Fairmont The Palm Welcomes the New Director of Operations and Culinary

Fairmont the Palm has appointed Dany El Mahgiub as Director of Operations, who brings 15 years of experience in hospitality leadership to his role. At the helm of hotel operations, Dany will be responsible for ensuring the financial and organizational success of the esteemed luxury property.

A seasoned hotelier, Dany is making his return to Fairmont the Palm after nearly a decade. It was here in 2012 that he began his career as part of the pre-opening team, in the role of Restaurant Manager. Dany brings extensive experience within the F&B industry and supporting management roles at leading establishments in the UAE, including Atlantis The Palm as Operations Manager for Nasimi Beach, followed by a move to Ronda Locatelli by Michelin Chef Giorgio Locatelli.

Carving out his name as a preopening specialist, Dany relocated to Abu Dhabi in 2016 and joined the preopening team of Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi as F&B Manager. Keen to take part in another preopening, he accepted the role of Assistant Director of F&B at the iconic Viceroy Dubai, now FIVE Palm Jumeirah.

On the back of these successes, Dany went on to become Director of F&B with Raffles Dubai until his last assignment with Accor, as Director of Operations with the Middle East’s first floating hotel and entertainment destination, Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel.

A dedicated leader, Dany is an asset to the Fairmont Palm management team, promising to deliver a new standard of service excellence to hotel guests.

Fairmont The Palm welcomes Chef Darren Andow as Director of Culinary. A hospitality veteran with over 15 years of experience, Chef Darren brings a wealth of culinary knowledge and skills to further elevate the casual food and fine-dining experiences at Fairmont the Palm, as he oversees all F&B operations across the hotel’s diverse collection of restaurants and outlets inclusive of the speciality venues Frevo, Seagrill, Ba and Little Miss India.

Over his distinguished career, Chef Darren has led teams across leading hotel brands in the UAE, China, Bahrain, and Lebanon. Darren first became an Executive Chef in 2007 at Amwaj Rotana Hotel Dubai, before taking on various executive roles, most notably as Executive Chef with Le Gray Beirut Hotel, one of Beirut's most iconic luxury hotels.

When asked his thoughts on offering a dynamic culinary experience, Chef Darren mentioned “it’s simple, take the freshest and best quality ingredients you can afford and cook them the way you like. Food doesn’t always have to be too complicated and highly garnished, some of my favorite dishes are the simple ones.”

Gaining invaluable expertise working in renowned kitchens across the border, he relocated back to the UAE in 2018 and joined the preopening team of Sheraton Beach Resort & Spa and Four Points by Sheraton, Sharjah. Prior to his current role, he managed the culinary brigade at Movenpick, Novotel, and Adagio Hotels in Jumeirah Village Triangle, Pullman in Sharjah, and Marjan Island Resort and Spa in Ras Al Khaimah, in the role of Cluster Executive Chef.

Meticulous and dynamic, Darren will be instrumental in delivering the very best culinary moments to guests and establishing Fairmont the Palm as a leading dining destination in the UAE.

About Fairmont  

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where occasions are celebrated, and history is made. Landmark hotels with unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments have attracted visitors to Fairmont and its destinations since 1907. The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai are but a few of these iconic luxury hotels, forever linked to the special places where they reside. Famous for its engaging service, grand public spaces, locally inspired cuisine and celebrated bars and lounges, Fairmont promises a special brand of thoughtful luxury that will be remembered long after any visit. With a worldwide portfolio of more than 80 hotels, Fairmont also takes great pride in its deep community roots and leadership in sustainability. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,000 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.  

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