InterContinental UK operating boss moves to Dubai
InterContinental Hotels Group UK & Ireland chief operating officer John Bamsey has been named COO for the Middle East and Africa.
He will take up the Dubai-based post on April 1 and will continue to report to IHG’s managing director EMEA Richard Hartman.
Bamsey has been with the group since 2001 and has more than 12 years of senior management experience in the hotel industry with companies including Hilton and Le Meridien.
During his time in the UK & Ireland division of IHG, John also presided over the sale and management of more than 80 hotels that the company formally owned and now manages on behalf of investors.
Hartman said: “In 2003 John moved to our UK and Ireland operation and in that time he has completely transformed the region into a vibrant, profitable and exciting operation. An announcement will be made shortly relating to John’s replacement in the role of chief operating officer UK & Ireland.”
Bamsey said: “Having been a regular visitor to Dubai throughout the past 10 years, I am looking forward to being a part of the dynamic growth and excitement of the city.
“We have a number of major developments in the region including the opening of three properties at Dubai Festival City, the re-opening of the InterContinentals in Abu Dhabi and Muscat this year after extensive refurbishment, as well as the CityStars project in Cairo.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt