Boutique Group, a hospitality company building palace hotels in Saudi Arabia, has announced the appointment of Christoph Mares as its new Chief Executive Officer.

In a press statement, the Boutique Group says that the leadership succession will position the company for continued success in the years to come. Boutique Group is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The group is transforming historical and cultural palaces in the Kingdom into ultra-luxury boutique hotels.

The statement adds that building on the strong foundation laid by the group’s former CEO, Mark De Cocinis, Mares will be instrumental in driving Boutique Group towards its goal of introducing Saudi hospitality and culture to the world through its portfolio of iconic palaces, starting with the opening of its first hotel, ‘The Red Palace’, in April 2026.

The company says it is confident in a seamless leadership transition as it welcomes Mares who comes with a wealth of experience, having previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he has spent the majority of his career. With over 25 years of experience, Mares was also the COO for Emaar Hospitality.

“I am honoured to join Boutique Group, a company that shares my passion for hospitality excellence and cultural preservation. Prior to now, I have watched the transformation of Saudi Arabia with a mix of admiration and fascination. As CEO of Boutique Group, I look forward to playing a part in writing the next inspirational chapter in the legacy of Saudi hospitality and sharing it with the world,” says Mares.

“We are thrilled to welcome Christoph Mares to Boutique Group, as we continue to reach new milestones in the development of our palaces. This is a period of unprecedented growth for the emerging Saudi hospitality sector, and we are committed to generating new opportunities through this dynamic industry. Christoph’s decades of leadership experience in the luxury hotel sector will be invaluable as we embark on this next exciting stage of our journey at the pinnacle of Saudi hospitality,” says Sabah Barakat, Member of the Board of Directors at Boutique Group.