Dubai: The property developer Azizi is going deep into the hospitality space and plans to bring in a global brand for its project. It will take on a two-track strategy - develop or acquire hotel real estate that Azizi will then own and manage.

To this end, Michael Zager has been named the new Chief Operating Officer - Hospitality. Zager previously held senior positions at four- and five-star hotel groups in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Marriott, and InterContinental Hotels Group. At the latter, he was the vice-president in charge of the franchised and managed portfolio.