Jumeirah Group appoints Akram Touma as General Manager for Jumeirah HanTang Xintiandi in Shanghai

"I am delighted to join a fast growing company like Jumeirah just as it enters the Chinese market," commented Akram Touma. "I intend to set new levels of hospitality standards and service with the opening of Jumeirah HanTang Xintiandi in Shanghai."

Akram, an Australian national, boasts over 25 years of international experience in the luxury hospitality industry with major chains in six countries and three continents.

After starting his career in London, Akram soon moved to hotels in the Middle East, then Australia and Thailand.

Since 1993, Akram has been managing hotels in several Chinese cities: Guangzhou, Guilin, Shenyang, Macau and Shanghai, mainly for Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Prior to joining Jumeirah, he was the General Manager of Le Royal Méridien Shanghai since its pre-opening days in 2006.

"Akram brings a wealth of international and Asian luxury hospitality experience to the Jumeirah team," said Tony Cousens, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, Jumeirah Group. "His deep knowledge of the Chinese market will help us to successfully position the Jumeirah brand in China."

Jumeirah is already managing prestigious hotels in Dubai, London and New York; Jumeirah HanTang Xintiandi, scheduled to open in Shanghai in late 2008, will be Jumeirah's first hotel in China and its flagship property in the Asia Pacific region.

The luxury hotel, designed by New York based Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects and Japanese interior design firm Super Potato, will feature 309 spacious guestrooms, suites and villas, extensive, state-of-the-art conference & banqueting facilities as well as the Talise Wellness Spa, Jumeirah's global spa brand.