June 2017, Baku, Azerbaijan: Absheron Hotel Group has named Scott Mawhinney as its new Cluster General Manager. Based in Baku, Azerbaijan, Mawhinney will oversee operations at the city’s newest and most exclusive resort; the Bilgah Beach Hotel, and the Pik Palace and the Park Chalet hotels, both located in the ski resort town of Shahdag, 200 kilometres north of Baku. Both the Pik Palace and the Park Chalet hotels are part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, reserved for the most beautifully orchestrated hotel experiences in the world.
Canada-born Scott Mawhinney brings a wealth of remarkable world-class expertise to the role with 25 years of international hotel experience, having worked across Asia, Europe, North America, South Pacific and the Middle East. Most recently, he was General Manager of the multi-award-winning Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Prior to that, he held several senior opening management positions, including the 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, and the Pangu 7-star Hotel in Beijing. He also spent eight years in senior executive positions for Shangri-La Hotel & Resorts. Responsible for the daily operations, financial performance, and sales and marketing of the three properties, Mawhinney will manage 600 employees to ensure the highest quality guest experience standards are achieved.
Jiri Kobos, Managing Director at Absheron Hotel Group says “We are excited to welcome a person of Scott’s impressive performance record to our business. We are confident that he will be an excellent leader and an inspiration to others in the management and promotion of these three outstanding properties.”
Overseeing three of Azerbaijan s leading hotels is a great honour for me to take on and I look forward to driving the future growth and development of these unique properties,” says Mawhinney. “My vision is to continue to position these hotels as among Azerbaijan’s top touristic destinations, given their intriguing location and proximity to many of the country’s top year-round attractions.”
Mawhinney holds an executive MBA from the University of Ottawa and graduated in Hotel Management and Administration from The Lausanne Hotel School. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of Western Ontario, and Cornell Hotel School certificates in Financial Management and Yield Management. He is fluent in English, French and Spanish.
The Properties
Set alongside a 300-metre stretch of beachfront on the Caspian Sea‚ Bilgah Beach Hotel offers contemporary luxury just minutes from Baku’s bustling City Centre. All 176 sea-facing rooms and suites evoke a serene, residential feel and are fully equipped with the latest in-room technology. There are 14 duplex, three-bedroom cottages located in the front gardens of the hotel, each approximately 156 m2 with a residential garage, private courtyard, and a spacious outdoor terrace on the top floor. The hotel also offers seven restaurants and bars, including a night club, spa and fitness centre with modern gymnasium, traditional Turkish and Finnish saunas and steam baths, relaxation areas with heated thermal beds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sport facilities, private beach, waterpark with a variety of slides, billiards room, bowling alley, conference centre and meeting rooms and unique indoor and outdoor areas for weddings and special events.
Pik Palace Hotel Shahdag is designed by world renowned hotel and resort Reardon Smith Architects and inspired by the magnificent beauty of the mountains. It offers 167 oversized bedrooms and suites complete with panoramic views. The hotel's dining facilities include Chocolat Café, Alpina Brasserie & Wine Bar and Scalini Italian Restaurant, and for those with a discerning level of luxury, an exclusive private Pik Lounge. Guests looking for ultimate indulgence need look no further than The Club Fitness & Spa, which offers a range of aromatherapy treatments and rejuvenating spa rituals.
Park Chalet Shahdag offers 164 spacious bedrooms and suites with scenic views over the mountains. It is modeled on European Alpine architecture, with additional stylistic influences from Aspen ski lodge developments in the USA. Being one of Shahdag Mountain Resort’s premier gourmet destinations, Park Chalet serves up delectable menus at Aspen Grill–a striking rooftop restaurant and lounge bar –along with warming hot beverages at the Mocca Café.
