(Kuwait, September 2003):  With more than two decades of experience in the Kuwait restaurant and hotel sector, Abdallah Harouni has been appointed by Le Meridien Kuwait as food and beverage manager to supervise the rebranding of the hotel’s food and beverage offerings in the run up to its relaunch later this year. Since taking over management of the former Ritz Kuwait, the hotel group has been repositioning the boutique property, and the new-look restaurants will play an important part in this strategy.

Abdallah Harouni

Harouni, who was formerly food and beverage manager with the owning group A’amal, had responsibility for its 12 international restaurant outlets as well as new brand launches into the country.

Prior to this, he worked in a variety of positions at the Sheraton Kuwait, having joined that hotel as a trainee in 1980 and eventually moving up to oversee outside catering and banquet sales.

A Syrian national, Harouni said his extensive experience in the Kuwaiti market would be of help as Le Meridien worked to make a new name for creative dining in the state.

“Although Le Meridien’s name is not new in Kuwait, with the repositioning of the Ritz hotel and other projects currently underway, there is no doubt that it will become a mark of excellence for restaurant dining as well as hospitality operations,” he said.

Le Méridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of over 135 luxury and upscale hotels (36,000 rooms) in 56 countries worldwide.