PHOTOS: Hotelier Power 50 2015 winners: 11-20
11. Philippe Zuber, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group (Last year 13th)
Since taking over as chief operating officer of Emaar Hospitality Group two years ago, Philippe Zuber manages the overall operations of the organisation, while working to develop and implement strategies that drive the group’s profitability.
Spearheading projects within Emaar Hospitality’s subsidiaries, Philippe Zuber focuses on expanding its five-star brand The Address Hotels + Resorts as well as Vida Hotels & Resorts, the upcoming mid-market Rove Hotels, and the group’s leisure clubs, including Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, The Montgomerie Dubai and Dubai Marina Yacht Club.
Earlier this year, Emaar re-branded its mid-market brand as Rove Hotels, with at least 10 properties to be rolled out across central locations in Dubai and the region by 2020. The brand targets value-conscious leisure and business travellers and was developed as a joint venture between Emaar and Meraas Holding.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 2
Number of years with company: 4
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 11
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 33
Top inspiration
Philippe Zuber counts Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar among the people who inspire him. “He is a man on a mission, and equally passionate about creating world-class hospitality experiences. Mr Alabbar challenges me to bring out the best in myself as a business professional,” Zuber says.
12. Sami Nasser, Senior Vice President Operations, Middle East, Africa, & India, FRHI Hotels & Resorts (Last year 11th)
When Sami Nasser joined FRHI two years ago and was made responsible for operations in the Middle East, Africa and India, as well as the regional office in Dubai, it was a much smaller team, with fewer than 10 colleagues in the regional office.
Recognising how important it was to provide real time assistance and support to the group’s 20 hotels within the region and to drive the successful ramp-up and opening of new hotels, Nasser invested heavily in a centralised regional office located in Dubai, and over the past two years, FRHI has recruited 65 professionals and specialists to support the group’s continued efforts in the region.
Financial performance during the past two years has seen the region grow from strength to strength as well, including a 10.4% growth in revenue, 24.2% increase in GOP and 25.7% boost in management fees.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 2.5
Number of years with company: 2.5
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 20
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 26
Top inspiration
Sami Nasser is inspired by international tennis star Roger Federer and his “outstanding performances, solid commitment to his profession and humble determination to succeed”.
13. Christian Clerc, President of hotel operations – Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts (Last year 15th)
Christian Clerc took over as vice president, before moving up as president of hotel operations for the region.
As part of his role, Christian Clerc was responsible for relocating the Four Seasons’ EMEA corporate office to Dubai. “The move is a sign of our strong commitment to the Middle East and to the importance that we place on this region going forward,” Clerc states.
It’s been a busy time for Four Seasons. In the past 12 months, Clerc has led his teams to open five new hotels in the EMEA region. These include Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, and Four Seasons Hotel Moscow — first properties for the group in these markets. Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg and The Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel also opened in the past year.
The group’s business in the region has a strong growth pipeline. Projects are at various stages of development in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Madrid and in Morocco — Casablanca and Taghazhout Bay. Earlier this year, Four Seasons also confirmed a second Dubai property — this time a business hotel in the city’s financial district. Speaking to Hotelier, Clerc also hinted at a property in Jeddah and said the operator was “interested” in Oman.
A Swiss national, Clerc has worked all around the world, with stints in the US, Mexico, France, Switzerland and Italy.
“The many and varied experiences I’ve had working around the world have given me the ability to be relevant in key markets. I also consider myself to be fiercely competitive, and deeply passionate about quality and excellence,” Clerc says.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 2
Number of years with company: 15
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 11
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 4
Fun fact
Christian Clerc is a member of the Ecole Hôtelièr de Lausanne mentor programme.
14. Andreas Mattmüller, Chief operating officer, Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (Last year 17th)
Andreas Mattmüller has been with Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts for more than 14 years and has supported the swiss operator’s expansion from just four hotels in jordan, and a few in egypt, to 30 hotels across the gcc.
When Andreas Mattmüller joined the group, Mövenpick’s Middle East portfolio stood at just four hotels in Jordan, and a handful in Egypt, where the regional office was based. Today, the Swiss firm operates 30 hotels in seven countries in the Middle East.
Mövenpick has seven new hotels in the pipeline in the UAE, including Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh, Mövenpick Hotel City Star Jeddah, Mövenpick Residences Al Khobar, and Mövenpick Hotel Financial District Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as well as Mövenpick Hotel Dubai Media City, and Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai. The operator also signed its fourth property in Jeddah — Mövenpick Hotel Heraa Jeddah — in July this year.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 8
Number of years with company: 14
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 30
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 8
Top inspiration
“My father and his uncle, who owned a hotel, inspired and supported me when I decided to pursue a career in hospitality at the age of 15”
15. Amine E Moukarzel, President of Louvre Hotels Group/Golden Tulip Hospitality Group MENA and President and Founder of Flamingo Hotel Management (Last year 10th)
Following the company’s acquisition by Chinese firm Jin Jang International Holding, Moukarzel believes Louvre Hotels will benefit from upgrades to its ecommerce, distribution power, and loyalty scheme.
Amine Moukarzel is currently president of Louvre Hotels Group/ Golden Tulip Hospitality and oversees a portfolio of 53 operating hotels and another 46 in the pipeline in the Middle East. The two companies formed an alliance in 2009 when Louvre Hotels decided to refocus the group towards the budget segment. Earlier this year, Louvre Hotels Group was sold by Starwood Capital Group to Chinese firm Jin Jang International Holding.
Commenting on the acquisition, Moukarzel stated: “It has given us this opportunity to develop the budget hotels sector by creating a fund to develop in the largest countries in the region.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 5
Number of years with company: 16
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 53
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 46
Top inspiration
“Mohamad Abed Al Jalil Al Fahim, the founder of Al Fahim group, a veteran businessman with great vision and acumen”
16. Alan Leibman, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International (Last year 21st)
Under the leadership of Leibman, Kerzner International is now moving into a new phase of Middle Eastern expansion beyond the boundaries of Dubai.
Overseeing 9000 employees across Kerzner International, Leibman’s number one goal for the future of the company is “to continue to provide amazing experiences and everlasting memories for our guests, develop committed passionate people and successfully develop and introduce both Atlantis and One&Only resorts in new markets”.
Kerzner currently operates three resorts in the Middle East; the iconic Atlantis The Palm, One&Only The Palm and One&Only Royal Mirage, all of which are located in Dubai.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 3.5
Number of years with company: 21
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 3
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 2
Top inspiration
“It was an absolute honour to have been approached for this job by the company’s founder Sol Kerzner. Thanks to his mentorship, I am what I am today”
17. Pablo Graf, Senior Vice President, operations, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Southwest Asia (Last year 14th)
Graf was appointed to Hyatt’S Dubai office in 2012 to oversee the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Maldives and the Indian subcontinent — regions identified as very important for Hyatt’s expansion strategy.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation currently has 10 properties operating across the GCC, and at least nine new hotels are expected to open in the region by 2017.
These include Hyatt Regency Makkah, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Residences Emirates Pearl, Park Hyatt Doha, Hyatt Place Makkah and Hyatt House Makkah, Hyatt House Jeddah/Sari Street and Hyatt Place Jeddah/Medina Road.
By the number
Number of years in role: 3.5
Number of years with company: 25
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 10
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 9
Fun Fact
Pablo Graf began his career with Hyatt as a corporate trainee in New Orleans in the mid-80s
18. Robert Kunkler, Chief Operating Officer, Minor Hotel Group (Last year 25th)
Robert Kunkler has leapfrogged into the top 20, having only entered the Power 50 rankings last year.
Relatively new to his chair as chief opertaing officer of Minor Hotel Group, in which he oversees 19,000 staff, Kunkler has nevertheless already made rapid strides for Minor Hotel Group.
In February 2015, the group had a breakthrough when it signed a new partnership with Dubai Properties Group to develop the Anantara Dubai Creek Hotel, at the rapidly developing Culture Village. The new property is set to be located in the east of the city facing Dubai Creek.
By the numbers
Number of months in role: 16
Number of months with company: 16
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 10
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 3
Top inspiration
“I would thank Gerald Lawless, who took a sizeable risk in appointing a first-time GM into a landmark property and a new opening on top of that — Jumeirah Emirates Towers”
19. Mark Griffiths, SVP, regional operations, Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels (New entry)
Griffiths replaces Ulrich Eckhardt in this year’s Power 50, having taken the helm of Kempinski’s regional operations as senior vice president nine months ago.
Kempinski Hotels has had a rocky year, having lost the services of three of its most senior executives in the region in November 2014, including the president for Middle East & Africa Ulrich Eckhardt.
Additionally, last year Starwood Hotels & Resorts took over a two-tower property which previously housed the Kempinski Grand and Ixir Hotel. It was rebadged under the Le Méridien and Westin brands.
By the numbers
Number of months in role: 9
Number of months with company: 9
Number of Middle East operating properties: 19
Number of Middle East pipeline properties: 10
20. Baran Turkel, Managing Director Turkey, Middle East & Central Asia, Best Western International (New entry)
Diving straight into the top 20 in the Hotelier middle east power 50, having taken on his role just six months ago, baran turkel has big plans for best western international in the region
Best Western recently made changes to its operational and development support strategy for the Middle East, which will now be centered in the Best Western International offices in Istanbul, Turkey where the company already supports 18 Best Western-branded hotels. Additionally the company has hired a new managing director and development director for the region.
Baran Turkel joined the company just six months ago to oversee the operational and development pipeline of the brand in the Middle East, Turkey and Central Asia. He joined from Marriott International, where he most recently held a senior managerial role at Istanbul Marriott Hotel, Sisli. Turkel currently oversees an operating portfolio of 18 hotels in Turkey and 11 operating hotels across Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, and pipeline projects in Makkah, Iraq and Kuwait.
By the numbers
Number of months in role: 6
Number of months with company: 6
Number of Middle East operating properties: 11
Number of Middle East pipeline properties: 10