CHRISTIAN Ruge has been appointed as the new general manager at Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski in Riyadh. Ruge brings 26 years of experience in the hospitality industry with him into his new position.

Ruge began his career with InterContinental Frankfurt in Germany, followed by various leadership positions in revenue, front office and executive office operations in New York and Germany.

He continued his career path with French luxury hotel brand Sofitel from 2004 to 2012 in Germany, Poland and Egypt, where he held several general manager positions. He joined Kempinski in 2012 as a hotel manager for Kempinski Hotel Airport in Munich, Germany, in 2014 as general manager at Kempinski Hotel Taiyuan, China and most recently held the general manager position at Kempinski Hotel Ajman, UAE.

In February 2018, Ruge took on the assignment of Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski as its general manager, and will henceforth be overseeing the award-winning Kempinski property in Riyadh.

Ruge graduated in 2003 from Cornell University, USA, with certificates in Strategic Management and Rooms Management, followed by the MBA in General Management at the University of Wales/Fern Uni Hagen in 2010.

“I am honored to be a part of and to support this fantastic team of hoteliers, where everyone is bringing in the best of their culture, and I am thrilled to be working in this interesting, fast-developing environment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to witness the continuous success and achievements of Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski, Riyadh,” said Ruge on his appointment. — SG