New Executive Chef joins Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate

As part of his new remit, Chef Marco will manage the hotel's kitchen operations and culinary enterprises in Shanghai Chic, Chor Bazaar, Sicilia, Mistral, Moroc Lounge & Bar, Olive Tree, Majlis and the Executive Lounge. Furthermore, he will be in charge of special culinary events in Al Bahou, like brunch, along with meetings and events catering. West 14th Steakhouse & Grill at Oceana Beach Club on The Palm Jumeirah will also fall under his supervision.

Chef Marco has been with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts for six years, of which the last two have been spent looking after culinary operations for the company's three hotels in the Netherlands.

He started his career in Amsterdam at the one-star Michelin restaurant 'Dikker & Thijs', from where he moved to another Michelin-starred restaurant in Zaadam called 'De Hoop Op d'Swarte Walvis'. He credits the latter for his experience in creativity, which resulted in work for several other fine dining restaurants in the Netherlands.

In 2001 he started his hotel career at the Blakes Hotel Amsterdam and joined several taskforces in London, Barcelona and Mallorca. By 2005 he was Executive Chef at the Port Palace in Monte Carlo, Monaco and a year later he took over at the Palace Hotel in Noordwijk.

Philippe Bonnot, general manager of Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate expressed his delight with the new addition to his team. "We are thrilled to have Marco join the operation and his extensive experience with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts means he already understands our high brand standards. I have no doubt that he will further enhance the quality of our food offerings with his tremendous creative flair."