Hilton International rings the changes with five new senior executive appointments in the Gulf

The five new appointments sees Samantha Wood join as Regional Marketing Manager, Aligi Gardenghi as Director of Business Development at the award-winning Hilton Kuwait Resort, Peer Norsell becomes Director of Operations at the Hilton Al Ain, Haytham Omar promoted to Cluster Director of Sales for Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Fujairah Resort, and Samer Mashhour promoted to Director of Sales at the Hilton Salalah Resort.

Samantha Wood, who is based at Hilton's regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City, will work with the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing to drive the brand's ambitious marketing, advertising and public relations activities in the Arabian Peninsula. With more than 10 years of marketing experience in the UK and Middle East, Wood was formerly Account Director of the consumer marketing practice at ASDA'A Public Relations, developing communications campaigns for a number of international and regional clients including Hilton International.

"I am really pleased to announce these five new senior appointments including two promotions. A key part of our human resources strategy is to develop our own people, allowing them to build career paths within Hilton, as well as to identify new talent. We are strengthening our regional and hotel teams by transferring great people from Hilton hotels in Italy and Thailand, and promoting existing team members within the Gulf," said Guy Epsom, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Hilton International in the Arabian Peninsula.

"The appointments come at a time when the region's hospitality industry is undergoing tremendous development and as we look to add value to our brand so that we maintain our number one position as the leading hotel chain in the BDRC brand ranking index," he added.

Gardenghi, who brings over nine years experience in the hospitality industry to Hilton's spectacular resort in Kuwait moves from the Hilton Milan where he was Director of Business Development for three years. Norsell was previously with Hilton hotels in Thailand and Australia, before taking up the position of Director of Operations at the Hilton Al Ain.

Omar, a Hilton veteran, has worked as Regional Assistant Sales Director for Hilton hotels in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Salalah. He recently won the "Best Sales" award for the Middle East and Asia Pacific region, as well as the "Best Sales Campaign" for his sales efforts with the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah.

Mashhour joins the group's coastal Hilton Salalah Resort as Director of Sales, following a three year stint at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah where he was a part of the opening team. He has more than 12 years of hotel and tourism experience, and has worked for the likes of Chams Palace, Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Rotana Dubai and Dubai Marine Beach Resort.