The company said Silva, who came to Jumeriah from Four Seasons in January, has tasked Ellis "with developing new restaurant concepts, attracting and upskilling culinary talent, and enhancing existing restaurants to industry-leading levels."
Jumeirah this week announced the hiring of the Michelin Hotel and Restaurant Guide's former global director, Michael Ellis, as its chief culinary officer. The hiring, it said, is first step in new CEO Jose Silva's vision of making dining not only a core pillar of the of the Jumeirah experience but also its "strongest market differentiator."
The company said Silva, who came to Jumeriah from Four Seasons in January, has tasked Ellis "with developing new restaurant concepts, attracting and upskilling culinary talent, and enhancing existing restaurants to industry-leading levels."
Food has become a centerpiece of luxury travel in general, with everyone from hotels to river cruises adopting farm-to-table, hyperlocal menu options and meal-sharing services like EatWith and CuisineBlue that offer travellers the opportunity to take cooking lessons and or eat meals in the homes of locals.
With the hiring of Ellis, Silva said Jumeirah is preparing for "a step-change" in its food and beverage strategy that will "shake the norms, drive creativity and reinvigorate its gastronomic experiences, reinforcing Jumeirah as a national champion."
An advocate for the restaurant industry and an American with global experience, Ellis "has an unmatched understanding of destination restaurants," the company said.
"Michael and I share a deep passion for food and dining experiences," Silva said. "He is a renowned epicure with 40 years' experience, and a champion of food innovators, chef talent and culinary excellence. He has spent his lifetime championing extraordinary food with absolute dedication and has been responsible for introducing dining and food experiences to new audiences across the globe."
Ellis joins the company at a time of substantial change. Jumeirah Group, a member of Dubai Holding, operates and manages 15 properties in the Middle East, five properties in Europe and two in Asia. It has 18 other properties under construction around the globe. The company was led for 18 years by CEO Gerald Lawless, who left in 2016. He was replaced by Stefan Leser, who was there for just a year and is now CEO of Langham Hospitality Group.
Ellis said he is excited to be part of Silva's "bold and exciting vision to energize the hospitality industry."
"The kitchen is where revolutions happen, and as a creative culinary thinker I am delighted to have an opportunity to test my own, and the team's, drive for culinary innovation," Ellis said. "Jumeirah is synonymous with Dubai, a city that has made the impossible possible, which led the world in many firsts, and I am excited by this zealous can-do spirit."
Source: Travel Weekly USA