Newly promoted Thorsten Ries takes over Qatar

In addition to his current functions, Ries will also be overseeing the newly open Sharq Village and Spa and will be responsible for all further developments of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C. in Qatar.

"I am thrilled with this new opportunity; Qatar is poised on the brink of becoming one of the world's foremost business and leisure destinations and I feel privileged to play a part in this development", says Thorsten Ries.

Ries joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in October 1999 as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Germany. In February 2002, he joined The Ritz-Carlton, Doha as Hotel Manager before being promoted in July 2003 to General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh. In June 2005, Ries returned to The Ritz-Carlton, Doha as General Manager.

Thorsten Ries who boasts a career of 25 years in the hospitality industry makes a point of fulfilling all his duties with a strong focus on guest satisfaction, never forgetting that the main asset of the hotel's success, and the secret behind the impeccable service consistency experienced by the guests of all Ritz-Carlton hotels, are the Ladies and Gentlemen. This philosophy drives a strategy that keeps a focus on guests' high expectations, the employees' satisfaction, the owner's pride and The Ritz-Carlton Company standards and has led Thorsten Ries to win several industry awards and press acknowledgements* for The Ritz-Carlton, Doha in the past one and half years.

Soaring 115 meters above Qatar's sea and desert landscape, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is an impressive symbol of the nation's emergence as a destination for travelers to The Middle East.

The 374-room, five star resort fuses contemporary styling with classic Arabic and European design, creating a hotel with a promise of setting a new benchmark for luxury and sophistication in the region. Located on its own exclusive island in the prestigious West Bay Lagoon district, the hotel has sweeping views, which overlook the turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Gulf.