General Manager Appointments at Anantara Hotels in France and Portugal

Dark/Light Mode (24/11/23)  Thailand's Minor Hotels has appointed Gaudéric Harang as General Manager of the Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel in France and Wael Soueid as GM of the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal.

“Wael and Gaudéric are seasoned leaders with a proven track record of driving revenue growth, guest satisfaction and operational excellence,” said Giles Selves, Senior Vice President of Luxury Hotels for Minor Hotels Europe. “Both bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our properties in Europe, and I am confident that they will take their respective hotels to new heights of success. I look forward to working with them to elevate our product and nurture the next generation of hoteliers to maintain the Anantara legacy.”

Gaudéric Harang

Gaudéric, a French national, has a wealth of experience in the luxury hospitality industry, having worked with Anantara and Minor Hotels for over five years in various destinations, most recently as GM of Anantara Sir Bani Yas Resorts in the UAE.

He first joined Anantara in 2016 as Resident Manager for Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli and Naladhu Private Island in Maldives. Shortly after getting a promotion to General Manager, Gaudéric moved to Northern Thailand as General Manager at Minor Hotels’ flagship property Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, where he pioneered the “Jungle Bubbles” concept, allowing guests to sleep under the stars surrounded by rescued elephants.

Gaudéric holds an MBA in Hospitality Management at ESSEC Business School in Paris and enjoys extreme sports, cars, motorcycles and motor racing.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be part of Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel, a landmark property in the heart of the French Riviera. This hotel is a true gem, combining the elegance and charm of a historic building with the contemporary design and comfort of a modern luxury hotel,” said Gaudéric. “I am excited to work with the talented team here and to offer our guests an unforgettable experience of Anantara’s signature hospitality and service. I am also very happy to be back in my native France and to help Anantara’s expansion in Europe, a market with great potential and opportunities for the brand.”

Wael Soueid

Wael Soueid, also a French national, joins Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in Portugal from Anantara Tozeur Sahara Resort in Tunisia, where he was credited with creating innovative guest experiences such as the Berber Nights experiences and horse riding as well as introducing a Green Zone, offering guests a chance to immerse themselves in the desert landscape and culture.

In addition to holding various executive positions at properties in the UAE between 2011 and 2019, such as Area General Manager for Abu Dhabi properties including the iconic Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort & Spa by Anantara, one of the brand’s flagship properties in the Liwa Desert, and at Paramount Hotel Dubai and Marriott International, Wael served as Executive Director at Infinity des Lumières between 2021 and 2022, lending his creativity and vision to establish the project as the largest digital art centre in the Middle East.

Wael holds a Bachelor’s Degree from International Tourism Institute of Toulouse France, and is passionate about polo, endurance horse riding, and languages.

“I am delighted to join Anantara Vilamoura at the time when the much-loved property is launching an exciting new concept across two distinct areas – one designed especially for family fun, and the other exclusively for adults to enjoy peaceful privacy and romance,” said Wael. “I look forward to exploring the charms of Faro and working with the wonderful local team on enhancing the guest journey and delivering the authentic luxury that Anantara is known for.”

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