Siegfried Nierhaus returns as Vice President Middle East/Fotis Fakes is named Senior Director Operations & Commercial International Resort Hotels

Siegfried Nierhaus, who took charge of H World International’s expansion in the Middle East from 2015 to 2017, has been appointed new Vice President Middle East for Steigenberger Hotels AG/H World International with effect from 3 November 2020. Mr. Nierhaus succeeds Taras Ettl, who is leaving H World International to pursue new tasks outside the company.

“We would like to thank Taras Ettl for helping us to establish H World International and its brands in the Middle East, most recently with IntercityHotel openings in Riyadh, Dubai and Nizwa,” stated Matthias Heck, Executive Board Member of Steigenberger Hotels AG. “Siegfried Nierhaus has one of the highest profiles of any hotel industry expert in this region, and we are delighted to have secured his services. We will work together to overcome the challenges which the corona pandemic is bringing in its wake, and we will continue to increase the presence of H World International hotels over the coming months and years.”

In his former capacity as Vice President Middle East and Asia, Siegfried Nierhaus signed agreements for hotel openings in locations such as Dubai, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia between 2015 and 2017. Mr. Nierhaus went on to work for the hotel investment company Atlas Hospitality and for Rezidor. He has assumed responsibility for a number of prestigious hotels right across the Middle East and Asia, including the award-winning Radisson SAS Hotel Media City and the iconic Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Emirates Pearl. Siegfried Nierhaus is a graduate of the WIHOGA School of Management for the Hospitality Industry in Dortmund, Germany.

At the same time, Fotis Fakes has been promoted to the position of Senior Director Operations & Commercial International Resort Hotels. Mr. Fakes has been with H World International since 2017. His most recent role involved assisting with the development of the company’s international sales structures. Fotis Fakes’ future position will see him take charge of the operational business of the group’s international resort companies at destinations including Tunisia, Egypt and the Balearic Islands. “Mr. Fakes has made a major contribution to the success of H World International’s international resort portfolio over the past few years,” said Denis Hüttig, Vice President Operations Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts. “We are looking forward to working with him in future as we continue to expand the international presence of Steigenberger Resorts.”