Mark Kirk has recently been appointed as the general manager of Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Sultanate of Oman. Before his transfer to Muscat, Mr. Kirk was general manager of Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa, Philippines.
The Sultanate of Oman and the neighbouring United Arab Emirates are not new to Mr. Kirk, as he was a member of the pre-opening team of Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Sultanate of Oman as resident manager from 2005 to 2007. From Oman, he transferred to Dubai as general manager of Traders Hotel, Dubai, a position he held until 2009.
"Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is a destination in its own right, having a portfolio of 18 food and beverage outlets, three hotels, and a heritage village, souk, marina and dive centre. While it has established a strong reputation and received numerous awards, we have to move forward with new projects and further commit to service excellence," said Mr. Kirk.
"This region is special to me, having integrated myself in its culture and business practices. I am also delighted to find business partners and some colleagues from my previous stint who are still around. I have this feeling of going back home."
Mr. Kirk, whose foundation is in the culinary arts and food and beverage, has 30 years of experience in the hotel industry. He started his career at The Dorchester hotel in London and in several hotels in Scotland and France before moving to Asia. His first position in Asia and with the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts family was at Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok. From Thailand, he went on to hold various positions with the group in Malaysia, China, the Philippines and Taipei.
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 72 hotels under the Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands with a room inventory of over 30,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey and United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com. |