RIYADH — AMAALA, the ultra-luxury destination located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, has appointed hospitality industry veteran Victor Clavell to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Clavell joins AMAALA’s senior leadership team, working closely with AMAALA’s Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Naples to bring the destination to life over the coming years.

With an innate understanding of the luxury hospitality business, Clavell steps into a role that will see him lead the operations division across the destination and its three communities — Triple Bay, The Coastal Development, and The Island.

With over 30 years of proven excellence at world-leading brands, Clavell brings with him expertise and passion that has established him as a global authority and industry thought-leader.

Over the years, he has guided the openings of numerous top-tier properties across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Bulgari, W, and EDITION hotels. Clavell is well-known for his ability to turnaround properties and create clear distinction from the competition — a skill that will be crucial in establishing and growing AMAALA as a global destination.

Commenting on the appointment, AMAALA CEO Naples said: “As we continue AMAALA’s development journey, Victor’s unparalleled knowledge, stellar reputation and proven ability will prove invaluable in the acceleration and delivery of our operations across the destination.

“His extensive background in the development of iconic properties across the globe perfectly positions him to lead AMAALA’s operations and shepherd the next stages of growth.”

Clavell holds a post-graduate degree in International Hotel Management from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from the University of Barcelona, Spain. Clavell has also completed Harvard Business School’s program in Executive Education, Strategy Building & Sustaining Competitive Advantage. A natural linguist, Clavell has a native command of English, Spanish, and Catalan. He is also fluent in French and has mastered conversational Italian.

On being appointed to his new role, Clavell commented, “AMAALA will set new standards for thoughtful luxury, guest experience and sustainable practices. I look forward to working with some of the best talent in the industry as we forge ahead in the realization of this ambitious vision.” — SG