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Sofitel Al Hamra unveils dream team

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The Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort dream team led by General Manager Karim Abdelhamid (centre). Image Credit: Yoanna Dias

Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort has unveiled its executive community members, led by General Manager Karim Abdelhamid.

The luxury hospitality leader is joined by a team of experienced and passionate professionals including Lori Collins, Director of Sales & Marketing; Haytham Atef, Director of Finance; Sherif Ahmed, Director of Rooms; Prajwal Halery, Director of Talent & Culture; Gurpal Singh, Director of Engineering; Dinesh Pitigalage, Director of Food & Beverage; Nicolas Vucher-Bondet, Director of Revenue; and Enrique Gonzalez, Director of Culinary.

Karim Abdelhamid, who has over 25 years of distinguished experience in luxury and lifestyle property management, most recently served as Vice President of Hotel Operations at The First Group in Dubai.

Abdelhamid’s illustrious career includes leadership roles at iconic hotels such as The Plaza Hotel—a Fairmont Property, The Knickerbocker Hotel, and The Ritz Carlton Central Park in New York. His extensive international experience spans from Sofitel Legend Old Cataract in Egypt to luxury properties in Dubai, Philadelphia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, including Intercontinental Festival City in Dubai.

Born in New Zealand and educated in Australia, Director of Sales & Marketing - Lori Collins - is an expert in both the leisure and MICE markets. She has a great eye for detail and thrives on building championship teams. An avid traveller herself, she loves creating personal and memorable experiences for guests. Most recently, she was Multi-Property Director of Sales & Marketing for the Shangri-La resorts cluster in Muscat, Oman.

With over 25 years of experience, Director of Finance Haytham Atef joins from InterContinental Fujairah, having worked across regional hotels under IHG and Marriott, he completed his hotel real estate investment and asset management with Cornell University.

With over 10 years of experience in luxury hotels, Director of Rooms, Sherif Ahmed, joins from W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, where he was Director of Rooms.

Director of Talent & Culture, Prajwal Halery, is a hospitality graduate from Glion Hotel School – Switzerland and has worked with Hyatt and Sofitel hotels in Dubai. His most recent role was also of Director of Talent & Culture, for Sofitel The Palm Dubai.

Director of Engineering, Gurpal Singh, joins from his most recent role of Cluster Director of Engineering at IHG Dubai Festival City Hotels. His career has spanned continents and includes The Claridges, among other luxury hotels.

Director of Food & Beverage, Dinesh Pitigalage, started his journey in 2004 from One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai. His most recent appointment was at Fairmont the Palm, where he was Director of Food & Beverage.

Nicolas Vucher-Bondet joins as Director of Revenue from Bahrain, where he was Director of Revenue Management at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa.

Director of Culinary, Enrique Gonzalez, brings over three decades of international culinary expertise, honing his craft in some of the world’s most esteemed kitchens and cuisines.

Gonzalez’s culinary journey began in 1988 as a line cook in Maxim’s de Paris restaurant in New York City. His most recent appointment was at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara in Abu Dhabi.   

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