23 Kevin Wallace, president and CEO, Jebel Ali International Hotels
Having relocated from Asia to the Middle East last year, Kevin Wallace took up the position of president and CEO of Jebel Ali International Hotels on October 1, 2011. He also holds the title of general manager, hospitality investment and development at Dutco Group, JAIH parent company.
A 25-year hotel industry veteran, Wallace was previously president of Centara International Management, a hotel group in Thailand, where he orchestrated the growth of the company four fold over a three-year period and from Thailand alone to 10 countries.
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JAIH is embarking on an ambitious overseas expansion plan and Wallace is the man credited with a host of new signings — with more expected. Just as he took Centara beyond Thailand, Wallace is already focused heavily on driving JAIH’s presence outside of UAE into new markets, specifically in Asia, Indian Ocean and east Africa.
To date, the group has signed multiple third party management contracts for luxury resorts in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Maldives, Seychelles, India and Vietnam. The first international hotel to open will be Round Island Resort in the Seychelles in Q1 2013. This will add to JAIH’s portfolio of five owned and operated hotels in the UAE.
In the Middle East, a refurbishment at Palm Tree Court is scheduled for completion in October and the four-star Ocean View Hotel in Jumeirah Beach Residence is likely to open early next year.
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Sep 12, 2012 , Singapore
I've worked directly under him during pre-opening stage. This is kind of leader hoteliers all over should emulate. Congratulations ya sire!
Sep 12, 2012 , Jordan
I am glad all the efforts came to those marvellous positive results on both fronts, business and human. This is a land mark team work in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Arkobi and his team did a marvellous job working at these hotels from day one. Congratulations for a deserved achievement.