Garfield JonesChief Executive Officer

Hailing from South Wales, Garfield Jones has more than 35 years’ experience in the hotel industry, working in top hotels in the UK, Africa and the Middle East. He joined the company in 1995 and held various management roles in the Gulf Hotel before transferring to the corporate office initially as Director of Operations, then moving up to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer role before being appointed as Chief Executive Officer in 2017. Mr. Jones has overseen much of the Group’s expansion projects over the past twenty years which have included the addition of 5 hotels and residences, a commercial laundry (Gulf Hotel Laundry Services) and numerous additions to the Gulf Hotel’s portfolio including the Gulf Convention Centre, Gulf Spa and the opening of 6 restaurants.

Mr Jones has also been appointed to the board of directors of associate Bahrain Family Leisure Company as Managing Director and holds directorships with Paradise Reality Holding Company (owners of Ocean Paradise Resort, Zanzibar), Bahrain Airport Hotel Company and GHG Colombo (Sri Lanka). He is also a board member of youth development organization INJAZ Bahrain and Skal International 370 Bahrain.

Charbel SarkisChief Financial Officer

Charbel holds an MBA in International Business from the University of Melbourne Australia, MCIPS Diploma from the UK, MFC from the USA, he is a Licensed Arbitrator from the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre; coupled with professional studies and conglomerate experience, in Projects' Management, Information Technology, and Property Development.

He was previously assigned as Advisor to EWA, General Manager for RFM of Reef Island, Deputy Chairman for a large Kuwaiti family group and others in UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. Before moving in 2006 to the GCC, he sharpened his skills and strengths in M&A, DD and Business Engineering in the MENA and Central African regions.

He brings along thirty years of international nine digits’ business value exposure, within a variety of industries, mostly in Hospitality, Real Estate & Facility Management, ERPs & Online Collaboration Systems, and Logistics & Supply Chain; his roles ranged from leading Mergers & Acquisitions, General Management, Financial Management, Advisory, Strategy Development, Business Modelling, and Shared Services Centers.

On the other hand, Charbel constantly dedicates time and effort to the Lebanese Diaspora activities in the GCC and North America.

Fares YactineGeneral Manager Gulf Hotel Bahrain & Vice President Middle East and Africa

A Lebanese Canadian, Graduate from the Swiss Hotel Management School Les Roches with over 24 years of experience in the hotel industry. He gained his experience working with multinational hotel chains such as Melia and IHG in Spain, FRHI in Canada, Habtoor Hospitality in Lebanon being a member of the pre-opening team of Metropolitan Palace, Habtoor Grand and Habtoor land Before joining the Gulf Hotel Bahrain from 2007 till 2011. He pursued his career with ACCOR hotels and resort as a member of the opening team of Sofitel Bahrain holding the post of Hotel Manager until 2013 then was assigned to lead the team as General Manager of Sofitel Al Khobar until 2018. He re-joined the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & SPA in 2018 as the General Manager. In November 2019, he was promoted to the post of Area General Manager overlooking the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & SPA, Gulf Executive Residence Juffair, The K Hotel, Asdal Gulf Inn and the Gulf Court Hotel Business Bay Dubai in addition to the Bahrain Airport Hotel, which opened in March 2021. In January 2022 he was promoted to the post of General Manager – Vice President Middle East & Africa with regional responsibilities overseeing all owned, franchised, operated hotels and other hospitality operations within Middle East and Africa region (MEA).

Shaheed ElaiwiDirector of Finance & Board Secretary

Shaheed Elaiwi has a Masters in Commerce from Bhopal University and B.com from Delhi University. Shaheed started his career in the hospitality industry in 1992 with the Hilton International as management trainee and made his way to assistant FC then promoted to the role of Financial Controller in 1996.

When Hilton moved from Bahrain end of 2005, Shaheed led the team in the final closing of the books and successfully handing over the hotel to the new operator then proceed for the pre-opening of a new Hilton hotel in Beirut/Lebanon. In mid-2006 moved to work in the main office of Hilton International in Dubai in the role of Area Internal Auditor. In July 16th 2007 joined The Gulf Hotel as Financial Controller and currently hold Director of Finance and Board Secretary in Gulf Hotels Group.

Roshan TennakoonTechnical Services Director

Over 30 years of experience in hospitality industry, having worked in Sri Lanka and Middle East held various key positions in international hotel chains such as Ramada, Le Meridien, IHG and Accor Hotels.

Mr. Tennakoon has vast knowledge and experience in Facility Engineering, Renovations and MEP Projectsincluding Fire Life Safety, Sustainable Development and Waste Management.

He is a pioneer member of pre-opening five-starhotels in Sri Lanka, UAE, Doha and Bahrain.

Rochelle CastillejosDirector of Revenue, Distribution & Optimization

In April 2015, Gulf Hotels Group appointed Rochelle Castillejos to the newly created role of Director of Revenue, Distribution & Optimization, based in Bahrain. She brings with her a total of 17 years experience in the combined fields of revenue management, sales & marketing, and optimizing hotel systems, having overseen around 55 hotels across the American, European, Mediterranean, Asia Pacific and Middle East regions throughout her career.

Shuvendu BakshiDirector of Projects

Mr. Shuvendu Bakshi PMP, is an architect and a Project Management Professional who brings with him 25 years of experience in serving the building industry. His architectural education is from Bengal Engineering College under the University of Calcutta, India; and PMP from PMI, Pennsylvania. He had initially worked in the design offices of well-known consultants – designing hotels, palaces, religious buildings, luxury villas and apartments. Later he moved into Project Management and Construction Management and has successfully managed the design and construction of numerous hotels and other commercial and residential buildings. He had been working in different countries of the Middle Eastern region for the past 23 years.

Mr. Bakshi started working with the Gulf Hotels Group in June 2015 in the position of Director of Projects. He is entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing all construction related activities including Architecture, Interior Design and Civil projects that are undertaken by the Gulf Hotels Group. Mr. Bakshi manages his own team and also looks after all procurements relating to construction and refurbishment works. His involvement and responsibility ranges from creating the initial project charter to handing over of the completed building.

Amit PuriDirector of Human Resources & Development

Amit Puri has been appointed Director of Human Resources & Development for Gulf Hotels Group. Prior to joining GHG, Amit has worked with Marriott International since 2014 and brings with him over 17 years of experience in core facets of Human Resources and Talent Management.

Amit hails from India but since young age, he periodically spent years residing overseas with his family in Europe and Asia that developed his interest in hospitality and holding part time jobs during his school years gave him a wider perspective of people and culture. He saw the opportunity to combine his zeal for travel and hospitality that led him to his university studies in Hotel Management. Amit commenced his career in 2001 with Food & Beverage, Hyatt International, before discovering his passion in Learning, Development & Human Resources Management. He has worked across India & Middle East, facilitating various training and HR roles for hotels and contract services establishments. Amit moved from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain in 2013 with Kempinski Group as the Director of People Services soon after the opening of their hotels Grand & Ixir, Bahrain City Centre. Amit played a pivotal role in driving organisational change when these hotels were converted to Westin & Le Meridien brands in 2014.

Besides his love for travel, Amit is an avid technology enthusiast and is a keen student of Middle Eastern culture.

Darvi VargheseDirector of Procurement

An Indian national with Bachelor of Science, over 30 years of hospitality experience including 20 years of Senior and Managerial level. Darvi first earned a diploma in procurement from AHL&A, followed by many procurement certifications including MCIPS from Charted Institute of Procurement & Supply UK and PMP® from Project Management Institute USA. In his role, Darvi is responsible for providing overall procurement leadership ensuring that the best procurement practices are withheld across GHG group. The key focus is to assist and support existing hotels procurement operation, new build projects, formulate global/regional procurement synergies, contracting, supplier management and providing leadership for procurement teams. Furthermore works closely with executive leaders and division heads, contractors, corporate departments and suppliers.

Darvi started his hospitality journey back in 1991 and worked with many local and international hotel brands like ACCOR, FAIRMONT & RAFFLES HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, NCT&H, ISHRAQ, IHG, ROTANA, SHERATON, SOUTHERN SUN HOTELS & RESORTS, EMAAR, HAMRA HOTELS MANAGEMENT, HYATT, KUWAIT HOTELS COMPANY and TAJ group of hotels. Darvi was also an integral part of hotels openings and rebranding with FAIRMONT & RAFFLES HOTELS INTERNATIONAL across Europe, Middle East, Africa and India region.

Fatima BahloolDirector of Marketing and Communications

A Bahraini national, Fatima is a Communications professional with 13 years’ experience in the fields of Strategic Marketing, Advertising and Branding. Fatima holds an MBA (CIM) from London South Bank University in Marketing Communications and a BA (Hons) in Corporate Communication from Richmond University, London. Prior to joining GHG, she served various senior positions in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, UAE. She is now appointed to the newly created role of Director of Marketing and Communications in the Group to overlook and manage its vast business portfolio.