of the greats. “Barron Hilton was an incredible family man, business leader and philanthropist. From his leadership of our company for more than three decades, to the transformative work he led with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for many years, Barron was a man unlike any other. I always found inspiration in how he saw the tremendous potential of hospitality to change the world for the better – and in the unique and meaningful ways he sought to make that happen. “On behalf of everyone at Hilton, I extend our deepest condolences to the Hilton family.” – Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton. Barron Hilton is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years Marilyn Hawley Hilton. He is survived by his eight children, 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, thousands of friends and associates from his extended hotel family. …