Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel Welcomes New General Manager John Paul Kavanagh

Experienced hospitality figure to stamp the new Sheraton brand differentiators on the UAE's newest Sheraton property

DUBAI - 23 June, 2013 The Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel celebrated its opening in March of this year, making it the UAE's newest Sheraton property. This month, the team welcomes a new General Manager; John Paul (JP) Kavanagh, previously General Manager for The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh, Scotland. Irish born Kavanagh reflects the new face of the Sheraton brand and will help stamp the Sheraton brand differentiators on the Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel as it undergoes a number of exciting transformations. Such directives will subsequently be rolled out across the region and the globe.

Kavanagh has already set high standards for his staff, the hotel and most importantly his discerning international guests, reflecting his impeccable hospitality pedigree. JP commenced his hospitality career in 1993 at The Connaught Hotel, Mayfair in London, part of the Savoy Group. From there he moved to The Hyde Park Hotel in Knightsbridge (now the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park), before returning to Ireland to take up a position at The Clarence Hotel in Dublin. Kavanagh embarked upon his career with Starwood as a Rooms Division Manager at the Westin in Dublin in 2000, and played a key part for the pre-opening of the hotel, Starwood's first property in Ireland. In 2003 he was also Operations Manager at the well-known golfing hotel, the Westin Turnberry resort, in Ayrshire before taking up a position as GM at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh. Over his seven-year tenure JP oversaw many key extensions to the hotel, including the addition of eight new treatment rooms and a Sheraton fitness facility to the Spa area. From 2010 JP oversaw the entire refurbishment and brand re-positioning of the hotel, as it transformed into a brand icon within the portfolio.

"After leading a flagship Sheraton property, we are delighted to have JP as the General Manager of the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel," said Guido de Wilde, Senior Vice President, Regional Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East. "With his solid experience, strong leadership and energy, JP is a great addition to our team and we are excited to have him in the Middle East."

The Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel guest satisfaction has improved significantly in the last few months owing to the attentive nature of the highly trained team, all of whom have undergone intensive Sheraton training. Guests can also enjoy the unrivalled Sheraton signature experience during their stay including Sweet Sleeper™ Beds, the Sheraton Club Lounge, The Link@SheratonSM -the executive business centre experienced with Microsoft® and Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core® Performance, with state-of-the-art gym equipment and training. Further improvements are planned in the form of a new Link@Sheraton Café and Shine Spa for Sheraton, where guests can pamper themselves with a wide range of innovative spa treatments.

For the holy month, Kavanagh and his team will offer guests and visitors a summer Ramadan Lounge Tent, which will introduce shisha for the first time on the Vantage terrace, and is a perfect place to gather and relax after iftar at Sanabel, the hotel's signature restaurant. The hotel also recently launched Social Hour, a daily evening event at Vantage Bar, the hotel's contemporary urban lounge, with award-winning beverages, tapas and cheese, reflecting the hotel's core belief that travel should bring people together and bring conversations back to the experience.

This summer Kavanagh invites guests - whether the business traveller, or the leisure guest indulging in retail therapy, or relaxing on the city's beaches - to meet at the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates to share a wealth of memorable experiences.

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About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 properties in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $5 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1.134 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

For more information: www.sheratondubaimalloftheemirate.com

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Laura Westmacott | Heba Selim
Tel: +971 4382 8900
Email: laura@tohpr.com| heba@tohpr.com