Shangri-La Group Announce New Area General Manager - Operations for MEIA

DUBAI, UAE, 29 August 2023 – In a significant move that underlines its commitment to excellence in the ever-evolving hospitality sector, the Shangri-La Group has announced the promotion of Mr. Hakan Ozel as the new Area General Manager, Operations for the Middle East, Europe, India, and Americas (MEIA) region effective 1st September 2023.

Kong Leong Chan, Regional Chief Executive Officer, expressed, “Hakan's extensive experience and expertise will be instrumental in driving our commitment to excellence across all our properties. I am confident that under Hakan’s guidance, we will establish new industry benchmarks and explore the multitude of exciting opportunities to align with newest trends and strengthen our operations standards across the region."

Mr. Ozel’s exemplary career spans over 25 years in luxury hospitality, covering a prolific spectrum of roles—from operating signature hotels and mixed-use properties in prime locations to achieving record milestones in benchmark openings, take-overs, and turn-around assignments. His vision for merging boutique experiences with global standards and his disciplined yet bold approach to risk-taking for strategic directions and performance have set him apart in the industry as both a pioneer and a lauded change-maker.

"In my long-standing tenure with Shangri-La, I've witnessed our unwavering commitment to excellence. As I broaden my current role, I'll leverage my cumulative experiences and insights to further raise our operational standards. My goal is to ensure that Shangri-La not only maintains its industry leadership but also plays an integral role in defining the hospitality paradigm for the region." – Hakan Ozel, Area General Manager, Operations, MEIA region at Shangri-La Group.

In addition to his new role, Mr. Ozel will continue serving as the General Manager for Shangri-La Dubai, a testament to his outstanding leadership and managerial skills.

Over the years, Mr. Ozel has garnered a considerable number of prestigious accolades that underscore his expertise in the realm of hospitality. More recently, in November 2022, he was prominently featured on Hotelier Middle East's esteemed General Manager Power 100 list and was further distinguished as one of the Top 10 Most Powerful Hotel Bosses in the Middle East. This recognition was followed by another significant honour in August 2022, when Hotel & Catering News Middle East spotlighted him among the Top 30 Hospitality Heavyweights, saluting his unwavering dedication to the industry.

Shangri-La continues to emphasize its commitment to establishing industry benchmarks, and under Hakan Ozel's leadership, the group is poised for even greater heights.

About Shangri-La:

Shangri-La, an iconic flagship brand of the Shangri-La Group, puts heartfelt service at the core of its distinctive Asian hospitality experience. Through imaginative and nature-inspired design, delightful culinary and cultural experiences, and its authentic and thoughtful service, the brand enables guests to realise their own moments of Shangri-La. 

Today, the brand experience is brought to life in over 90 deluxe hotels and resorts at destinations around the world, including Australia, Canada, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.  

About Shangri-La Circle  

Built on the idea that life is meant to be fun, limitless, and full of possibilities, Shangri-La Circle is a contemporary Asian travel lifestyle platform offering members a world of enhanced benefits at every point of their journey at over 100 Shangri-La, Kerry, JEN by Shangri-La, and Traders properties worldwide, along with the Group’s portfolio of restaurants, wellness facilities, and family experiences. Details of these benefits can be found here.

To enroll as a member and stay up to date with the latest Shangri-La Circle announcements and offers, visit www.shangri-la.com/shangrilacircle and connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Weibo, and WeChat, or download the Shangri-La mobile app.