AHMAD ARAJ APPOINTED AS CLUSTER DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING CRISTAL HOTELS AND RESORTS, ABU DHABI

Cristal Hotels and Resorts, one of the most dynamic luxury hospitality companies in the Middle East is delighted to announce the appointment of Ahmad Araj as Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing. Reporting directly to the Cluster General Manager Ahmad will be responsible for the implementation and development of the overall sales and marketing strategy including advertising, media and public relations for the Cristal Hotel, Abu Dhabi and its upcoming property, Cristal Salam slated to open in the 3rd quarter of 2011.

Ahmad’s earlier assignments included him occupying the Director of Sales role at Grand Millennium Al Wahda Hotel Abu Dhabi. He successfully developed sales, advertising and promotional programs as well as effective pricing strategies that contributed to the business growth of the property.

Ahmad brings along with him more than 15 years of extensive hospitality management experience that has exposed him to the comprehensive knowledge of Middle East culture as well as developing his professional expertise. He started his career as Marketing Manager at Sports Ghurnatah in Riyadh, KSA where his effective results prepared him to commit to a career in the sales industry. During his tenure in the Middle East he has acquired widespread experiences of the local market serving the region’s respected hotels including Al Ain Rotana Hotel, Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers, Rotana Hotels Outbound Sales Office, as well as InterContinental Al Ain Resort.

Ahmad says he is excited about his new role: "Joining Cristal Group presents a great challenge and opportunity to use my professional skills to promote the company and look for innovative ways to grow the hotel’s business. My vision is to build market share, manage sales and marketing strategies successfully while looking for new business possibilities. We are at an exciting phase and I am definitely looking forward to improving organisational effectiveness and will continue to devise marketing activities that will accelerate business growth.”

END

ABOUT CRISTAL HOTELS AND RESORTS:

Cristal Hotels and Resorts is one of the most dynamic luxury hospitality companies in the Middle East operating Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, Cristal Bliss Residences in Beirut and will open its brand new property, Cristal Salam in Abu Dhabi in the 3rd quarter of 2011.

All the properties belonging to Cristal Hotels and Resorts are environment-friendly hotels emphasizing corporate social responsibility and representing contemporary style, distinctive architecture, bold interiors, as well as state-of-the-art technology.

Aiming to be the premier business and leisure hotel operator in the Middle East and Africa, Cristal Hotels and Resorts has a carefully elaborated expansion plan to increase the company’s portfolio to 25 properties within five to 10 years all over the region.