Nakheel forms new hospitality unit

Dubai-based Nakheel has formed a new division – Nakheel Hospitality and Leisure – to focus on the company’s growing number of hotels, beach clubs and community recreation centres.

The new division will be headed by Managing Director Thorsten Ries, who will oversee the development and operations of Nakheel’s hotels and clubs.

Nakheel is building a 240-room hotel at Dragon Mart, as part of its major expansion of the China-themed mall, a five-star, 40-storey hotel that will form part of the Nakheel Mall and Hotel complex on Palm Jumeirah and an economy hotel at Ibn Battuta Mall. More hotels are in Nakheel’s project pipeline.

The developer also owns and operates a growing number of recreation and leisure clubs, including Jumeirah Islands Club, Jebel Ali Club and the Shoreline Beach Clubs on Palm Jumeirah.

German-born Thorsten comes from an extensive hoteliers’ background and has more 20 years’ experience in the industry. He has worked in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, starting his career with Kempinski before moving to Marriott, Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton, among others.