Management appointment at Dar Al Sondos Apartments

Lebanese born with joint American citizenship and fluent in Arabic, English and French, El-Hage is considered a veteran hotelier, with an impressive 20 year experience in the four- and five-star hotel sector.

El-Hage began his hotel career as assistant food and beverage director at the Ramada Hotel Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, and then went on to take up senior management positions in several properties around the world including Turkey, Jordan, Bahrain and Dubai.

In Dubai, he takes the helm of the 144-suite Le Meridien property located in the busy Bur Dubai area. Dar Al Sondos was extensively refurbished last year before being reflagged under the Le Meridien brand. The property offers large TV screens, internet accessibility, CD players, small libraries and complimentary coffee, tea and snacks for all guests.

El-Hage believes that the key to sustained success in any market is to initiate marketing campaigns that maintain an active, visible and favourable image throughout the local community and the industry.

According to El-Hage hoteliers cannot afford to be complacent about his or her current success, despite the buoyant state of the hospitality business in the Emirate.

"Strong competition in the market has prompted many hotels to raise the standards continuously to stay ahead in the game, and if you rely solely on your past merits then ongoing success becomes a far fetched reality," he said.

"Here at Dar Al Sondos Hotel Apartments, we offer a competitive, reasonably priced product backed up by the quality marque of Le Meridien. We will always strive to provide those extra services to ensure our customers return again and again."

Its sister hotel in Deira, Al Sondos Suites by Le Meridien has 106 studio, one- and two-bedrooms suites, all equipped with kitchen facilities as well as large-screen televisions, Internet access, inter-active games and 24-hour concierge and room service.