FAIRMONT THE PALM APPOINTS SUE WHEATLEY AS DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Mark Sawkins, General Manager, Fairmont The Palm, Dubai is pleased to announce the appointment of Sue Wheatley to the role of Director of Sales & Marketing, effective 1 June 2016.

Wheatley joins the resort from FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) where she was executive director in charge of luxury sales across the company’s three luxury brands (Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel), and oversaw an international team with presence in China, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Sue’s long association with Dubai and the region, her insider market knowledge and expertise within the luxury arena will further elevate Fairmont The Palm as we continue to push our strategic vision and position the resort as a leading destination,” said Mark Sawkins, General Manager, Fairmont The Palm.

In this position, Wheatley will oversee the sales and marketing operation for the Palm Jumeirah flagship, including the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy touching every aspect of the 381-room resort. Fairmont The Palm features six restaurants including an interactive culinary studio, 13 treatment rooms at ‘Willow Stream Spa’, 4 temperature controlled swimming pools, 800m of pristine beach with watersports activities, an award-winning Falcons Kids’ Club and 3,000 square metres of meeting indoor and outdoor space with stunning views of Dubai Marina skyline.

Her proven 25-year track record in driving sales and growing market share for regional and international high-end hotel brands such as London’s Grosvenor House, Raffles Dubai and the Burj Al Arab, has run the gamut of the sales and marketing discipline from her early days in MICE and leisure sales in the UK to a 12-year tenure with Jumeirah,

Her notable achievements include gaining a strong footfold with major consortia and forging strong commercial partnerships with international high level influencers and corporate decision makers.  

During her five-year tenure with Raffles Dubai, she successfully positioned the hotel as a leading luxury property, where it was ranked number one in terms of global performance for FHRI and spearheaded the business strategy for sister resort Raffles Seychelles.

A graduate of the UK’s prestigious University of Surrey with a BA in hotel management, Wheatley is also an active contributor to the local business community as a member of the board of the British Business Group in Dubai. She is also a founding member of the Capital Club, a private club for Dubai’s corporate elite.

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About Fairmont The Palm

Located on the Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island shaped in the form of a palm tree, Fairmont The Palm is the perfect luxurious family resort in Dubai that offers 381 lavish rooms and suites with modern décor and Arabic touches overlooking the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai Skyline. A choice of dining experiences await the guests including the Brazilian restaurant “Frevo”, the Mediterranean seafood restaurant “Seagrill on 25° Restaurant & Lounge” and the international dining outlet “Flow Kitchen”. Fairmont The Palm presents a wide range of leisure and outdoor activities including four outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pools, 800-metres private white-sand beach and a full-service state-of-the-art health club with personal training and group exercise classes. Children between the age of 18 months and 15 years, will be entertained with fun and educational activities in the indoors “Fairmont Falcons Kids Club”. This hotel presents eight event areas ideally suited for social functions, corporate events and exclusive wedding parties.  Fairmont The Palm is only 25 minutes from the Dubai International Airport and close to the main shopping malls and local attractions in the city.

For more information, please visit fairmont.com/palm-dubai

About Fairmont

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts connects guests to the very best of its destinations, providing travelers with memorable travel experiences, thoughtful and attentive service and luxury hotels that are truly unforgettable. Each Fairmont property reflects the locale’s energy, culture and history through locally inspired cuisine, spirited bars and lounges and distinctive design and decor. With more than 70 hotels globally, and many more in development, the Fairmont collection boasts some of the most iconic hotels in the world, including The Plaza in New York, The Savoy in London, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Québec City. Fairmont is owned by FRHI Hotels & Resorts, a leading global hotel company that operates more than 130 hotels and branded residential properties under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. For more information or reservations, please visit fairmont.com.