Seychellois Doreen D’Souza appointed to the top role of Resort Manager for Hilton Seychelles

Doreen D’Souza has been appointed Resort Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa. She becomes the first Seychellois and African woman to be appointed to the top role by the resort.

Prior to her promotion, D’Souza was the HR & Training Manager for Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and DoubleTree by Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa.

D’Souza has 27 years of expertise in the hospitality industry and has been working for Hilton since 2006.

“I am grateful to the Hilton family for helping me to hone my skills over the years and making me eligible for the role. It is a true privilege to be one of the first Seychellois and African female on the islands to be given a top managerial position in a leading international hotel chain,” she said.

Built among lush tropical foliage, DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa is ideally located at Anse Forbans, on the south coast of the Seychelles’ main island.

Assuming her new role as the resort manager, D’Souza plans to focus on creating more unique experiences for families and groups to enjoy in the resort’s private location.

“I am honoured to be entrusted with the position of resort manager at DoubleTree Allamanda, and will ensure that it remains the most hospitable and welcoming resort in the South of Mahé,” she said.

Doreen D’Souza’s appointment is one of the first measures taken by Hilton properties in the Seychelles to raise the number of women in managerial positions, after participating in a major conference entitled Women in Leadership, held last month.

Gregory Thierion, General Manager for Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa and DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa said: “Doreen has always been hard working and focused on results, with the impressive ability to support and develop the team. We take pride in the fact that she will be our first Seychellois Resort Manager, and the first woman in the Africa and Indian Ocean region to get this title and responsibility.”

D’Souza is considered a Hilton veteran. She first joined Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa in 2006 as training coordinator and was confirmed as training manager after six months. She has also worked in Hilton hotels outside of Seychelles. In 2010, she took up the position of HR & training manager at Hilton Windhoek in Namibia. As part of the opening team of the hotel, she helped to set up the HR department as well as trained the heads of departments and all members of staff. She joined Hilton Abu Dhabi in the UAE as HR & training manager two year later before returning to Seychelles in 2014, taking up the role of cluster training manager, responsible for training the teams at all three Hilton properties in the Seychelles.

Hilton is a global hospitality company with a portfolio of 14 brands comprising of nearly 5,000 properties in over 100 countries. The company owns three properties in Seychelles — Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort & Spa and Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa.