Preferred Hotels & Resorts, global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services for independent luxury hotels, has appointed Claudio Roscigno as regional director, Middle East & North Africa.
Based out of the brand’s new regional headquarters in Dubai, Roscigno has more than 15 years of experience in the hotel industry.
He has held roles with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotel Group, including the development of front office and F&B departments and opening hotels across three continents.
In addition, he has held responsibility for various regional sales office set-ups and has headed-up specific task force management projects.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts vice president, Saurabh Rai commented: “Claudio’s well-rounded industry expertise and regional exposure in Beirut and Doha will add a new dimension to our business as we grow our Dubai-based team and MENA portfolio.
“The Middle East & North Africa region is pivotal in our growth strategy, which is already on its own fast-track growth trajectory, with a total of 91 hotels from 14 countries joining our portfolio in 2015.”
Globally in 2015, Preferred Hotels & Resorts generated more than US$ 1 billion in revenues for its member hotels, a 15% improvement over the same reporting period in 2014.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has finalised several high-profile partnerships in the past 12 months.
Its new regional partners include the Nassima Royal Hotel in Dubai, previously the Radisson Royal; Murwab Hotel Group, the standalone hotel operating division of Katara Hospitality group; Palazzo Versace, Dubai and Paramount Hotels & Resorts.
Commenting on his new role, Roscigno said: “I am looking forward to maximising the opportunities and overcoming the challenges that an exciting and demanding role like this will afford.
“The MENA region is one of the fastest-growing luxury hotel markets in the world today and my front office, sales and marketing experience will stand me in good stead, as Preferred Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its regional footprint.”
In his new role, Roscigno will be tasked with driving partnerships in Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia; Manama, Bahrain; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon.
