Doha, Qatar, 29 October, 2009 – Hossein Vetry is now the new Area General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Qatar, announces Area Vice President, Middle East Pascal Duchauffour. Mr. Vetry is currently the general manager of Sharq Village and Spa, and he will oversee all operational matters at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, as well as being responsible for all further developments of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company L.L.C. in the country.

In his new role, Mr. Vetry is responsible for all aspects of both properties including guest and employee engagement and financial performance. Combining focused leadership with a passion for excellence and an understanding of the sophisticated needs of the luxury customer, he is responsible for strategic decision-making in the increasingly competitive Doha market. He will continue to establish the hotels’ prominent positions within the local and regional arena and take The Ritz-Carlton, Doha and Sharq Village and Spa to even greater heights in the pursuit of excellence.

“Hossein Vetry brings a global understanding of the hospitality industry to Sharq Village and Spa, and The Ritz-Carlton, Doha,” says Mr. Duchauffour.  “Hoss’s background, along with his demonstrated success in impacting revenue growth and developing strong customer service, will be of tremendous benefit to The Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Qatar. His appointment comes at a pivotal time in the resort’s quest the property of choice for both business and leisure travelers venturing into Doha.”

Mr. Vetry looks forward to continuing the success of The Ritz-Carlton brand in a destination that is experiencing such phenomenal growth. “Both properties provide a wealth of choice to business and leisure guests and allow for a level of luxury and service previously unseen. I am excited at the opportunity to strengthen The Ritz-Carlton’s position as a market leader and work with the ladies and gentlemen to make it all possible.”

Prior to his recent appointment in Qatar as General Manager of Sharq Village and Spa, Mr. Vetry held the position of hotel manager at the award-winning Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, a 611-room hotel with extensive facilities including a full-service spa. There he led a team of more than 850 ladies and gentlemen and implemented total quality management, which improved market share for the property and elevated guest satisfaction ratings. The hotel is frequently recognized, both regionally and internationally, for outstanding customer service and overall quality. Mr. Vetry held a key role in further developing processes to build and differentiate the Ritz-Carlton brand in China.

As a result of his commitment, Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai was awarded Business Asia magazine’s” Overall Best Business Hotel in Asia” and Travel + Leisure “500World’s Best Hotels” in the 2007 annual list, an award the hotel retained for five consecutive years. The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai was also a recent recipient of the prestigious Platinum Five-Star award issued by the China National Tourism Administration. The hotel was one of three hotels in China and the only Shanghai hotel to receive this inaugural award, which is the highest hospitality award in China.

Mr. Vetry began his Ritz-Carlton career at the renowned Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco in 1992 as the Director of Outlets. His drive for service excellence along with his commitment to guest engagement, innovation and leadership was imperative to the hotel’s “Dinning Room” being awarded the prestigious Exxon/Mobile Five Star award.                               

Sharq Village & Spa

Sharq Village & Spa offers 174 rooms and suites, with intimate courtyard settings, reflecting 6,000 years of deeply rooted Qatari heritage and tradition. The waterfront property is unique in The Middle East for its authentic recreation of life in an ancient desert village. The 6,500 square meters Six Senses Spa takes its inspiration from a traditional Qatari souq offering a holistic hotel destination spa experience.

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha

Soaring 115 meters above Qatar’s sea and desert landscape, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is an impressive symbol of the nation’s emergence as a destination for travelers to The Middle East. The 374-room, five star resort fuses contemporary styling with classic Arabic and European design, creating a hotel with a promise of setting a new benchmark for luxury and sophistication in the region. Located on its own exclusive island in the prestigious West Bay Lagoon district, the hotel has sweeping views, which overlook the turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Gulf.

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The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, B.V. of Chevy Chase, MD operates 73 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over 30 projects are under development around the globe with future openings in Dubai International Financial Centre, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, which recognized outstanding customer service. For more information, contact The Ritz-Carlton toll free reservations line at 1 (800) 241-3333, visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com, or consult a travel professional. 

© Press Release 2009