The Rezidor Hotel Group has made history by appointing the first female general manager in Saudi Arabia.

Maram Kokandi  has been confirmed as the general manager of a new Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, scheduled to open later this year.

The Rezidor Hotel Group CEO and President Wolfgang M Neumann said: “We are very proud to be part of this historic appointment. We are committed to empowering our women in leadership at Rezidor, and this announcement is a momentous achievement, not only for our group but for the hospitality industry worldwide.

“We are confident that this milestone, the appointment of the first Saudi female general manager, will inspire other women across the region to pursue their career aspirations in hospitality.”

His comments were echoed by The Rezidor Hotel Group area vice president for Turkey and the Middle East, Mark Willis, who said that female leadership is absolutely essential for growth of the group.

“Today, we celebrate an incredible success of a Saudi Arabian woman and recognize her potential to lead in one of the most important and fast growing business sectors for the country,” he said.

“This announcement is a testimony of how the Kingdom is progressing in this direction. We have already come a long way, from six female employees in 2014 to 84 today, with 12 in leadership positions.”

Willis added that he believes Kokandi will go to become a role model for Saudi women in the Middle East and across the world.