REVEALED: The complete Hotelier ME Power 50 2013
Welcome to the 2013 edition of the Hotelier Middle East Power 50, the only list that recognises and celebrates the top 50 hotel professionals working in the Middle East hospitality industry.
Over the course of the previous week, (beginning September 1) Hotelier Middle East revealed the countdown of the region's top 50 most influential hoteliers in the annual Hotelier Middle East Power 50. In this first instalment, we will be recounting the full 50 names that did enough to make it onto this year’s list, ranking in positions 50 to 1.
In this fifth edition of the Hotelier Middle East Power 50, the list is entirely dedicated to hotel operators. Even those entrants who both own and operate hotels have been judged only on their managerial merits.
As always, however, the rankings in the Hotelier Middle East Power 50 are subjective and the opinion of the editorial team. Decisions are made based upon portfolio and pipeline, activity over the past 12 months and plans for the coming year, along with the reputation of the individual among their peers and their dedication to developing the Middle East hospitality and tourism business. Special weighting is given to chains that while perhaps small in size, are home-grown in the Middle East and, therefore, hugely significant to the development of the industry.
Hotelier Middle East relies upon the information provided to us by hotel chains and the data presented is accurate as of September 2013 to the best of our knowledge.
We are confident that each Power 50 entrant deserves their place in the list and invite you to join with Hotelier in celebrating the achievements and accolades of so many hotel pioneers.
Turn the page to find out who made it onto this year’s list...
50. Rupprecht Queitsch, General manager, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai.
49. Patrick De Groot, general manager, The Domain Hotels.
48. Horsten Ries, managing director, Nakheel, Hospitality And Leisure.
46. Hatem Gasmi, founder and managing director, Auris Hotels
45. Dr Ali Kasapbashi, group general manager, Bin Majid Group.
44. Aqeel Raees, chief executive officer, Gulf Hotel Group.
43. Serge Zaalof, president/managing director Atlantis, The Palm.
42. Tarek el Sherif, managing director, Mourouj Hotels & Resorts Group.
41. Russel Sharpe, chief operating officer, Citymax Hotels.
The complete Hotelier Middle East Power 50 2013 list continues on the following page...
40. Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels Management.
39. Peter Blackburn, president & CEO, Cristal Hotels & Resorts.
38. Ziyad Ahmed Bin Mahfouz, president, Elaf Group of Companies.
37. Hussein Ali Hatata, vice president - hospitality division, Al Khozama Management Company.
36. Darroch Crawford, managing director, Premier Inn Middle East & Africa.
35. Fadi Mazkour, managing director hotel division, Etqaan for Hospitality Management.
33. Simon Coombs, president & CEO, Shaza Hotels.
32. Sultan B. Al Otaibi, general manager, Makarim Hospitality Group.
31. Magdi Samman, regional director of operations & development, Swiss-Belhotel International.
The complete Hotelier Middle East Power 50 2013 list continues on the following page...
30. Ziad Al Chaar, managing director, DAMAC Properties.
29. Raj Shetty, chairman & managing worker, Ramee Group of Hotels & Resorts.
27. Anton Bawab, regional president, Viceroy Hotel Group.
26. Moritz Klein, GM of Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara / area GM for Anantara Abu Dhabi.
24. Jiri Kobos, vice-president operations, Dusit International.
23. David Thomson, chief operating officer, JA Resorts & Hotels.
22. Mahmoud Mokhtar, vice president of operations for KSA, Hilton Worldwide.
21. Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, chief executive officer, Katara Hospitality.
The complete Hotelier Middle East Power 50 2013 list continues on the following page...
20. Michel Noblet, president & founding partner, Hospitality Management Holdings.
18. Peter Fulton, group president, Hyatt International EAME and SWA.
17. Sami Nasser, senior vice president, operations, Middle East, Africa and India, FRHI.
16. Josef Kufer, chief operating officer, Emaar Hospitality Group.
15. Alan Leibman, CEO, Kerzner International.
14. Andreas Mattmuller, chief operating officer, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts - Middle East and Asia.
13. Simon Casson, regional vice president and GM, Four Seasons Doha.
12. Ulrich T. Eckhardt, president Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels.
9. Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, president and CEO, Millennium & Copthorne Middle East and Africa.
8. Bani Haddad, regional vice president for the Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group.
7. Gerald Lawless, president and group CEO, Jumeirah Group.
6. Selim El Zyr, president & CEO, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC.
5. Christophe Landais, ,managing director, Accor Middle East.
4. Alex Kyriakidis, president, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International.
1. Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide Middle East and Africa.