Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Paul Arnold as vice president of development of the company’s global development team for the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean.

In this newly created position, Arnold will be responsible for leading Rosewood’s expansion initiatives within the MEAIO regions, as well as providing support for development activities in Europe.

“Paul has spent the past seven years in the Middle East and brings extensive hospitality experience, a strong industry network and deep regional market knowledge to his new position,” said Alex Alt, senior vice president of global development and strategy for Rosewood.

“His experience and wealth of knowledge make him the ideal candidate to build upon the success of Rosewood’s Saudi Arabian properties as well as drive the opening of Rosewood Abu Dhabi and Rosewood Dubai hotels.

“We look forward to watching Rosewood’s growth and penetration in these regions accelerate under his leadership.”

Arnold joins Rosewood following 12 years working globally with Ernst & Young, five of which were spent in the United States before relocating to the Dubai office where he helped establish and eventually became responsible for leading the company’s real estate, hospitality and leisure advisory services practice across the Middle East and North Africa region.

Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Arnold began his career in the hotel industry by serving in operational roles at several hotel properties within the United States.

He is a graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. 

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts currently operates three hotels in the Middle East – Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel and Hotel Al Khozama in Riyadh and Rosewood Corniche in Jeddah. 

Rosewood Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open in the summer of 2012, following the recent appointment of Luigi Romaniello to managing director, while Rosewood Dubai will become operational in late 2012. 

City.Mobi

Also in the Middle East, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Dubai.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Dubai.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.