Hospitality owner, operator and investment company Minor Hotels has named Ramine Behnam VP of development for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Behnam’s career in hospitality development, operations, consulting and asset management includes senior roles with JLL Middle East and Africa in Dubai and the M.A. Kharafi Group in development, acquisitions and asset management, based out of Cairo. Prior to joining Minor Hotels, Behnam held the position of Director of Development with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide--subsequently Marriott International--Middle East and Africa, in Dubai.
Behnam graduated the Marriott International EMEA management program, having successfully completed a two-year operations management tenure with the group in London.
“We are delighted to welcome Ramine on board and look forward to working together, driving Minor Hotels’ growth in key destinations across Europe, Middle East and Africa,” said James Kaplan, SVP of development in a statement.
Behnam will be responsible for continuing to drive strategic growth for Minor Hotels in key destinations across the EMEA region. Minor Hotels currently has a pipeline of properties under development in the region, including in the UAE (Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah), Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Mauritius and the Maldives.
A French national, Benham is based at Minor Hotels’ regional office in Dubai.
Minor Hotel Group currently has a portfolio of 163 hotels and resorts in 26 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe and South America.