Dorchester Collection announces the appointment of Richard Alexander as general manager for The Lana, Dubai, effective immediately. In addition to managing the brand’s first hotel in the Middle East, Alexander will also oversee operations at Dorchester Collection’s three luxury residential developments in Dubai.
A seasoned hotelier with global experience of launching and establishing new hotels, Alexander joins Dorchester Collection following five years in general manager roles in the Bahamas. No stranger to the UAE, he was previously the general manager at Jumeirah Al Naseem in Dubai and spent a further seven years in senior leadership roles at a number of Jumeirah’s other properties.
Richard Alexander is a British national and holds a BA (Hons) in hospitality administration/management from Bournemouth University and brings over three decades of global hospitality experience to his role.
Set to open in September 2023, The Lana, Dubai is one of the most anticipated hotel openings in the UAE. Located in the heart of Downtown Dubai overlooking the vibrant Business Bay area, The Lana will be opening with 225 guestrooms and suites. Designed by the award-winning architects Foster + Partners and with interiors by Parisian duo Gilles & Boissier, this new Dorchester Collection property will bring guests an unparalleled ultra-luxury experience in Dubai. The hotel is operated under a management contract with developer OMNYIAT, the visionary real estate development group.
Commenting on the appointment, Christopher Cowdray, chief executive officer, said: “The opening of The Lana, Dubai is a new chapter and a wonderful addition to Dorchester Collection’s portfolio alongside the expansion of our residential offering into the Middle East. I am confident that Richard’s wealth of global experience, as well as his prior leadership experience in Dubai, will be an invaluable asset for the opening of the hotel”.
Speaking about his new role, Richard Alexander said: “I am delighted to be joining Dorchester Collection at such a pivotal time for the brand and to be leading Dorchester Collection’s first opening in the Middle East with a dynamic, passionate team as we build the anticipation for our opening next year.”