Fairmont The Palm appoints two new directors
Born and raised in Greece, Stavros brings over 15 years of international experience in high-end hospitality, with a career spanning Europe and the Middle East.
Growing up in Greece, where tourism and hospitality are pillars of the economy, Stavros first entered the industry during his student days.
A seasoned professional with deep roots in both hotel and standalone restaurant operations, Stavros began his leadership journey in 2011 as Bar Manager at The Westin Resort in Greece. Shortly after, he moved to the Middle East to join W Doha, where he took on the role of Assistant General Manager at the Spice Market. He later led Market by Jean-Georges for over two years. By 2015, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Food and Beverage, overseeing multiple venues and driving operational excellence across the hotel's dining portfolio.
Stavros relocated to Dubai in 2017 to lead BB Social Dining in DIFC as General Manager, where he spearheaded the pre-opening and development of one of the city's most celebrated dining spots. He then took on the role of Concept Developer for Hellenika in Saudi Arabia. Before joining Fairmont The Palm, Stavros returned to W Doha as Director of Food and Beverage, where he led a team of over 240 front-of-house colleagues across 11 venues, banquets, and catering units - delivering standout events including Formula 1, MotoGP, AFC Cup Hospitality, and WEB Summit Qatar.
His career is decorated with multiple industry accolades, including Best Newcomer Restaurant, Best European Contemporary, and Best Individual Restaurant Awards by Time Out, as well as Best Hotel Restaurant in the Middle East by Condé Nast. In 2024, Stavros was awarded the Ambassador of Excellence by Qatar Tourism during Hospitality Qatar, recognising his outstanding performance and high standards of excellence - an honour bestowed on the top Director of Food and Beverage in the country.
Dhaval Patel
With more than 15 years of global experience in luxury hospitality revenue strategy, Dhaval brings a data-driven mindset and a proven track record of commercial success to the leadership team.
Originally from India, Dhaval's hospitality journey began in 2008 with a management training role at The Delamar Greenwich Harbor. His passion for optimizing performance through analytical precision quickly propelled him into roles with industry-leading brands such as The Armani Hotel, Address Hotels & Resorts and JA Resorts. He later expanded his impact through senior revenue management roles at Marriott International and Hilton Corporate Office in Dubai.
In his most recent role as Revenue Lead at Hilton Worldwide, Dhaval oversaw strategy for flagship properties including Waldorf Astoria DIFC and Conrad Etihad Towers. He has been instrumental in driving market share growth and delivering record-breaking ADR performance, earning accolades such as the top ranking in RevPAR Index change across Hilton EMEA Luxury.
Dhaval holds an MBA in Hospitality Finance from Les Roches Swiss Hotel School, and combines his commercial acumen with a collaborative leadership style that develops high-performing teams and fosters innovation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
4 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Dubai Property Demand Rises Among Global Investors
A Dubai-based property developer has reported growing international interest in the emirate's real estate market following a series of roadshows conducted over the past 12 months. Object 1, part of the international TSZ Group, held more than 100 events across Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, uncovering trends around investor motivations and market shifts as global appetite for Dubai property continues to grow. The roadshows revealed that decision-making factors among investors included potential for return on investment, flexible payment plans, quality furnishing, and access to modern amenities and smart home technology. Demand was observed from investors in Iran, Turkey, and India, as well as from Francophone and German-speaking regions. Africa has emerged as a market with engagement levels. Object 1's data showed that most investors were driven by portfolio diversification, with commitments starting from $300,000 for one- or two-bedroom apartments. First-time buyers in Dubai typically chose studio units, while high-net-worth individuals showed interest in larger residences within premium developments. International buyers demonstrated interest in residences with European finishes, with many citing home appliances by European brands as a value-add. This reflects a shift in the perception of Dubai property, where quality, design, and convenience are becoming as important as location and price. 'Based on the insights we gathered during our roadshows, we are now refining our international strategy for the year ahead. We plan to increase our focus on markets that have shown strong engagement, while continuing to prioritise India, Singapore, and the UK. This approach is supported by the results we have seen so far, including a 220 per cent increase in our sales value and a 140 per cent increase in sales volume in Q1 2025 compared to the same period last year,' Ismail Gasanov, Head of Business Development at Object 1 said. The findings showed North America has recently entered Object 1's top ten global markets, driven by a shift in outbound capital from the US and Canada toward high-growth international destinations. Object 1 attributes much of its international success to collaborations with real estate agencies and local market experts. These partnerships have enabled the company to adapt its outreach to suit regional investor expectations, resulting in higher-quality engagement and event outcomes. Looking ahead, Object 1 plans to continue its international outreach through a new phase of roadshows, private investor events, and market-specific campaigns. The company remains focused on its core mission of developing future-ready, high-quality communities that deliver long-term value to both residents and investors while contributing to the next chapter of Dubai's real estate landscape. Also Read: UAE Showcases Eco-Friendly Cloud-Seeding Advances
Trade Arabia
5 days ago
- Trade Arabia
DXB expects over 3.4m guests this summer
Dubai International (DXB) is entering a period of sustained peak operations, with more than 3.4 million guests expected to travel through the airport between 27th June and 9th July 2025, reported WAM. Daily volumes are forecast to average over 265,000 with the busiest day on 5 July for both departures and transfer traffic. Dubai Airports, alongside its stakeholders, has activated an integrated summer readiness plan to ensure guest journeys remain safe and efficient. While the wider regional situation has led to some delays and cancellations across the network, the oneDXB community has been working around the clock to support guests, provide welfare, and maintain service continuity. Supported by a real-time monitoring and predictive system to optimise manpower and resource utilisation. DXB continues to monitor the situation in close coordination with authorities and airline partners, prioritising the safety of all guests and employees on the ground and through to take-off.
Gulf Insider
6 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Iran Reopens Central And Western Airspace To International Transit Flights After Israel Ceasefire
Iran has reopened its central and western airspace to international transit flights, state-run Nour News reported on Saturday. The move comes days after a ceasefire was reached in the conflict between Iran and Israel, which had severely disrupted regional air traffic and prompted many international airlines to avoid Iranian airspace. Tehran had shut its skies on June 13, following a large-scale bombing campaign by Israel. The closure caused widespread flight diversions across the Middle East. Despite Iran's decision to reopen its airspace, Dubai-based Emirates airline announced on Saturday that it would extend the suspension of its flights to and from Tehran until July 5, citing continued uncertainty in the region. The airline had already faced disruptions earlier in the week, rerouting some flights on June 23 as a precaution. However, Emirates confirmed that its services to Baghdad and Basra in Iraq will resume as scheduled on July 1 and 2, respectively. The recent escalation between Iran and Israel in mid-June led to heightened tensions and intermittent air travel disruptions across the Middle East. While the ceasefire has eased some restrictions, airlines continue to operate with caution in the region.
