Hilton International, the world’s leading hotel brand has strengthened its regional corporate team in Dubai with three senior executive appointments. The team now includes Ivor McBurney, Senior Director of Development for the Middle East; Gerd Fischer, Regional Director of Finance in the Arabian Peninsula and Bryan Bailey, Regional Revenue Manager in the Arabian Peninsula.
“In recognition of the region’s phenomenal growth potential, we are spearheading an extensive development drive and a key aspect of our expansion strategy focuses on expanding our corporate office in Dubai,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, Vice President, Hilton International, Arabian Peninsula. “These new appointments will enrich our regional expertise, enable us to improve our performance across our development and commercial sectors, that will ultimately benefit both our guests and local partners,” he added.
With over a quarter century of hotel industry experience, Ulsterman McBurney’s career began with the leading chain as an Assistant Financial Controller at the Hiltons in Kensington and Park Lane London, and took off when he was transferred as Corporate Assistant Chief Accountant at Hilton International’s main office in New York. His Middle East adventure began in 1997 when he was transferred to Cairo as Area Financial Controller for the Middle East and Africa. Before assuming his new role in Dubai, McBurney was Regional Director of Finance for the Middle East in Cairo.
Fischer’s long-standing relationship with the world’s leading hotel chain started sixteen years ago when he was appointed Chief Accountant and Food and Beverage Cost Controller in the charming Hilton Munich City hotel. He was then promoted to Assistant Finance Manager in Hilton Düsseldorf before moving to Hilton Prague as Financial Manager. Fischer’s successful career growth has landed him a key role with Hilton in the world’s fastest growing region, as Regional Director of Finance for the Arabian Peninsula.
Appointed as Regional Revenue Manager for the Arabian Peninsula, Bailey brings with him over ten years of sales and revenue experience in the aviation and hospitality industry. His career in sales began with Scandinavian Airlines in Sydney and later took him to Copenhagen. He joined Hilton International in 2002 as Regional Revenue Manager in Australia before assuming his current post in Dubai.
Hilton International’s extensive development drive will see the opening of five new properties in the Arabian Peninsula; the super luxurious 50-all suite Qasr Al Sharq in Jeddah, the region’s first Conrad in Dubai, the spectacular Hilton Doha, a second property in Ras Al Khaimah on the beachfront and the exclusive Hilton Jumeirah Beach Club. Further openings are also planned in Beirut, Amman, Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Hilton International (HI), an operating division of the UK based Hilton Group plc, owns the rights to the Hilton brand name throughout the world, with the exception of the USA, where the Hilton brand is owned and managed by Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC).
HI currently operates 32 hotels in the Middle East – 17 hotels in Egypt, eight hotels in the UAE, three in Saudi Arabia and one each in Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. Hilton's heritage in the Arabian Peninsula stretches back over 30 years, when it became the first international hotel brand to open a property in the UAE - the Hilton Al Ain in 1972.
New Hilton properties are under development in Jeddah - Saudi Arabia, Doha – Qatar, Ras Al Khaimah - UAE, in addition to the Arabian Peninsula’s first Conrad hotel in Dubai.
Hilton International operates 403 hotels, with some 261 branded Hilton and 142 under the mid-market Scandic brand. Under a joint venture agreement, Hilton International and the North American based Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) share responsibility for the Conrad brand, which includes 17 hotels in 12 countries. A global marketing alliance between Hilton International and Hilton Hotels Corporation extends the number of hotels operated by both companies worldwide to over 2,700 – over 500 of which are branded Hilton.
Hilton Worldwide Resorts is an upscale, global resort network with a collection of 57 resorts, located in exotic places, making up the world’s largest global choice. Currently, 36 resorts are operated by Hilton International – including four all-inclusive Coral by Hilton resorts, 18 by Hilton Hotels Corporation and three by Conrad. Hilton International Grand Vacations Company presently operates four resorts in Scotland and Egypt, comprising 271 time-ownership units.
Hilton International employs over 71,000 staff in 80 countries. Committed to doing business in a responsible way, Hilton International’s aim is to bring a positive benefit to the societies in which it operates through high quality services, economic growth, environmental protection, community involvement and employment.
For further information please visit our corporate website at www.hiltongroup.com or to download images please visit www.vismedia-online.com
