Thorsten Ries appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh

After completing one and a half years in the position of Hotel Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, Qatar, Ries assumes the leading role at The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh, a palatial resort set in 100,000 square meters of lush tropical landscape gardens.

Ries joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in October 1999 as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Germany. Prior to that, he spent four years with Four Seasons, and boasts a career span of 20 years in the hospitality industry. "Until a year ago, I had enjoyed wonderful career opportunities in Europe and Canada. I am therefor thrilled to be staying in the Middle East and moving to work in another Ritz-Carlton Hotel where the ladies and gentlemen committed to providing the very best experience for our guests."

His background in luxury hotels and resorts was a key part of the selection that led to the placement of Ries at the elegant 307-room property in Egypt. "Our goal now is to take our world-renowned service to the next level, continually surpassing our customers' expectations on every visit to the hotel". Given the amenities that The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh offers with water sports, spa and the ultimate diving experience, there are few properties in the region that offer a greater selection of facilities for the discerning luxury resort guest.

Located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, the resort overlooks the environmentally protected Red Sea. The hotel includes 50 suites in low-rise two level buildings; each room has a private terrace with a choice of sea view, or overlooking the lush landscaped gardens and unique desert oasis of pools, waterfalls, bridges and the 'lazy river'. Sharm El Sheikh is well known as one of the world's best scuba diving sites and is easily accessible from Cairo by a 45-minute flight.