Paul Miles

Principal Design Director & Partner

Lighting Designer & Partner Paul Miles has worked in the lighting industry for over 20 years. During his development, he has experienced many aspects of lighting, including Project Management, Lighting Consultancy, Independent Lighting Design, Installation & working for world renowned European Luminaire Manufacturers.

Paul has led Light Touch PLD LLC as Principal Lighting Designer and Partner since 2010. The company is one of the leading lighting design consultancies in the region, having delivered the design for some of the most iconic hotels, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

 

Andrea Acciarresi

Associate Director

Andrea’s flair for lighting design began at University following his talent for the arts during senior high school. Successfully gaining a Bachelor of Science in Product Design (University of Florence, Italy) where he combined both technical and creative disciplines. He began working for an international lighting manufacturer in 2007, where he advanced his knowledge of engineering, sales and lighting equipment across different markets.

Andrea started working on Middle East projects in 2011, and after meeting Paul Miles, who invited him to be part of Light Touch, moved to Dubai. He has been an essential part of the company’s growth and leader for many of its projects.

He is an artistic and fun designer who enjoys challenging himself, and who believes there is no limit to creativity. His mantra, which he reflects onto his team members, is “step by step”.

 

Sophia Stezenko

Principal Lighting Designer

Sophia took her master’s degree in architectural lighting design at the Wismar Academy after graduating from the Berlin Art Academy with a diploma in product design. Previously, at Consuline Architetti Associati in Italy, Sophia worked on the development of lighting systems, architectural and event lighting projects. Her experience includes the rehabilitation of historical projects, new projects of all sizes and even Olympic games.

She came to the Middle East in 2010, where her passion for exterior and landscape lighting has played a vital role in projects, enjoying the processes of design development, site supervision and commissioning.

Her other passion to get a release from the daily grind include Beach Volleyball and riding her motorcycle.

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Fairmont Dubai is located in the heart of a unique metropolis - widely known as the shopping capital of the Middle East and the land of perennial sunshine and pristine beaches.

The hotel has been an iconic landmark in the heart of the city with a striking architectural design modelled after an Arabic wind tower called Barajeel. Inspired by heritage homes of Dubai's old town district.

Conveniently located just 10 minutes away from the world’s largest shopping centre – The Dubai Mall; Burj Khalifa – the tallest man-made structure in the world, and the Dubai Fountains, which shoot water as high as a 50-storey building, as well as being minutes from Dubai’s coastline with a number of popular beaches like Jumeirah Beach and La Mer.

 

AMMAR HILAL

General Manager, Fairmont Dubai

Ammar Hilal brings a wealth of more than 30 years of global experience within luxury hotel brands in leadership positions across Germany, Thailand, Egypt, United States, United Kingdom, China, Mauritius, Turkey and the UAE.

He holds an Associate Degree in Food & Beverage Operations and an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from the German Chamber of Commerce. He also attended the General Manager’s Program at Cranfield University, England and the General Manager’s Program at Cornell University, USA.

Hilal is responsible for the overall operations, performance, and strategic directions in conjunction with the overall brand strategy in delivering exceptional results, at the company’s flagship hotel located in the heart of Dubai, featuring 394 guest rooms and suites, as well as 95 residences and 93 offices.

Fairmont Dubai has celebrated its 18^th anniversary this year and has established itself as a key landmark in the city. Therefore Hilal with his decade of market knowledge of Dubai and the region, coupled with his immaculate attention to detail and eloquent style in leading the diverse team, makes him a great asset.

 

One of the newest, most unique hotels in the city, Millennium Place Marina is a 4-star hotel where modern comfort meets personalized service. Set in a convenient location in Dubai Marina, the hotel is walking distance from the Dubai Metro Station (DMCC), Dubai Marina Mall and the beach making it the perfect choice for tourists, families & business travelers.

 

 

Manuel Garcia

General Manager, Millennium Place Marina

Manuel Garcia is a Spanish national holding a Bachelor Degree in Business Administrations by the University of Wales. He has over 20 years of extensive experience and counting in the hospitality industry coming from Sales & Marketing and into General Manager.

Much of his career has been spent in the Middle East working for International chains such as Starwood, Accor, Rotana, Marriott and currently with Millennium & Copthorne Hotels & Resorts.

On a more personal note, Manuel is a fitness enthusiast and believes in “Mens sana in Corpore sano” (Healthy mind in a healthy body).

The new destination for the modern business traveller, the Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina hotel is ideally located adjacent to Dubai Marina Mall, within walking distance to The Beach, JBR and just a short drive from business hubs, JLT, Media City and Internet City. Offering state-of-the-art business faculties as well as a 24-hour fitness centre, the hotel also boasts six dining outlets offering guests a stay experience that seamlessly blends business and leisure.

 

 

Tamara Salha

General Manager, Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina

Before joining Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina, Tamara was on task force as Cluster Hotel Manager at Crowne Plaza & Staybridge Suites Abu Dhabi Yas Island since January 2020.

Prior to that she was part of the leadership team of voco Dubai as Hotel Manager, and played a key role in converting the first voco in the Middle East. Tamara joined IHG in 2000 at InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut where she held various roles in Sales & Marketing and Rooms with her last position being Hotel Manager.

With 1,015 keys comprising of brand new contemporary hotel suites and one and
two-bedroom deluxe apartments, it is the largest Mercure property in the Accor
hotels global portfolio. The suites offer the perfect space to escape – designed with
meticulous attention to comfort, the bright and elegantly decorated room leads
into a spacious living area and big bedrooms, complete with a large private
balcony offering views to the sea and some of the city’s top landmarks.

 

Levent Tasbas

General Manager, Mercure Hotel Barsha

Levent Tasbas is a senior management executive with progressive experience in finance management and hotel operations. He has a professional history full of accomplishments in different industries such as banking, financial consulting, furniture manufacturing, FMCG and hospitality, with a cross-domain knowledge spread over a wide geographical area such as Turkey, Germany, Egypt, Russia and the UAE.

Levent has an extensive knowledge of hotel management and operations, pre-openings, team building & management, cost & risk management, budget & planning, forecasting, investment decisions, treasury management and financial reporting & presentation.

Some of his previous positions include Multi-property Director of Finance & Accounting at Goddess of Bodrum Hotel & Spa, General Manager / Director of Finance at Rixos Hotels / Accor Hotels Group and Director of Finance at Kılıc Holding AS in Bodrum, Turkey. In addition to years of professional experience, Levent also holds a Bachelor of Art in Economics from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Economy.

 

 

Located in the spectacular Dubai Marina, the Radisson Blu Residence is the perfect location for families, tourists and business travelers who want to stay anything from a few days to a few months.

Our 155 fully furnished apartments feature a minimalist design by Matteo Nunziati along with stunning marina and city views.

The proximity to the metro station and the easy access to Sheikh Zayed Road makes the perfect starting point to explore Dubai.

 

Paul Franz

General Manager of Radisson Blu Residence

Paul joined the Radisson Hotel Group in 2008. An Austrian national, he is a passionate hotelier with over 20 years of experience and a graduate of the Hotel Management School MODUL in Vienna, Austria.

Before coming to Dubai in 2018, he worked in several hotel management positions in Vienna, Zurich and Doha.

 

 

 

 

 

Vinod Pillai

Lighting Designer

The belief that light cannot be treated in isolation and his focus on the seamless integration of light and shade have been central to Vinod's holistic design approach. Trained as an architect, Vinod is the lead at LW Lighting, involved in all phases of design - from design conception to commissioning, collaborating with various disciplines of spatial design. He has an extensive body of work that ranges from high-end commercial to deluxe hospitality projects in Australia, India, China and the Middle East.
Vinod has been an active member of the lighting fraternity, speaking at various design conferences in the region.

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Sheraton Grand Hotel Dubai is known as the Hotel of choice on Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai. The destination of choice for a business trip, City break or somewhere to call home. Renowned for connecting people, for exceptional service and innovative Food & Beverage offerings and choices. Situated in the heart of Dubai just minutes from business and leisure hotspots, directly opposite Dubai World Trade Center and with a metro station situated just a 10 minute walk away.

Standing tall on the iconic Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai provides the ideal luxury accommodations for business and leisure travelers, along with the perfect location for experiencing the city. Located ten minutes from Dubai International Airport and only a five-minute walk from the closest metro station, our city center hotel offers guests refined experiences and seamless access to Dubai’s hotspots, including The Dubai Mall, World Trade Center, the Financial Center, Burj Khalifa, Gold and Spice Souks and Dubai Creek.

 

Anna Collier

General Manager, Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai

Since October 2019, Anna has taken over the role and responsibility of General Manager of the Sheraton Grand Hotel Dubai. Anna is responsible for the overall hotel performance and operations and brings more than two decades-long of experience in the hospitality sector. Anna continues to grow the hotel’s prominent position within the local and international markets.

Looking for a new challenge Anna moved to the UAE in 2013, where she was pre-opening Resident Manager at the Marriott Hotel & Marriott Executive Apartments Al Jaddaf, Dubai. As a key part of the Leadership Team, Anna achieved outstanding results following the opening of the two properties.

Anna always looks forward to delivering exceptional results for all stakeholders and is committed to bring the Sheraton experience to life, establishing the hotel as the central gathering place for all communities. She holds a Higher National Diploma in Catering & Institutional Management obtained at the University of Manchester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faraz Izhar

Senior Lighting Designer

Faraz is an award-winning Lighting Designer working for KEO International Consultants  - one of the biggest multi-disciplinary practices in the region. He started off his career in mainstream Architecture and after a couple of years, shifted purely to lighting design back in 2005. After working for some of Dubai based offices, Faraz joined KEO’s UAE Design Division in 2008. His Architectural Lighting support extends to KEO’s Landscape & Infrastructure Divisions, and to KEO’s Kuwait and Doha offices alike.

Faraz’s experience varies extensively and covers lighting for residences, corporate offices, hospitality, facades, education, automotive showrooms, museums, religious and community buildings, landscapes, public realm, lighting for sports, transport terminals and lighting master planning. Faraz has worked closely with Municipality of Abu Dhabi City and has been a vital member of the team which provided the studies to develop new Street and Public Realm Lighting Standards and Regulations for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as per the international best practices.

He is an associate member of IALD and has been selected as one of  the top “40 under 40” Lighting Designers of 2017 globally by one of the prestigious publications of the industry - The Lighting Magazine based in the UK.

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Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City prides itself in its story – doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Located in the heart of Dubai Media & Internet City – a vibrant business district – and a walk away from the emblematic Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina District, the 5-Star property is ideal for business and leisure travellers seeking to realize opportunity. Inspired by the Middle-Easter culture, Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City boasts 235 sophisticated and spacious rooms and suites, offering breath-taking views of the Palm Jumeirah and Emirates Golf Club.

 

Alfio Bernardini

General Manager, Grand Plaza Mövenpick Media City Hotel

The hospitality veteran of Italian origin is well versed with the on goings of the
industry, given his decade of experience across Europe and the Middle East. Bernardini achieved Diplomas from C.F.P Besta Italien Hotel School, D.CT. International Hotel Management School and Cornell University, before gaining valuable global hospitality experience.

Bernardini’s current role at Grand Plaza Mövenpick involves overseeing the seamless operation of all departments within the property. Working closely with staff and guests alike, he will ensure a consistently enhanced experience and organisation of staff activities to guarantee exceptional hospitality provisions. He shares, “Our positioning as the only 5-star property in Dubai Media City, coupled with having the only ballroom in the area, sets us apart from the competition. We are confident that our location, facilities and diverse dining options will serve to satisfy both the business and leisure focused travel markets.” Bernardini is well versed in Italian, English, German and French, and holds accreditation as a Professional Sommelier, from the A.P.S Italian Sommelier Association. Most notable of his achievements outside of the industry is his attainment of the order of merit of the Italian Republic, “Cavaliere dell’Ordine della stella d’Italia” in 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mohannad Al Salkhadi

Principal Lighting Designer

As a Principal Lighting Designer, Mohannad joined the 40 years old leading architectural consultants ATI in 2019 to establish and lead the Lighting Design department. With his 11 years’ experience, Alsalkhadi is currently working on in-house projects and some International automotive and fashion brands in UAE & GCC.

Mohannad obtained his bachelor degree in Architectural Engineering at the University of Sharjah, and currently obtaining his Master’s degree in Architectural Lighting and Design Management at the Wismar University of Applied Sciences. His wide experience in the lighting industry includes hospitality, educational, healthcare, art galleries, offices, residential and other types of projects in direct collaborations with leading lighting manufacturers.

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Connected to the world-renowned Mall of the Emirates, our destination hotel is a short distance from downtown Dubai, Media City and the Dubai World Trade Centre-and just minutes from celebrated sites, including Jumeirah Beach, Wild Wadi Waterpark and Ski Dubai. Take in breathtaking city views from our Dubai hotel's 24th-floor rooftop infinity pools and Sheraton Fitness, then meet for a drink at Vantage or experience the true taste of Turkey at Besh Turkish.
For larger gatherings, we offer over 9,000 square meters of naturally lit, fully wired meeting and event space. Enjoy captivating views of Dubai's stunning scenery from our hotel's 481 guest rooms, including 94 suites. Each hotel room in Dubai City Center offers an array of amenities from our Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience bed and Le Grand Bain amenities to complimentary High-Speed Internet Access and more.

 

Tarabout Yves

General Manager, Sheraton Mall of the Emirates Hotel

Yves has over 24 years of international experience in the hotel Industry, 20 of which were based in the Middle East with Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

His current role is General Manager of the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates Hotel Dubai. He has made his way up in the Sales & Marketing department of several UAE hotels until he held his first operational position in the iconic Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel as Executive Assistant Manager, followed by Deputy General Manager, General Manager and Cluster General Manager roles in Abu Dhabi.

Yves started his career in the hotel industry in Paris and has worked in several roles both in Front office and F&B. He is a Graduate in Economic Sciences, holds a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from the Vatel Institute in Paris. He is fluent in French, English, Spanish and has good knowledge of Arabic.

Even though he was born in Germany and spent part of his childhood living in different countries around the world, he is a French national with a passion for fine cuisines, great wines, music, travels and rugby. He currently resides in Dubai with his wife Martina and their twins Lucas & Olivia who are just over four and a half years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nathan Savage

Lighting Design Director

Nathan's background in the Arts, has lead him to a profession in independent lighting design. He is truly passionate about lighting , not only striving to raise the bar for lighting design excellence for all of his clients but more importantly educating and encouraging the next generation of lighting designers in the industry.

 

 

 

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Dusit Thani Dubai is an iconic 5-star luxury hotel that captures the essence of Thailand in the vibrant center of this cosmopolitan city, the jewel of the UAE.

The hotel is strategically located just five minutes from Dubai’s main business hub,
within walking distance from the nearest metro station and just 15 minutes from the
airport. In addition, the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and the world’s largest
shopping mall, The Dubai Mall, are just a short distance from Dusit Thani.
Enjoy jaw-dropping views of Dubai’s futuristic skyline while relaxing in the comfort of
Thai elegance and grandeur in one of our fully-renovated luxurious rooms or suites.
Sample thoughtfully prepared dishes inspired by flavours spanning the globe at one of
the hotel’s seven dining and entertainment outlets, have a pampering and revitalizing
spa treatment at Namm Spa or soak away your cares in our amazing rooftop pool.

 

Prateek Kumar

Regional Vice President – EMEA Dusit International

As Regional Vice President – EMEA region, Mr. Prateek Kumar is responsible for strengthening Dusit’s operations and supporting development efforts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He continues to serve as General Manager of Dusit Thani Dubai while also linking with the company’s head office in Bangkok to supervise operating and pre-opening properties in the EMEA region.

He was featured in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Hotelier Middle East Power 50, the only list that recognizes and celebrates the top 50 most influential hotel professionals working in the Middle East hospitality industry. He was also named as one of GCC’s Best General Managers (Hospitality) at the World Leadership Congress and Awards 2018. The Academic Council and Awards committee presented this prestigious citation to give recognition to leaders who have achieved extraordinary success from Innovation, Brand Building & Customer Management in the region.

Mr. Kumar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management from Griffith University in Australia. Prior to joining Dusit International as General Manager of Dusit Thani Manila in 2008, he was responsible for the successful pre-opening of Ascott Raffles Place. He has also worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Renaissance Hotels.