Emaar Hospitality Group appoints Christoph Mares

Reporting to Mr Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mares will drive the day-to-day business and management operations of every business unit within Emaar Hospitality Group's diversified portfolio.

He will specifically oversee the operations of The Address Hotels & Resorts; Nuran Serviced Residences, Hayya! Recreation Clubs; Arabian Ranches Golf Club and The Montgomerie, Dubai; Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club; Dubai Marina Yacht Club and other hospitality assets.

Mr Dardenne said: "Emaar Hospitality Group is fast consolidating its global presence as an integrated hospitality & leisure company with a varied roster of projects. With over two decades of international experience, Mr Mares is perfectly suited to establish the Emaar Hospitality Group brand globally and align its growth goals with the overall vision of Emaar Properties. With his in-depth experience in the different aspects of the industry, he will also be responsible for establishing and contributing to best practice initiatives apart from maximising the potential of our cosmopolitan workforce."

Mr Mares said: "Emaar Hospitality Group's diversified portfolio of hotels, serviced residences, golf courses, health clubs, marina clubs and polo club make it a full-service hospitality & leisure business. The company is establishing its credentials globally, and we will be committed to introducing international best practices across the board. The focus of our operations will be aligned to maximise resources, use efficiency and assure our guests a distinctive hospitality experience."

A German national, Mr Mares attended the Hamburg Hotel School and Albert Schweitzer University. He holds an MBA in Marketing, Strategic Planning and Finance from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, and has completed the Cornell University Summer Course in Planning for Profits, Risk Management, Critical Issues in HR Management and Marketing Management as well as several hospitality specific training programmes.

Christoph joins Emaar from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and was General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. He previously worked as Hotel Manager in Bali and Director of Food & Beverage at InterContinental Dubai. He has held various senior management positions in renowned hotel chains in the UK, USA, France, Switzerland and Germany.

Emaar Hospitality Group currently has total assets of development value $1bn (Dhs3.67bn), and is fast expanding across the Middle East and North Africa region, South Asia and the Indian Subcontinent in tandem with the geographic expansion of Emaar Properties.