History was made in the hotel industry recently when Rezidor Hotel Group appointed the first ever Saudi Arabian female general manager.

Maram Kokandi will lead the new Park Inn by Radisson Jeddah Madinah Road, which is scheduled to open later this year. The appointment is part of the company’s “Saudi Vision 2030” strategy, which was launched last year with the aim of enhancing the role of Saudi women in the kingdom’s hotels.

“We are very proud to be part of this historic appointment. We are committed to empowering our women in leadership at Rezidor, and this announcement is a momentous achievement, not only for our group but for the hospitality industry worldwide,” said Wolfgang M. Neumann, Rezidor’s president & CEO. “We are confident that this milestone… will inspire other women across the region to pursue their career aspirations in hospitality.”

Ms Kokandi studied hospitality management in the UK before moving back to the Middle East and taking up various hospitality roles in Saudi Arabia.

Rezidor’s efforts to employ more Saudi women have progressed rapidly; having had just six female employees in Saudi Arabia in 2014, the company now employs 84, including 12 in leadership positions.