Frankfurt am Main, 10 April 2019
The Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts brand is continuing to build upon the strong degree of commitment traditionally shown to Egypt by opening a total of three new hotels in the country this year. This expansion is being accompanied by the appointment of five new General Managers and one new Hotel Manager in order to drive group growth further.
“Steigenberger has developed into one of the major hotel brands operating in Egypt over recent decades,” said Thomas Willms, CEO of Deutsche Hospitality – umbrella brand of Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that we can achieve more growth in this market and will be extending our presence on an ongoing basis.”
New General Managers at five destinations
Hisham Mohamed Saied has been General Manager of the Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan in Ras El Bar since 1 April. The hotel is scheduled to open for business in the third quarter of 2019. Mr. Saied had already accumulated several years of experience as a General Manager. His previous positions included the Jaz Mirabel Resort, the Jaz Club Fanara & Residence and the Jaz Almaza Beach Hotel.
39-year old Wael Aboelseoud has taken on a new role as General Manager at the Steigenberger Cecil Hotel in Alexandria, also with effect from 1 April. Mr. Aboelseoud has worked for Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts since 2013, and his most recent post was Hotel Manager of the Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir in Cairo.
Ashraf Naguib has been the new Director of the Steigenberger Resort Achti since the beginning of the year. The hotel will open at the end of 2019. Mr. Naguib is able to look back at more than 35 years of experience in the sector, both in Egypt and the Middle East. His career as a General Manager stretches back to 2001, and he has worked in this capacity for differently branded new hotels.
January saw Gunnar Wassong move from the Steigenberger Golf Resort in El Gouna to the Steigenberger Aqua Magic. A native of Cologne, Mr. Wassong studied Hotel Management in Heidelberg and has been General Manager of Jaz Hotels & Resorts in Makadi, Egypt, since 2006.
Hisham Tawfik succeeded Mr. Wassong as General Manager of the Steigenberger Golf Resort in El Gouna at the turn of the year. Mr. Tawfik has been previously been employed by a number of prestigious hotels, and his past achievements include responsibility for opening the Robinson Club on Djerba.
Also in January, Ali Mansi took over as Hotel Manager of the Steigenberger Pyramids in Cairo. Mr. Mansi brings 27 years of experience in the hotel business to the table and has worked in General Manager roles for various hotel brands during this period.
A hotel directly next to the Pyramids and a pool with views of the Nile
The Deutsche Hospitality portfolio in Egypt currently comprises twelve hotels. Plans are in place to open two new hotels in 2019 – the Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan Ras el Bar near Damietta in the North of the country and the future Steigenberger Resort Achti on the East bank of the Nile, which is located only metres away from the Great Pyramids of Gizeh. Most of its 132 rooms offer attractive views of the Pyramids and of the new Egyptian Museum.
The Steigenberger Hotel El Lessan in Ras El Bar is being developed on the promenade of a peninsular which is formed by a Mediterranean beach and the estuary of one of the branches of the River Nile. The hotel has 158 rooms and suites and also boasts two restaurants, a lobby bar, a swimming pool with a separate children’s section, a health and beauty spa and gym facility and two large ballrooms.
Conversion works are currently being carried out to elevate the Resort Achti Luxor to Steigenberger standards, and the plan is for it to commence official operations under the brand name in the third quarter of 2019. The future Steigenberger Resort Achti in Luxor will provide 281 rooms, suites and bungalows. There will also be two restaurants and a bar with terraces giving a unique panorama out over the Nile. Further highlights will include a jacuzzi in the bungalow area, an outdoor pool with river views and a conference room.
Deutsche Hospitality aims to achieve annual growth of 15 percent. Specific development plans are in place for more than 30 hotel openings between now and 2021. These include Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts in Denmark, India and Thailand. The main focuses of the expansion being pursued by Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts are in the Middle East and Europe. The Mediterranean region and Eastern Europe are examples of destinations that have been earmarked. As it continues on a path of worldwide growth, Deutsche Hospitality is investing millions in full reinvigoration and further development of the Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts brand as part of its global “Made in Germany” strategy.
