PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas | Kerzner International Limited (NYSE:KZL) (the “Company”), a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts, casinos and luxury hotels, today announced the promotion of Howard Karawan to Divisional President/Managing Director of the Company’s Destination Resorts business, effective immediately. Mr. Karawan, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, will oversee the Company’s flagship property, Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas, and its anticipated future destination resorts, Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai and Mazagan in El Jadida, Morocco, and will report directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Butch Kerzner.
Butch Kerzner commented, “Howard has been an integral contributor to our success and growth over the past ten years. His sound judgment, expertise in brand management and strategic understanding of our business will prove invaluable as we build for the future. Howard and his outstanding team have extended Atlantis, Paradise Island’s presence in the travel and leisure industry and have turned Atlantis into one of the most widely recognized brands in the world. Thanks to the success of our Paradise Island property, we can continue to expand this brand globally and grow our Destination Resorts business into other markets.”
Mr. Karawan, 43, first joined the Company ten years ago as Vice President, Sales & Marketing, responsible for the Company’s marketing activities on Paradise Island. Mr. Karawan was responsible for the re-launch of Atlantis, Paradise Island following the completion of the $640 million Phase II expansion project, as well as the sustained positioning of the resort on a global level. Atlantis, Paradise Island has consistently achieved one of the highest occupancy levels of any major resort in the Caribbean and is considered the catalyst for the revitalization of tourism in The Bahamas. Since 1999, Mr. Karawan has held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, where he has been instrumental in developing the overall strategic direction of the Company’s destination resort businesses, putting One&Only Resorts on the map and overseeing the Company’s worldwide marketing and brand management activities.
Today’s appointment fills the third senior executive slot in the Company’s three lines of business: International Gaming, headed by Divisional President/Managing Director Tobin Prior, One&Only Resorts, headed by Divisional President/Managing Director J.T. Kuhlman and Destination Resorts, which will now be headed by Mr. Karawan.
