The AAIMHI board is happy to announce the appointment of our IMHI Ambassadors in Dubai!

Clément Merveille (IMHI 2018) is the Director Development at Armani Hotels and Resorts.

Based in Dubai, Clement looks after Armani Hotels and Resorts’ strategic growth. Tasked with increasing the group’s footprint globally, Clement leads transactions from sourcing through to execution.

Clement previously led the development arm of Choice Hotels in EMEA and worked for Radisson Hotel Group alongside Elie Younes (IMHI 2001), Ramsay Rankoussi (IMHI 2011) and Elie Milky (IMHI 2007), overseeing the underwriting, strategic planning, investment analysis and asset management activities for all type of deal structuring. 

Clement holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA specialized in Hotel Real Estate Finance and Asset Management from the ESSEC Business School (IMHI) in Paris.

Christophe Hobeika (IMHI 2012) is the Executive Director of Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) Hotels & Resorts Division. Bringing 17 years of experience to the role, spanning from hotel operations, marketing, communications and commercial strategy, Christophe is a specialist in new openings, with a passion for brand operations and guest experiences. 

As Executive Director, he is responsible for the launches, positioning, commercial planning, and brand operations of brands under the Hotels & Resorts Division such as METT Hotels & Resorts, SHG’s first venture into the hotel industry, and the Social Living CollectionTM, the Group’s curated selection of top-tier lifestyle hotels and resorts located around the world’s most unique locations. 

In 2021, Christophe spearheaded the opening of the 103-room METT Hotel & Beach Resort Bodrum. Less than a year later, through his careful strategic approach, the property gained worldwide recognition, being included in TIME’s annual list of the World’s Greatest Places and was named Favourite New International Hotel by Condé Nast Traveller Middle East at the Readers’ Choice Awards. Following a successful launch, Christophe led the brand, guest experience and commercial efforts of SHG’s hotel expansion in opening a further two hotels in 2023: METT Hotel & Beach Resort Marbella which received in a record time the highest guest satisfaction scores in the destination as well as the Yalikavak Marina Hotel by the Social Living CollectionTM. He is currently working on pioneering new hotels and resorts concepts as SHG expands its hotel platform, developing towards Asia, Middle East and Europe. 

Born in Lebanon, Christophe grew up in Paris and has since traveled around the world andworked in the UK, Spain, Turkey and the UAE in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, for prestigious international hospitality brands and independent boutique hotels. 

Before joining SHG in 2019, Christophe led the Digital Strategy and Marketing pre-opening of Jumeirah Group's portfolio of nine hotels in Dubai which include the iconic Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, and Madinat Jumeirah. He worked for the group for seven years and throughout that time opened four new hotels and repositioned two flagship properties. 

An MBA Graduate in International Hospitality Management from ESSEC Business School in Paris, he has also held multiple panels around travels, holds a Real Estate Investment and Asset Management certificate from Cornell University and is part of the board of directors for the Hotel Show 2024, a Dubai-based conference platform and hub for the hospitality industry.

Our Ambassadors play a crucial role in promoting the IMHI program and ESSEC, fostering a sense of community among IMHI alumni and organizing gathering and events. Their dedication and enthusiasm will contribute significantly to the success and growth of IMHI  and to promote our IMHI program internationally.

We thank Christophe and Clément for their amazing contribution!