Axel Bethke Appointed GM at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

One of Abu Dhabi’s most popular hotels, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara is situated in the Liwa Desert in the Al Gharbia region. It’s built like a traditional fortress in the midst of the legendary Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert in the world. Camel-trekking, falconry, pool, spa and even tennis courts… the resort offers an array of activities and amenities. (For Luxury Travel Advisor’s first-hand account, see the article “Arabian Nights in Abu Dhabi.”)

In recent news from Abu Dhabi, there’s a new General Manager at the helm of Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. German-born Axel Bethke has 25 years of international hospitality experience, most recently at a large luxury hotel (471 rooms) in Chengdu, China. With an Executive MBA degree along with an MBA diploma in tourism in France, Bethke has sought to understand hotel operations as a whole, working in various departments (Food & Beverage manager positions, Executive assistant manager) throughout his career.  Along the way, he has worked in China, Jordan, Germany, Austria and the USA.

As quoted in the official press release, Bethke said, “This is an incredible opportunity. I am thrilled to be working in one of the most renowned desert resorts in the world and I look forward to working with the team to enhance that reputation.”

In other recent news from Anantara, the upscale Bangkok-based brand opened its first resort in Europe: Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort in the sun-kissed Algarve region in Portugal. For more details, see our feature story “Portugal on the Rise.”