Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Announces Strategic Appointment to Leadership Team

17 July 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE – Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi announces a series of strategic moves, bolstering its leadership team with key appointments and promotions. This reinforces the hotel's commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving continued success in Abu Dhabi's dynamic hospitality landscape. "We are proud to announce these well-deserved promotions and appointments to our leadership team," says Jean-Pierre Trabut, General Manager of Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. "Our newly appointed colleagues are not just valued members of our team, they are integral to the success story of Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. Their promotions represent our unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of growth and opportunity within our team, and I have no doubt that they will continue to play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional experiences for our guests in the years to come."

CA Parag Vashney, Executive Assistant Manager

The luxury city hotel promotes CA Parag Vashney as the new Executive Assistant Manager, from his role as the Director of Finance. A stalwart of the hotel, Varshney's journey with Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi began over 13 years ago, as part of the pre-opening team. His financial leadership and expertise played a pivotal role in ensuring profitable operations while maintaining the brand's commitment to gracious hospitality.

During a period of challenging business conditions brought by the pandemic, Varshney demonstrated exceptional financial acumen by achieving the hotel’s Budgeted GOP. Despite facing a revenue shortfall, Varshney and his team prioritized guest experience, ensuring that cost-saving measures did not impact the exceptional service and amenities offered by the hotel. His strategic financial stewardship has consistently upheld the property's financial performance, positioning it strongly in a competitive landscape.

Varshney's contributions were recognized with the prestigious Dusit Gracious Award in 2023, acknowledging his embodiment of Dusit International's core values through exceptional dedication and service excellence. We was shortlisted as last year’s Financial Person of the Year by Hotelier Middle East.

Holding a Chartered Accountant degree from India, he also holds Certified Public Accountant certifications from the USA, Ireland, and Australia, as well as a Certified Management Accountant degree from India and the USA.

A Seasoned Hospitality Leader

Varshney brought a wealth of experience to Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, having previously served as VP-Finance for Al Hamra Hotels Management Est., overseeing financial and operational facets of eight properties across the UAE. His diverse expertise also includes roles as Owner's Representative for a cluster of Banyan properties in Ras Al Khaimah and Sheraton Georgia.

Embarking on a New Chapter

Embarking on a new chapter as Executive Assistant Manager, Varshney will oversee pivotal departments such as Human Resources, Learning and Development, and IT, in addition to his previous Finace and Procurement Departments at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. His leadership and strategic vision are poised to empower a talented team, ensuring continued success for the hotel.

Margarita De Leon - Da Costa, Director of Operations

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi announces the appointment of Margarita De Leon - Da Costa as its new Director of Operations. De Leon-Da Costa brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, having previously served as the Assistant Director of Rooms at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi since January 2019.

As Director of Operations, De Leon-Da Costa will spearhead a dynamic team encompassing Front Office, Housekeeping, Wellness, Food and Beverage Service, and Culinary departments. Her focus will be multifaceted, ensuring seamless guest experiences across the luxurious 527-key property by streamlining operations for efficiency, implementing innovative guest amenities and personalized service, maintaining the hotel’s renowned standards for luxury, and exploring revenue-generating opportunities through unique experiences and promotions.

Extensive Hospitality Expertise

Prior to joining Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, the seasoned hotelier honed her leadership skills in prestigious roles within the Shangri-La Hotel group. From 2012 to 2019, she served as the Front Office Manager at Jing-An Shangri-La Hotel. Her experience also includes positions at Shangri-La Hotel, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia (2015-2016) and Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives (2012-2015).

Proven Track Record

During her tenure as Director of Rooms, De Leon-Da Costa's team consistently exceeded rooms departmental profit targets through strategic planning, efficient resource allocation, and a commitment to both quality and guest satisfaction. This dedication translated to record-breaking achievement of Reputation Performance Score (RPS) from 2021 to 2023, poised to also overachieve their 2024 target. Furthermore, De Leon-Da Costa fostered exceptional guest loyalty, achieving a loyalty rate targets in 2023, ranking 3rd in the entire group. Her team also achieved over 13,000 new member sign-ups last year.

Waseemuddin Mohammed, Director of Food and Beverage

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi announces the well-deserved promotion of Waseemuddin Mohammed to Director of Food and Beverage. Mohammed brings a wealth of experience spanning 23 years in the luxury hospitality industry, having honed his expertise at renowned brands like Jumeirah Group and Mövenpick.

Experienced F&B Strategist

Before joining Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Mohammed has played a pivotal role in three successful hotel pre-opening roles in various luxury hotels, including Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Al Qasr. He possesses a proven track record of innovation, having spearheaded numerous restaurant concept changes and renovation projects. His accomplishments also include transforming an all-day dining restaurant at Mövenpick JBR into two distinct outlets and revamping a French bistro concept into a thriving sports bar.

Shaping Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi into a Culinary Destination

Since joining Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi in 2012, Mohammed has been instrumental in elevating the hotel's culinary reputation. He played a key role in launching Namak, the hotel's acclaimed Indian restaurant recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, and spearheaded the introduction of McGettigan's to Abu Dhabi, a popular Irish sports bar/pub. Under his leadership, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi has become a sought-after destination for both exceptional dining experiences and exciting banquets.

Mohammed's promotion reflects his dedication to culinary excellence and guest satisfaction. With his extensive experience and proven success in driving innovation, he is well-positioned to lead the Food and Beverage Service team to even greater heights.

Ahmed Gamal, Director of Sales

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi is thrilled to welcome Ahmed Gamal back as its new Director of Sales. Set to report to the hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Gamal brings a wealth of experience to this role, boasting over 19 years of success in the hospitality industry.

Track Record in Sales

Prior to rejoining Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi as Director of Sales, Mr. Gamal held the position of Director of Sales (Leisure/Corporate/MICE/GOV) at Anantara Eastern Mangroves Abu Dhabi. His career journey also includes valuable experience within Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, having previously served as Associate Director of Sales (2022-2023), Senior Sales Manager (2019-2022), and Sales Manager (2018-2019). This deep understanding of the hotel's operations and its clientele makes him uniquely qualified to lead the sales team towards achieving ambitious targets for this year and the next.

With his extensive experience and strategic vision, Mr. Gamal is well-positioned to lead the sales team at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi towards continued success in the hospitality industry.