Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
JW Marriott Hotel Seoul welcomes new general manager
JW Marriott Hotel Seoul General Manager Douglas Ariza-Giammaria / Courtesy of JW Marriott Hotel Seoul
By Lee Hae-rin
JW Marriott Hotel Seoul has appointed Douglas Ariza-Giammaria as its new general manager, the hotel said in a statement Wednesday, bringing decades of international hospitality experience to the flagship property in Gangnam’s Shinsegae Central complex.
Ariza-Giammaria, a native of Venezuela, has more than 30 years of experience in the luxury hotel industry, including 25 years with Marriott International.
He holds degrees in hotel management and global hospitality management from the University of Houston and has worked in major markets including the United States, Greece, Singapore, Indonesia and China.
He previously held leadership roles with high-profile brands such as Four Seasons, Hilton, Starwood and Marriott. For the past 14 years, he has served as general manager at several properties, earning a reputation for operational expertise and an ability to deliver strong performance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ariza-Giammaria led Marriott’s recovery strategy for Southeast China and chaired the Hunan Business Council, playing a key role in regional hospitality industry efforts during a time of uncertainty.
Most recently, he oversaw the opening of JW Marriott Hotel Changsha in China and introduced several brand programs including JW Garden, Family by JW, Spa by JW and Weddings by JW. The property became the first of the JW Marriott brand in China to receive a Four-Star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide.
Ariza-Giammaria said he plans to build on the hotel’s reputation while tailoring luxury experiences to both international and local guests.
“I am honored to join the talented team at JW Marriott Hotel Seoul,” he said. “I look forward to contributing to a legacy of excellence while creating experiences that reflect both the spirit of Seoul and the values of the JW Marriott brand.”