The First Group Hospitality, a full-service hotel management company headquartered in Dubai, has announced a series of senior leadership appointments to support its accelerating growth and international expansion. These newly created roles are designed to strengthen capabilities across commercial strategy, marketing, F&B, sales, and wellness operations.

Brendan McCormack assumes the role of Vice President – Business Development, Food & Beverage (F&B). McCormack, previously VP of Marketing and a member of the leadership team since 2020, will focus on scaling the company’s proprietary F&B brands, including Risen Café & Artisanal Bakery and The Blacksmith Bar & Eatery, through franchising and new business opportunities.

Robyn James-O’Connor joins as Senior Vice President – Marketing, overseeing brand, advertising, public relations, social and digital strategy, and development marketing. With a 20-year career at Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, including VP of Marketing for the group, she brings extensive expertise in brand-building and integrated marketing within luxury hospitality.

Antonio Bissoni steps in as Vice President – Commercial, leading revenue management, distribution, guest engagement, and commercial strategy. He joins from Marriott International, bringing a wealth of experience in optimising pricing, analytics, and market segmentation to maximise profitability.

Sohail Pedari, appointed Vice President – Sales, will oversee group-wide sales operations, leveraging his experience with Hilton, Marriott International, and Rocco Forte Hotels to drive strategic partnerships and revenue growth across multiple markets.

Maria Kuzeva joins as Corporate Director of Wellness & Spa, charged with driving a unified wellness vision across The First Group Hospitality’s expanding portfolio. With over 20 years of experience at top-tier resorts such as Madinat Jumeirah and Atlantis The Royal, she brings expertise in concept development, operations, and brand creation in wellness.

Commenting on the appointments, Apo Demirtas, Chief Strategy Officer, said, "It is a pleasure to welcome these talented leaders into their new roles. As our portfolio grows regionally and internationally, these positions strengthen our capabilities across key operational areas, ensuring we deliver long-term value for our owners and partners."

The appointments come amid significant growth, including landmark developments like Ciel Dubai Marina, the world’s tallest hotel, the Vignette Collection by IHG, franchise agreements with Marriott International and IHG, and the company’s entry into Europe with Gennadi Seaside Resort.

About The First Group Hospitality
The First Group Hospitality is a Dubai-based full-service hospitality management company specialising in hotel operations, asset management, and F&B strategy. The company partners with global brands to optimise revenue, enhance efficiency, and maximise asset value, while developing and operating upscale hotels, residences, and award-winning restaurants across the Middle East and internationally.

For more information, visit: tfghospitality.com

Holiday Inn Express has announced the appointment of Sandesh Parab as General Manager of Holiday Inn Express Hyderabad Banjara Hills. The move reflects the brand’s focus on strengthening on-ground leadership and driving consistent guest experiences across key markets.

Sandesh brings over two decades of hospitality experience, having worked with leading global hotel brands including Hyatt Hotels, Hilton International, and Marriott International. His professional expertise spans hotel operations, guest experience, revenue management, and team leadership.

Prior to joining Holiday Inn Express, Sandesh served as Director of Rooms at Hyatt Pune, where he also took on the role of Upsell Champion for Hyatt Hotels across South and Central India. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport, Hilton Mumbai International Airport, Hyatt Regency Mumbai, and Hilton hotels in the United Kingdom. Across these roles, he has built a strong reputation for service excellence, attention to detail, and people-focused management.

Sandesh holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Hospitality Management from Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College in the UK, along with a Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering Technology from Rizvi College of Hotel Management, Mumbai. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and sports.

Commenting on his appointment, Sandesh Parab said, “I am truly excited to take on this role and join the team at Holiday Inn Express Hyderabad Banjara Hills. The brand has always stood for smart, efficient, and guest-centred hospitality, and I look forward to building on this promise. My focus will be on creating a supportive environment for our colleagues and delivering a consistently seamless experience for our guests.”

The appointment underlines Holiday Inn Express’ commitment to nurturing leadership talent and strengthening its operational teams. Sandesh’s experience is expected to support operational excellence while fostering a culture that reflects the brand’s ‘Room to Belong’ philosophy for both guests and colleagues.

Alma Resort Cam Ranh has announced the appointment of Yury Papouski as its new Recreation Manager, strengthening the resort’s leadership across leisure, wellness, and guest engagement experiences. Yury brings diverse experience in overseeing sport, recreation, wellness, and edutainment programmes within Vietnam’s hospitality sector.

Before joining Alma, Yury served as Resort Experience Manager and Wellness Ambassador at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa. In this role, he managed a wide portfolio of recreational, wellness, and family-oriented facilities, while also driving revenue growth and introducing signature guest programmes.

Earlier in his career, Yury worked as Project Manager at Edutainment Events Co. across Hanoi, Danang, and Nha Trang, where he was responsible for conceptualising children-focused edutainment events and supporting marketing initiatives. He has also served as Entertainment Supervisor at Swandor Hotels & Resorts in Cam Ranh, contributing to the design and execution of sports and entertainment programmes while managing event operations.

A graduate of Belarus State Economic University with a degree in Economist of Marketing, Yury combines creative programme design with a structured, guest-focused approach to leisure operations.

In his new role at Alma Resort Cam Ranh, Yury will oversee the resort’s extensive sports and recreation portfolio, including entertainment facilities, wellness-led initiatives, children’s programmes, and signature guest experiences. His focus will be on enhancing guest engagement, expanding recreational offerings, and supporting operational excellence across the resort’s leisure services.

Commenting on the appointment, Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, managing director, Alma Resort Cam Ranh, said, “Yury brings an exceptional mix of creativity and guest-experience insight to Alma’s recreation program. His proven ability to design innovative activities and enhance service quality makes him a great addition to our leadership group. We are excited for the energy and expertise he will bring to Alma’s extensive recreational landscape.”