Aqua Vista Bahrain has announced the appointment of Alper Küçükbaycan as General Manager, with his tenure effective since June 2026. He takes charge of the property in the Seef district, one of the most dynamic areas of the Bahraini capital, following a career built almost entirely within the Kingdom and at major international hospitality groups.
A hospitality management graduate of Mersin University in Turkey, Alper Küçükbaycan began his career in 2002 as an F&B intern at a WLC-operated Holiday Inn. His career subsequently took him to Ritz-Carlton (Marriott) properties in the Cayman Islands, Dubai and Bahrain, as well as to properties in the Turks and Caicos Islands, before a stint with Marriott in the United States and Turkey.
Before his appointment at Aqua Vista Bahrain (a Marriott affiliate), he had served since May 2023 as General Manager of the Aloft Dhahran (Marriott) in Saudi Arabia, where he led an operational turnaround of the property and launched three original dining concepts. According to the appointment announcement, this period delivered a guest satisfaction index of 87%.
His Bahraini career was built up over several years, notably at the Ritz-Carlton (also part of Marriott), where he successively held the roles of Restaurant Manager, Director of Restaurants and then Senior Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, overseeing eleven outlets and repositioning the property’s Royal Beach Club. He then served as Director of Operations for The Westin & Le Méridien Hotels City Center complex in Manama, between March 2022 and June 2023.
With the exception of his initial internship at a Holiday Inn (IHG group) and a stint at the Parrot Cay Resort & COMO Shambhala Retreat in the Turks and Caicos, Alper Küçükbaycan’s entire career has been built within brands belonging to Marriott International: Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott, Le Méridien, Westin and Aloft. His appointment at Aqua Vista Bahrain, also a Marriott International affiliate, therefore extends a trajectory built entirely within the same brand ecosystem, from banqueting and F&B roles through to general management.
In his new role, Alper Küçükbaycan will be responsible for Aqua Vista Bahrain’s operational vision, creative direction and commercial growth, with the aim of strengthening the property’s lifestyle positioning and developing its dining offering.
Alper Küçükbaycan, General Manager of Aqua Vista Bahrain, said the property captures an authentic sense of place, where coastal charm meets the energetic pulse of Manama. He added that he was pleased to lead a passionate team dedicated to creating vibrant, distinctive experiences, elevating the culinary offering, and building lasting relationships with local and international guests.
This appointment forms part of a broader wave of general management renewal in Bahrain, where several international brands have recently entrusted their properties to locally trained profiles or regional specialists. Skander Ayari was, for instance, appointed director of the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, while Tamer Farouk took over as General Manager of the Hilton Bahrain at its opening.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Alper Küçükbaycan appointed General Manager of Aqua Vista Bahrain
Effective date: June 2026, based in Seef district, Manama
Previous role: General Manager, Aloft Dhahran (Saudi Arabia), May 2023 – June 2026
Track record: Guest satisfaction index of 87% and three original dining concepts launched at Aloft Dhahran
Background: Over 20 years across Ritz-Carlton, Marriott and Westin/Le Méridien properties in Bahrain, the UAE, the Caribbean and the US
Mandate: Operational vision, creative direction and commercial growth for Aqua Vista Bahrain
