Read the latest roundup of hotel industry hires and promotions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Daniela Kohoutek
Kohoutek has been appointed general manager of the 91-room Boutique Hotel Motto in Vienna. A 25-year veteran of the hotel industry, Kohoutek arrives from an eight-year stint as business director at COOEE Alpin Hotels. The hotel, renovated in 2021, is in a building dating to 1665, according to CoStar.
Abdullatif Al Farsi
Al Farsi has been named general manager at the 115-room Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort. Officials at the brand’s parent firm, Minor Hotels & Resorts, said he is the “youngest Omani GM to lead a five-star luxury resort in [Oman].” Al Farsi started his career at Minor in 2019 as front-office manager. Approximately 100 miles southwest of Muscat, the hotel is perched 6,500 feet above sea level in the country’s Al Hajar Mountains, one of the highest resorts in the world.
Gilles Bontems
Bontems has started as general manager at 59-room hotel Brach Paris, part of the portfolio of owner Evok Collection. He is no stranger to running hotels, having had roles as hotel manager or director of operations at such properties as the 156-room Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme (his last role), 410-room Hôtel Martinez, Unbound Collection by Hyatt, in Cannes, and 324-room Le Méridien Nice.
Tamer Khedr
Khedr has joined Minor Hotels & Resorts in the firm’s new role of managing director, Minor Hotels Egypt. He comes to Minor from his position of CEO at DO Hotels & Residences, Dubai, and he has worked at Emaar Hospitality. Currently, Minor has no hotels in Egypt, but in 2025 it signed a partnership with Hurghada-based Sunrise Resort & Cruises to roll out up to 50 hotels in Egypt over the next 10 years.
Kristian Campbell
Campbell has returned to Scotland’s most famed golf destination, St Andrew’s, as general manager at the 213-room Fairmont St Andrew’s. For three years between 2015 and 2018, he was general manager at the neighboring, 119-room Rusacks Hotel, and his previous roles have included resort general manager at the 215-room Crieff Hydro Hotel & Resort.
Jytte Vestergaard
Vestergaard has been selected to be general manager at the upcoming Moxy Aarhus Sydhavn, in Aarhus, Denmark, due to open in late 2016 with 188 rooms. Core Hospitality will operate the hotel. Vestergaard started with Core as regional manager, Zleep Hotels, and hotel manager of the Zleep Hotel Aarhus. Her last role was director of operations and cluster general manager at Four Points Flex by Sheraton. In late 2024, the Danish portfolio of Zleep became part of Marriott International’s Four Points Flex portfolio, following that division of Zleep previously ending its relationship with China’s H World International.
