Brookfield Asset Management is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Burke as President and Managing Director of Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. Burke will succeed George Markantonis, who recently resigned from the position and will assume the role of President and Chief Operating Officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo and The Sands Expo Centre (all part of the Las Vegas Sands Group) in Las Vegas.

In addition, Stuart Bowe has been promoted to the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Operations.

“While we will miss George’s leadership, we are pleased to have Paul transition into his new role,” said Andrea Balkan, Managing Partner at Brookfield.

“Paul has a deep and varied background in the hospitality industry, including serving as the Chief Operating Officer at Atlantis. Paul is fully immersed in the Atlantis culture, and we are confident that he and his veteran team will work to maintain the resort as a world-class destination we are proud to be associated with.”

“We congratulate George on his new opportunity and want to thank him for all he has done for Atlantis over the past nine years,” said Balkan, Managing Partner of Brookfield.

“George’s dedication to the resort, its employees, and its guests, has helped Atlantis become the premier destination in The Bahamas. We particularly appreciate the role George played in helping facilitate a transition to new ownership and management, and assisting in the successful recapitalization of the property. George has mentored and trained an extremely capable team of seasoned executives who will continue the traditions of leadership and excellence that George exemplified.”

Burke has served as a senior executive in the hospitality industry for over 30 years and has an extensive background in operations while successfully managing substantial and complex businesses. Prior to being named as Atlantis’ COO in 2011, Burke was Executive Vice President/ Principal of Noble Investment Group.

Prior to joining Noble Investment Group, Burke was with Interstate Hotels & Resorts where he held positions as President of Hotel Operations and Executive Vice President of Operations. Previous positions also included experience with Starwood Hotels and Resorts and ITT Sheraton Corporation. He holds an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University and a BS from Concordia University.

“My new position at Atlantis is something I have worked towards my entire career and all my previous professional experience has prepared me for this role,” said Burke. “I am very thankful to George and Paul O’Neil for their mentorship over the years that have contributed to this fantastic opportunity.”

Burke continues, “It has been a pleasure working alongside George for the past few years. His commitment to The Bahamas, the tourism industry here, Atlantis’ owners, and all our team members has been inspiring. George’s always brought his forward thinking and open-minded approach to every situation. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him, and I wish he and his family the best in their new adventure.”

Markantonis remarked that Paul Burke has been both an excellent partner as COO of the property and a great friend. “It has made my decision much easier to know that I’m leaving this fine establishment in such capable hands,” said Markantonis. “I have full confidence the property will continue to flourish under Paul’s leadership.”

In addition to Burke’s promotion, Bowe has been promoted to SVP and GM of Hotel Operations. Bowe holds over 20 years of experience in the industry, while most recently serving as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Beach and Coral Towers. Bowe began his professional life with the Paradise Island Resort in 1991 where he started as Executive Housekeeper.

He steadily rose through the ranks, having served in numerous capacities, ranging from Front Office Manager to Vice President of Water Park Operations. Bowe, who is currently pursuing his PHD in applied Management Sciences from Walden University, holds an MBA in Marketing from Walden, and also a BA in Accounting from Florida State University.

Bowe is presently serving his second term as President of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association, Second Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, and a Trustee of the Bahamas Hotel and Allied Industry Pension Fund.

“I am thrilled by this opportunity to oversee Atlantis’s Beach, Coral, and Royal Towers operations,” stated Bowe. “I would like to thank the Coral and Beach Towers teams who made this growth possible, as well as my peers, and the company’s ownership for showing confidence in my abilities. I look forward to working with all teams to continue delivering world-class vacation experiences.”

Markantonis shared his acknowledgment of Bowe’s promotion, “I am delighted to see one of our long-standing and hard-working employees continue his success, and I am very proud that we are able to promote Stuart and give him the added responsibility of Royal Towers.

His career development plan and previous successes are an example of how hard work pays off. He will continue to be a great asset to Atlantis and Bahamian tourism going forward.”