JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Welcomes Tom Allen as its New Culinary Director

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – February 2025: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, the five-star property located in Business Bay, is excited to announce the appointment of Tom Allen as its new Culinary Director, effective March 1^st. Bringing with him 25 years of experience – in which he worked with two- and three-Michelin star restaurants across the globe – Tom Allen aims to build on JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai’s renowned culinary reputation and strengthen its position as a premier luxury dining destination in Dubai.

A highly determined leader with exceptional business acumen and a flair for innovation, Allen looks forward to bringing his wealth of experience from some of the world’s finest kitchens to JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. As Culinary Director, he aims to elevate the hotel’s signature restaurants – including Prime68, Tong Thai, Rang Mahal, Izakaya, Kitchen6, and more – to new heights. With a focus on enhancing the hotel’s dining offerings, refining its menus, and mentoring the culinary team to uphold the highest standards, Allen is set to further solidify JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai’s reputation as one of the city’s most sought-after dining destinations.

Allen began his culinary career in 2000 as Chef de Partie at the Lumiere Restaurant in his hometown, Cheltenham, before joining three-Michelin-starred  The Fat Duck in 2005. His experience in Heston Blumenthal’s famed culinary institution in Bray equipped him with a strong foundation in kitchen management while introducing him to the innovative techniques and meticulous processes involved in crafting a Michelin star dining experience.

From 2009 to 2015, Allen served as Head of Development at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, contributing to the success of the acclaimed Two-Hat-awarded restaurant at The Crown Towers Melbourne and the two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental, London – one of San Pellegrino’s The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. In this role, he led the research and development of new dishes for both the London and Melbourne restaurants while supporting the senior culinary team in daily operations at the London location. He also made annual trips to Melbourne to train staff and integrate new dishes into the menu.

In 2015, Allen was made Group Head Chef of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London. During his six-year tenure he maintained the restaurants two Michelin stars and its position in San Pellegrino’s The World’s 50 Best list for three consecutive years. In 2021, Allen relocated to Dubai to launch Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Atlantis The Royal. Under his expertise and leadership, the restaurant earned a Michelin star within just four months of opening.  In the following years, Allen guided the restaurant to numerous accolades, including two toques from Gault & Millau in 2023 followed by three toques in 2024.

Now, as the Culinary Director of JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, Allen is eager to apply his extensive knowledge and experience to the hotel’s evolving F&B footprint, where he will drive innovation, refine culinary offerings, and further enhance the hotel’s reputation as a leading gastronomic destination in the region.

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About JW Marriott 

With over 580 hotels and resorts in over 60 countries and territories around the world, Marriott Hotels is evolving travel through every aspect of the guest's stay, helping to relax, clear minds, stimulate new ideas and anticipate travelers’ needs, leaving them inspired to reach their full potential. Boldly transforming itself for mobile and global travelers who blend work and play, Marriott leads the industry with innovations, including the Greatroom lobby and Mobile Guest Services that elevate style & design and technology. 

To learn more, visit www.marriott-hotels.marriott.com. Stay connected to Marriott Hotels on Facebook, @marriott on X and @marriotthotels on Instagram. Marriott Hotels is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com. 

About Marriott International 

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,500 properties under 31 leading brands spanning 138 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy^®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.