General manager takes charge at Fujairah

Goerdt nominates UAE as ‘favourite’ posting

Le Meridien has announced the appointment of Brigette Goerdt as general manager of its new Le Meridien Aqqa Beach Resort Fujairah, scheduled to open in August 2002.

Currently acting as director of operations, rooms division, at Le Meridien Dubai, Goerdt initially came to the United Arab Emirates in August 1979 when she was with the opening team as a housekeeper at the hotel.

Her first posting as general manager was Le Meridien Hamburg in 1988, and she then moved to the exclusive Hotel Bristol in Warsaw to open that property before returning to Germany to work in Hanover and then Cologne.

Having worked in nine countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Goerdt said the UAE remained her absolute favourite: "Dubai began to develop when I was here between 1979 and 1982, and it was a very exciting time for those of us involved in the hospitality industry then.

"Now, I am fortunate to have an opportunity to participate in the development of another emirate – Fujairah – which I believe has great potential as a resort destination in future."

The luxury beach resort project, a joint venture between Emirates and the Government of Fujairah, is aiming to jump-start tourism in this emirate on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, focusing on its secluded beach coastline just 90 minutes’ drive from Dubai.

Government officials there are already fine-tuning infrastructure projects to enhance the unspoilt emirate’s natural beauty and cultural attractions – where mountains, waterfalls and oases, and long sandy beaches, provide a natural complement to the cosmopolitan attractions of Dubai.