Jannah Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Mark Whitlock as its new Group General Manager.
Whitlock brings more than 20 years of international hospitality experience spanning the UK, Middle East and Southeast Asia. Known for his strategic vision, commercial acumen and people-focused leadership, he has built a track record of aligning teams for growth, launching new properties and repositioning established brands while delivering memorable guest journeys.
Prior to joining Jannah, Whitlock served as group director of operations for a major regional hospitality group, overseeing a portfolio of more than 3,500 keys across multiple markets. In that role, he was instrumental in driving EBITDA growth, strengthening brand integrity and fostering a high-performance culture built on service excellence and accountability.
His career began in food and beverage and hotel operations before rising through general manager and regional leadership positions with both international hotel chains and regionally based operators. This hands-on operational foundation has informed his inclusive leadership style, recognised for building strong workplace cultures, nurturing future leaders and forging meaningful owner and stakeholder relationships.
“This is a brand rooted in heart and hospitality and I’m both honoured and excited to lead it into its next chapter,” said Whitlock. “What drew me to Jannah is its strong cultural foundation, its commitment to guest-centric service, and its bold ambitions for growth. I look forward to working closely with our teams and partners to strengthen operational excellence, elevate the guest journey, and position Jannah as a brand of choice in today’s competitive landscape.”
Whitlock, a graduate of Leeds Beckett University with a first-class honours BA in hospitality and business management, is also a passionate advocate for values-driven hospitality. He believes in embedding operational growth into every stage of the guest journey while balancing revenue optimisation with hands-on involvement in day-to-day hotel operations.
