The Irishman keeps his place in the top 10 and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
2014 ranking: 6
2013 ranking: 7
A driving force behind Jumeirah Group since it was founded in 1997, Gerald Lawless has created a hospitality company which has operations in 10 countries (UAE, Kuwait, Maldives, China, Azerbaijan, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, UK) and he oversees more than 14,614 employees.
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Since we last published our Power 50 list, Lawless has continued to be busy, not necessarily with new openings, but rather a series of moves that should consolidate the company’s position going forward.
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In Oman, Jumeirah Group is to operate two five-star hotels in Saraya Bandar Jissah in the new Integrated Tourism Complex. Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, it appears set to operate a US $234 million resort being developed on Saadiyat Island.
And in its Dubai home, two of Jumeirah Group’s best known properties continue to grow: construction on the fourth phase of Madinat Jumeriah is already underway, adding 420 rooms to the sprawling complex, while a 350-room resort is to be built alongside Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
With 11 properties already operational in the Middle East — and another 11 in the development pipeline — the company is on a roll. In May, Dubai ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a man Lawless singles out as an inspiration, approved expansion plans by Jumeirah Group, which will see it add 4300 rooms over the next three years in 11 countries.
In addition to Oman, another new country to join that list is Mauritius, where the company is set to make its debut in 2018, and Lawless harbours bold ambitions for Saudi Arabia too.
“One of our big priorities in addition to development within the UAE and particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi is also that we are in deep discussion with a number of parties… we are in discussions in Saudi Arabia and we are very keen to broaden the footprint of Jumeirah within our home region,” Lawless told Hotelier earlier this year.
While he may be a veteran of the industry, with 30 of his 40 years in hospitality spent in the Middle East, Lawless has also helped the company become a digital trendsetter. Jumeirah Group had close to 11 million visitors to its website last year (up 12% yoy), while its YouTube channel has had 15 million views.
Lawless has also ensured that more young Emiratis build careers with the Jumeirah Group and in 2013, saw a 21% increase in UAE nationals working for the company.
He maintains a powerful voice in the industry through membership and leadership roles at the Emirates National Development Programme, the Institute of Hospitality and Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. He is a member of the Dubai Holding Executive Committee, the Advisory Board of the Ecole Hôtelière Lausanne and the World Travel and Tourism Council.
By The Numbers
Number of years in role: 17 Number of years in company: 17 Number of ME operating properties: 11 Number of ME pipeline properties: 11
Fun Fact: Gerald Lawless’s favourite hobby is skiing!
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