World’s largest independent hotel brand strengthens its sales presence in the Middle East

SUMMARY: Preferred Hotels & Resorts has appointed Çağlar Göncüler as Director, Global Sales – Middle East, based in Dubai. With almost 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and e-commerce across luxury hotel brands, Çağlar brings a well-established network across the leisure, corporate, and group segments, together with deep knowledge of the region as a source market and of the evolving aspirations of the Middle Eastern traveller.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – October x, 2026: Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent luxury hotel brand and a global provider of sales, marketing, and distribution services to member hotels, has announced a new leadership position in the Middle East. Strengthening its global sales team, Çağlar Göncüler has joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts as Director, Global Sales – Middle East. Based in Dubai, Çağlar will strengthen the brand’s presence across the region and support the commercial success of its member hotels.

“We are delighted to welcome Çağlar to our team,”. “His depth of experience across luxury hotels and resorts, together with his well-established relationships throughout the Middle East, will be invaluable as we continue to grow our presence in the region and enhance the success of our member hotels.”

Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President for Preferred Hotels & Resort

In this role, Çağlar will draw on his extensive network of accounts across the Middle East to drive sales for member hotels in the leisure, corporate, and group segments. With many years of experience in the region, he brings deep market knowledge, a strong grasp of its dynamics as a source market, and a keen understanding of the evolving aspirations of the Middle Eastern traveller. This appointment also coincides with the continued growth of Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio across the MENA region, including notable additions such as Al Habtoor Palace Dubai and Wynn Al Marjan Island in the UAE, as well as a strategic partnership with Encora Collection in Egypt.

With almost 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and e-commerce, Çağlar is a seasoned sales professional and a strong strategic thinker with a capable, hands-on approach to implementation. His career includes roles with Aman Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Kempinski, and Radisson Hotel Group. Having worked across a wide spectrum of luxury hotel and resort segments, he understands the differing commercial requirements of various property types and has the skill set to deliver simultaneous outcomes for diverse asset portfolios. Across on-property and above-property leadership roles, his career has also been shaped by luxury source markets worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and CIS, and Turkey, adding a broader global perspective to his Middle East expertise. His substantial knowledge of luxury consortia programmes also gives him a clear understanding of the expectations and travel needs of today’s luxury traveller.

Media interested in interviews are invited to contact Sarah Maxwell, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Europe and SAMEA at smaxwell@preferredhotels.com.