January 2012 - Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is pleased to welcome Michel Koopman as the newest member of its management team. He will serve as the Director of Operations in the Middle East for Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas as well as General Manager for Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, opening in 2012.

As a key figure for Anantara, his responsibilities will include overseeing all of Anantara’s UAE- based hotels and resorts – Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort in the Liwa Desert, two hours outside of Abu Dhabi; Desert Islands Resort & Spa on Si Bani Yas Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf; as well as the new Al Yamm and Al Sahel Luxury Lodges, both scheduled to open on Sir Bani Yas Island in 2012. Michel will also lead the launch of Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa , Anantara’s first city hotel in the Middle East.

With his proven track record in the hospitality industry along with strong leadership skills, Koopman will be crucial for Anantara’s development in the Middle East.

Michel joins Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas from InterContinental Hotels Group where was Regional General Manager for several of the Group’s properties across China. Over a four-year period, he was also responsible for a number of openings, including the Holiday Inn Express Zhabei, Crowne Plaza Century Park, and the 566-room InterContinetal Shanghai Puxi Hotel.

Michel’s experience in the hospitality industry spans 27 years at hotels in Europe, Australia, and Asia. He began his career at the Amsterdam Hilton in 1984 and continued to work with Hilton Hotels in Europe before moving to the Hyatt Group in Asia and Australia.

Michel graduated from The Higher Hotelschool in The Hague, Holland, in 1984, and gained additional hospitality qualifications at the prestigious Cornell University in New York. Michel speaks a number of languages including English, German, French, and Dutch, which enhance his in-depth understanding of diverse cultures.