IHG appoints first-ever Omani GM at Crowne Plaza Duqm

The Crowne Plaza Duqm has appointed Yousuf Al Rahbi as General Manager, making him the first Omani to assume a GM role across all IHG Hotels and Resorts in the sultanate.

IHG says the move reflects its commitment to local talent in the hospitality industry, with Al Rahbi completing the group’s in-house Journey to General Manager leadership programme.

Al Rahbi joined IHG in 2015 as Director of Human Resources at InterContinental Muscat, becoming Area Director of HR for Oman before embarking on a change in direction to Hotel Manager at InterContinental Muscat. 

He was then seconded to Duqm, which sits around 500 kilometres south of Muscat on Oman’s east coast, where he proved his leadership credentials.

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Rajesh Chauhan, Head of HR for India, the Middle East, and Africa at IHG, described the milestone appointment as an “important achievement” for both IHG and the hospitality sector in Oman.

“Developing and empowering local talent remains central to our strategy, and we are committed to creating platforms and programmes that enable local professionals to shape the future of hospitality in their own country.”

With mild weather year-round, access to the Indian Ocean and unspoiled beaches and fishing villages, Duqm is an appealing destination.

While Duqm may not be as familiar to travel professionals as Muscat and Salalah, it did hit headlines earlier this year for space tourism.