Marriott International (Marriott.com) has appointed Richard Collins as Regional Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa. In this new role, Collins oversees the company’s managed operations in the region and will be based from the company’s office in Cape Town. He takes up his new duties following the announcement of the retirement of Volker Heiden, effective from the end of March 2022.

Collins has over 30 years of hospitality experience and is a 20-year veteran of Marriott International. A graduate of the Shannon College of Hotel Management in his native Ireland, Collins began his career with Marriott International in Scotland at the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club in Edinburgh in 2001, before managing the Marriott Druids Glen Hotel and Country Club near Dublin.

Richard moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2013 where he served as General Manager of the first JW Marriott hotel in Dubai. After a successful period at the JW Marriott Hotel Dubai, Richard then took over the management of the Ritz Carlton, Dubai, where within three years the property achieved unprecedented success in growing its business, profits,… Associate Engagement, RevPAR Index, and Voice of Customer Scores. .

In 2018, Collins was appointed to his first multi-property role as Regional General Manager Abu Dhabi for Marriott International, during which time he also managed the successful transition of all Starwood Legacy properties to the Marriott network.

Marriott International’s current portfolio in the Sub-Saharan Africa region includes nearly 100 properties (managed and franchised) and more than 12,000 rooms in 16 markets.

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