Sofitel Dubai Downtown Appoints Abigail Brown as New Director of Talent & Culture

Sofitel Dubai Downtown has appointed Abigail Brown as its new Director of Talent & Culture. Abigail is set to enhance the hotel’s reputation for exceptional service and world-class guest experiences through innovative talent development and a commitment to integrity, bringing nearly a decade of strategic HR leadership in the Middle East and Europe.

Abigail’s journey in hospitality began at Charterhouse Recruitment in Dubai, where she served as a Recruitment Consultant specialising in Interior Design, Architecture, and Hospitality. From June 2012 to February 2015, she honed her skills in sourcing top-tier candidates, managing client relationships, and aligning recruitment strategies with dynamic market needs. This foundational role allowed her to develop an adept understanding of the region’s talent landscape and the importance of creating a positive employment experience.

In March 2015, Abigail joined Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC. Over the course of four and a half years, she rose from Assistant Director of Human Resources at Amwaj Rotana in Dubai to Director of Human Resources at Downtown Rotana in Bahrain. During this period, she supervised teams of up to 12 HR professionals and over 240 colleagues, spearheading initiatives that encompassed policy formation, employee engagement, and competitive compensation structures. Her dedication to fostering a collaborative culture and championing staff well-being left a lasting impact on both properties.

Seeking to broaden her expertise further, Abigail moved on to Viceroy Hotel Group in October 2020 as Pre-Opening Director of Human Resources at Viceroy Kopaonik, Serbia. There, she established robust HR processes to support the hotel’s successful debut, coordinated colleague accommodation from a shell building to a fully furnished residence, and orchestrated learning and development programs aligned with the group’s strategic vision. These achievements demonstrate her talent for adapting to new challenges and delivering seamless pre-opening experiences.

Most recently, Abigail took on the role of People & Culture Manager at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, supporting the rebranding of Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Overseeing a team of 22 HR professionals and 1,200 colleagues, she introduced comprehensive internal policies, digitalised HR operations, and led a record-breaking engagement survey that reached a 95% satisfaction rate.

Commenting on her new position, Abigail said:

“I’m honored to lead the Talent & Culture strategy at Sofitel Dubai Downtown. My mission is to inspire every colleague to pursue excellence, share my knowledge, and foster a united environment built on trust and collaboration. Together, we will elevate guest experiences and drive the hotel’s continued success.”

In her new capacity, Abigail will direct all aspects of talent management, including recruitment, training, and colleague engagement initiatives. Her appointment reflects Sofitel Dubai Downtown’s enduring commitment to cultivating an empowered workforce and delivering modern French elegance in the heart of Dubai.

For enquiries and bookings, please contact: H7492@sofitel.com | Telephone: +971 (4)503 6666

About Sofitel Dubai Downtown

Sofitel Dubai Downtown, is an idyllic oasis that blends urban sophistication with authentic luxury French service. It is the only international five-star hotel in the heart of Downtown Dubai linked to The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa metro station through an air-conditioned skywalk, with close proximity to Emaar square, Financial Centre, City Walk, Coca-Cola Arena and more. The hotel offers an exceptional setting for business, leisure and exploration within the New and Old Dubai. Blending Arabian hospitality with timeless French service, the hotel sends guests on a voyage into the Sofitel universe. Spanning 31 exquisite floors, 274 luxury rooms, 76 suites, including two-bedroom Downtown Suite, Presidential Suite and Royal Suite in addition to world-class leisure, conference and entertainment facilities including a stunning outdoor infinity pool, state-of-the-art gym and spa facilities, the hotel also features seven restaurants bars and lounges taking patrons on a culinary journey from the four corners of the globe. Welcome to the finer side of sophistication where you can step into a world of refined French heritage linked to local culture, elegance and seamless luxury.

About Accor

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a creative hospitality company with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and approximately 260,000 team members worldwide. 68 million members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL - Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information visit group.accor.com, or follow Accor on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.