Rotana, a hotel management company in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Türkiye, has announced the appointment of Philip Barnes as its new CEO.
Barnes’ appointment is effective from 1 March 2024.
He has spent nearly 25 years working with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, where he held several senior leadership positions across the globe.
Barnes's most recent role was as regional vice president of Southern California for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a position he held from 2020 to 2022.
His career also includes significant stints with other hospitality brands such as Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Shangri La Hotels & Resorts.
In the Middle East, Barnes served as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ regional vice president of the UAE from 2009 to 2011.
During this time, he was responsible for overseeing operations at several key properties including Fairmont Palm Dubai and Fairmont Bab al Bar Abu Dhabi.
Before his role in the UAE, Barnes held the position of vice-president of the Middle East from 2007 to 2009 for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.
He was in charge of overseeing developments and planned openings in several countries, including South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and Oman.
Rotana's portfolio includes more than 100 properties, with a significant presence in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, featuring 19,602 keys and six brands.
Rotana vice-chairman Selim El Zyr said: “We are proud to welcome Philip Barnes as the new CEO of Rotana. With a rich history of leadership and a deep understanding of the global hospitality landscape, Barnes is poised to elevate our brand delivery and levels of excellence.
“We eagerly anticipate his innovative direction and vision that will shape Rotana’s next chapter and build on our growing pipeline across key markets.”
Barnes added: “I am privileged to join Rotana – a homegrown brand synonymous with providing guests with the highest service levels across the region. I look forward to working closely with the wider team to grow Rotana’s legacy and firmly position it as one of the leading hospitality players in the region.
“Together, we will embark on a journey to redefine hospitality, creating Treasured Time for our guests and setting new benchmarks for the industry.”
