Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a global luxury hospitality company, has announced the appointment of Stephen Ansell as the new Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

Stephen brings nearly 30 years of industry leadership to his new role, where he will oversee 38 hotels across eight brands in the MEA region, including, luxurious Park Hyatt and Alila Hotels & Resorts. He will also play a crucial role in expanding Hyatt's presence in Saudi Arabia, ensuring the brands continue to meet the evolving needs of guests and partners.

Most recently, Stephen served as the General Manager at Park Hyatt Zurich, following key roles at Park Hyatt Moscow. Prior to that, he was the Senior Industry Specialist - Hotels and Tourism at the International Finance Corporation for over a year. Stephen's journey with Hyatt began in 1996 as the Director of F&B at Hyatt Regency Riyadh, and he went on to hold pivotal roles at Hyatt Regency Bishkek, Hyatt Regency Kyiv, and Hyatt Regency Istanbul.

You may also like:

• Peter Hinssen on ‘dataism’ and realities of Artificial Intelligence
• AI in the Workplace: What it means for Middle Eastern workforce?
• 5 reasons the Middle East attracts skilled professionals
• UAE employers may face AED 1mn fine for worker exploitation

Stephen holds a degree in Hotel and Catering Management from the University of Portsmouth. His core competencies include hotel operations, budgeting and finance, cost control, business planning, event management, marketing strategy, new business development, team leadership, and strategic planning.

Stephen’s appointment is part of the group’s global expansion strategy, which includes plans to open Grand Hyatt The Red Sea and Miraval The Red Sea in Saudi Arabia by the end of next year.