HSMAI MIDDLE EAST
United Arab Emirates Chapter
An organizing committee has been established with the intent to charter a UAE Chapter.
At-large membership in HSMAI is available to any individual interested in sales and marketing in hospitality, travel and tourism. Membership will allow you access to all of HSMAI’s web based resources and also includes a subscription to HSMAI’s Marketing Review magazine. Dues are US$325 for individuals and US$60 for student and faculty members. Join now by clicking here. For more information about the chapter and upcoming events, contact Mona Faraj at mona@insightsmc.com.
UAE Chapter Organizing Committee:
Chair: Mona Faraj Is the Managing Partner of Insights Management Consultancy LLC, a recently formed company in the UAE providing solution focused, action oriented consultation to partners in the hospitality & tourism industry in the GCC & ME region with a passion to see potential and grow it. Prior to that Mona was the chief marketing officer of One to One Hospitality. Preceding this rewarding challenge, Mona was an executive member of the Rotana Hotels corporate team for over 10 years, heading the sales, e-distribution & global sales for the company. A Sales and Marketing specialist with over 17 years of GCC & Middle East hospitality experience, Mona’s local, regional & international market knowledge has seen a career starting with Hilton International. Mona is as well the Middle East Market Analyst for PhoCusWright & h2c – internationally renowned leaders in distribution marketing.
Asma Abdulla Al Fahim is Vice President of the European International College of Hotel Management and Tourism (affiliated to world renowned Cesar Ritz Colleges ,Switzerland). Before holding this responsibility Ms. Al Fahim was Director of International Relations. Her major role is to ensure the best quality of education at the school. She also overlooks all the Marketing activities at the college. Coming from a background of successful family business, Asma grew up learning about business through her family’s role in Hospitality, Automotives and Real-Estate. Her educational background comprises of a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications and Media Sciences and Holds a Masters Degree in International Law, Relations and Diplomacy. She also earned Hospitality certificates from various universities in regards to hospitality education, education leadership and leadership management from the UK, USA and Singapore.
Adrian Deegan is area director of sales & marketing with Rotana Hotels-Abu Dhabi & Al Ain. He studied business studies at university majoring in sales and marketing and started his career in London in 1989 where he worked his way up through various departments of the hotel trade. Adrian stepped into sales and marketing in 1995 and moved to the United Arab Emirates in 1997 and has been working for Rotana since 2002 in the Area Sales Office Abu Dhabi & Al Ain. He now holds the position of Area Director of Sales. Adrian’s current responsibilities include overseeing the sales strategies for 5 properties. Adrian’s experience includes working for Hilton, Radisson and Sheraton. An Irish national, he has worked in the United Kingdom, France, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
Tarek Elsherif, has been the Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Middle East and North Africa since 2006. Prior to joining Millennium, he was the Area Director of Sales & Marketing for Rotana Hotels in Abu Dhabi the Capital of U.A.E. Tarek has 21 years of experience in Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management and Training in the Region and have worked in a number of International hotel chains in 3 continents including North America, He has obtained his Bachelor degree in Accounting from Cairo University and pursued his studies to obtain a Diploma in Revenue Management with Hilton College in Houston then a certification in Hospitality Marketing Management from Cornell University.
Kristie Goshow is the Chief Opportunity Officer of smart Thynking FZE, a recently formed Distribution Marketing Consultancy specialising in the hospitality and travel sectors. In this position, she is responsible for helping smart clients respect the obvious and explore the unexpected. Having spent over six years in Dubai leading the Distribution, eCommerce and Innovation functions for the Jumeirah Group and an extensive background in airline, hotel representation, agency and travel technology spanning eighteen years, Kristie is considered a thought leader in her field. Kristie’s first position was with a Business Travel Agent using what was then a very young GDS called Sabre. Having acquired a First Class Honours degree in Leisure and Tourism Management, Kristie has since held roles in Freight and Cargo operations, CRM, Marketing and Corporate Sales with Virgin Atlantic and Scandinavian Airlines, Ecommerce and Travel Industry Sales with Utell / Pegasus and Le Meridien Hotels. A regular speaker at industry conferences, seminars and events, Kristie has previously served on the HEDNA (Hotel Electronic Distribution Networking Association) Board of Directors, held a seat on the Travolution Advisory Board and most currently assumed the role of Secretary for the newly formed HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International) Chapter for the UAE.
Richard Haddad, general manager of Vision Hotels, graduated with a bachelor degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is a founding member and Vice President of the Hospitality and Tourism Club at NDU. Richard started his career in 1991 as a waiter in a leading French restaurant in Lebanon and since, has never stopped focusing on developing his career path which expanded to Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Libya, Jordan and United Arab Emirates. Richard attended “Professional Development Programs” at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York with a focus on Revenue Management and Strategic Pricing for Hotels. He successfully completed the General Manager Program in 2006 at the School of the Hotel Administration, Cornell University. Currently he is the General Manager of Vision Hotels Management, based in Abu Dhabi and Part Time Lecturer with European International College, an affiliate of Cesar Ritz College in Abu Dhabi.
Amal Harb, is the Associate Vice President – Marketing & Communications for Rotana Hotel Management Corporation Ltd (Rotana) and has worked within the company for over eight years. In her current role, Harb is directly responsible for the development and implementation of marketing and promotional strategies for the positioning of Rotana across the portfolio of brands including; Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana and Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana.
Michael Marshall, corporate vice president, sales & marketing, Rotana, oined Rotana Hotels in July 2007 as Corporate Vice President Sales & Marketing, based in Abu Dhabi with the responsibility to develop the Sales, Marketing, Revenue, Reservations and E-distribution platforms to meet the demands of Rotana Hotels rapid expansion growth. Prior to this Michael spent 1 and a half years in Qatar working for Qatar National Hotels developing their Sales & Marketing and 17 years at the InterContinental Hotels Group - based in the UK, Europe and the Middle-East. During his time at InterContinental he worked in various sales & marketing roles at Hotel, Regional and Head Office level. In 2005, he won the HSMAI Silver Award for the US Inbound - 'Europe for Less Campaign' and the Top Sales and Marketing Award for InterContinental Hotels Europe in 1996 and 2002.
Jeff Strachan, area director of sales & marketing, Middle East & Africa, Marriott international, has worked with Marriott for twelve years. In this role Strachan is responsible for the sales and marketing strategies and deployment for the JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments brands currently under operation throughout the area. In addition Strachan is actively planning the strategies for the opening of over 30 additional Marriott International branded hotels throughout the Middle East and Africa over the coming few years.
Sayed Tayoun, director of sales & marketing, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, has over 10 years of sales & marketing experience in the region. A Lebanese national, graduated in 2000 with BA in Hotel Management and Tourism from the Notre Dame University in Beirut Lebanon. He started his career in 1997 in Beirut and in 2002 moved to Dubai to join Rotana Hotels’ growing Area Sales & Marketing Team and growing portfolio of hotels. In 2005 he joined InterContinental Hotels Group and moved to InterContinental Doha in Qatar. Late 2007 Sayed was relocated to Abu Dhabi for his current position.