Radisson SAS appoints Saudi Sales Directors

Jordanian Bassam Adnan Banna joins Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts as district director of sales and marketing for the Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu properties, and Director of Sales and Marketing for the Radisson SAS Hotel, Riyadh.

Fellow countryman Wael Makahleh will take up the role of sales director at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Jeddah.

Mike Pilkington, Regional Director, Sales and Marketing, Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, said: "Both Wael and Bassam will be an asset to our burgeoning operations in Saudi Arabia. They were selected for their in-depth experience and market knowledge, coupled with excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. They will be the backbone of our strong growth strategy in the Saudi Arabian market."

Banna, 36, joins the Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts Group after an illustrious hospitality industry career spanning time with Marriott in Jeddah and Ramada Hotels in Kuwait.

Banna holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Jordan, Amman, in Business Administration and Economics, and is married with one child.

He joins the Radisson SAS hotel, Riyadh, from a position as Director of Sales and Marketing at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Kuwait.

Wael Makahleh, 31, brings almost a decade of experience in the regional hotel industry to his new role.

Makahleh has worked for Forte Grande, Mövenpick, and Sheraton Hotels and joins the Jeddah property from the former Radisson SAS Hotel and Resort, Amman and Aqaba, where he was Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from North Eastern University, Chicago, USA, and is married.

The Radisson SAS Hotel, Riyadh, in the centre of the Saudi Arabian capital, boasts 317 rooms and suites and 1,330 square metres of meeting and banquet facilities.

The Radisson SAS Hotel, Jeddah, has 292 guest rooms, including 38 suites. It is a modern, deluxe business hotel featuring distinctive machrabia windows and an elegant, spacious lobby. Centrally located, the property is close to the international airport, the International Exhibition Centre and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce.

"With these appointments, we will see further rapid development of the brand throughout Saudi Arabia. We see tremendous business opportunities for these properties from both local and overseas markets," added Mike Pilkington.