Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai Reveals Stellar Management Team

DUBAI, UAE - 23 March 2022:  Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai announces the appointment of its management team, led by Ranjit Phillipose, Area Director - Middle East and General Manager. Ranjit brings with him over 29 years’ experience in the hospitality industry and a wealth of knowledge to this role. He is joined by Greg Kocsis, Hotel Manager; Dorsai Khaghani, Director of Sales & Marketing; Lionel Dousse, Director of F&B; Sonu Koithara, Executive Chef; and Dr. Arun Aravind, Director of Spa.

“We are very pleased to have launched Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai this month. We look forward to establishing the Taj Exotica name in the region and to showcase Tajness to our esteemed guests. As a brand, we take pride in everything we do, and the team will embody this in the ethos of their work. I'm confident every guest will enjoy the resort’s unique offerings and world-class hospitality." said Ranjit Phillipose, Area Director-Middle East and General Manager of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai Team Includes:

Ranjit Phillipose - Area Director, Middle East and General Manager

Ranjit Phillipose’s professional achievements include overseeing multiple hotel openings and rebranding projects across IHCL hotels, resorts and palaces in Asia, UK, the USA and the Middle East.

His distinguished career background and full immersion in the brand's philosophy, has been key to the successful launch of the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, and his extensive experience allows him to truly understand what both international and local guests are looking for when it comes to an exceptional resort stay.

His accolades include being a recipient of the JRD Tata Award for Quality and Excellence, winning the prestigious Best New Hotel in the MENA region at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2020 (Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers), Favourite Business Hotel at the 2017 Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards (Taj Dubai) and Best of Best Hotels 2011 by Robb Report and 100 Best Suites, Elite Traveler USA (Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives). In 2018, 2019 and 2020 Ranjit was recognized by Hotelier Middle East as one of the most influential professionals in the industry in the Power 50 list.

Ranjit and his team of dedicated professionals plan to make big waves with the launch of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, which is the beginning of expansion plans for the Taj Exotica brand across the Middle East. 

Greg Kocsis - Hotel Manager

Originally from Hungary, Greg Kocsis is an experienced Hotel Manager and seasoned hospitality professional with extensive international experience in the luxury market, having previously worked in Beverly Hills, Miami, Barbados, London, Oman and Maldives for leading hotel brands over the course of 18 years.

The well-being of the associates is a value Greg holds close to his heart. He says: “Our colleagues are the essence of our business, as we take care of them, it reflects back on their sincere attitude and dedicated care to our guests, which makes us stand out among our competitors.”

Greg has a track record of operational and commercial success and his diverse background has given him remarkable insights that were instrumental to the successful opening of the first Taj Exotica in the region and will continue to drive the strategy and operations of the resort. 

Dorsai Khaghani - Director of Sales & Marketing

A highly accomplished Sales & Marketing professional with over 15 years of experience, Dorsai Khaghani has led a number of successful launches of some of Dubai's biggest and most successful hotel brands. She prides herself on truly understanding the Middle East market when it comes to what guests really want.  

With achievements such as being named one of the top 25 women in hospitality in 2020 and the ‘Best salesperson of the year' in 2017 both by Hotelier Middle East, Dorsai brings her award-winning experience to Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai.

Lionel Dousse - F&B Director

The Swiss-born Lionel Dousse, Director of Food and Beverage at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, is bringing 14 years of experience to this role and has previously worked in various countries; including Djibouti, Ghana, Latvia, and most recently, the UAE; he specialises in creating dining concepts for pre-opening restaurants and bars. 

As a vital member and the youngest of the leadership team, Lionel is responsible for developing unique dining experiences for the food and beverage operations across the seven outlets, including banqueting with two expansive ballrooms and eight meeting rooms. With his dynamic and trend-setting vision, the resort's restaurants and bars are set to become dining destinations in Dubai.

Sonu Koithara – Executive Chef

Originally from Kerala, Chef Sonu Koithara believes in the importance of working with quality ingredients, a philosophy he will bring to each dish he curates at Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai. He began to experiment with cooking at a very young age and has always been passionate and dedicated to creating the best possible flavours.  

Having been a part of the IHCL (Indian Hotels Company Limited) for over 15 years, Chef Sonu has been an integral part the culinary teams for several hotels in India and recently in Dubai with the opening of Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers. He has big plans to put Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai on the map as an unmissable culinary destination.

Dr. Arun Aravind – Director of Spa

Taking a whole new meaning to holistic wellness, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai will house its very own resident Ayurvedic expert. Dr Arun Aravind, a seasoned wellness professional, joins the team with over 22 years of experience and brings in-depth knowledge of the ancient practice of Ayurveda to JIVA, our award-winning spa. 

He is a certified practitioner of Ayurvedic Management of Metabolic Syndrome and has worked in many luxury resort spas throughout India. One of his specialties is curating destination retreat programs that combine holistic wellness practices with lifestyle management. With meticulous attention to detail, he personally engages with guests even before they arrive to offer them an insight into the spa and recommend the perfect therapies. During consultations, he creates customized programs tailored to the needs of each guest to help them attain balance, re-energize, and de-stress.

About Taj

Established in 1903, Taj is The Indian Hotels Company Limited’s (IHCL) iconic brand for the world’s most discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences in luxury and has been rated as the World’s Strongest Hotel Brand and India’s Strongest Hospitality Brand as per Brand Finance 2021. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service, and modern luxury.

The unique portfolio comprises hotels across the globe including presence in India, North America, United Kingdom, Africa, Middle East, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal. 

For more information, please visit www.tajhotels.com