PHOTOS: Hotelier Power 50 2015 winners: 31-40
31. Noel Massoud, VP — operations and development, The Middle East, Swiss-Belhotel International (last year 27th)
New to last year’s list, Massoud has made significant headway in the region, having been in his role for just 20 months. With 40 years of hospitality experience behind him, including 25 years with InterContinental Hotels Group, Massoud has driven more than 70% growth in development of new hotels and projects, and the company witnessed 150% growth in revenue last year.
As a result of its positive performance in the region in 2014, this year Swiss-Belhotel International announced it would open another 10 hotels in 2015 across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Iraq.
By the number:
Number of Years in role: 3
Number of ears in the company: 17
Number of hotels operating in the Middle East: 5
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 9
Top inspiration
“I would like to thank Mr Marriott, as he has been my inspiration throughout.”
32. Rob Weeden, VP sales & marketing EMEA, India, Indian Ocean & Canada, Shangri-La (Last year 41st)
A jump of nine places for Shangri-La’s VP in his second year in the Power 50.
Rob Weeden looks after 16 Shangri-La hotels, four of which are in the Middle East. That number is set to grow to six within the next two years with the opening of a new Shangri-La property in Doha later in 2015; and the company’s first hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — the “architecturally spectacular” Shangri-La Hotel Jeddah, due to open in 2017.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 3
Number of years with company: 18
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 4
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 2
Top inspiration
“My father said that success is bred through hard work and from that foundation good fortune is created and earned. Success is also relative so for me - you absolutely need to enjoy what you do.”
33. Hamad Abdullah Al Mulla, CEO and board member, Katara Hospitality (Last year 34th)
When Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla took over as CEO, Katara’s only international property was in Egypt. Today, the group has properties in Morocco, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Singapore and Thailand.
The year 2015 has been an important one for Katara Hospitality. The group launched its standalone operating division, Murwab Hotel Group, which manages an international collection of boutique upscale hotels and brands. The group currently manages properties under its three main areas of business: Murwab Hotels; The Bürgenstock Selection; and a collection of independent non-branded upscale properties.
By the numbers
Years in current role: 4
Years in the company: 6
Operating hotels in ME: 7
Pipeline hotels in ME: 8
Top inspiration
“Both my parents encouraged my career choices at a time when even the thought of a Qatari national working in the hotel industry would be ridiculed – let alone working in the back-of-house areas”
34. Bugra Berberoglu, Chief Executive Officer, Rixos Hotels (New entry)
Berberoglu replaces fellow Turk, Basak Erel on the 2015 Power 50. Berberoglu has bold ambitions for rixos in the region, as he gets set to open a new property — Rixos, The Walk — in 2016.
In the last 12 months, Rixos moved its headquarters to Dubai, a move which reflects the importance the operator places on the Gulf Region.
By the numbers
Number of years in this role: 1
Number of years in the company: 1
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 5
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 2
Top inspiration
“I drew immense inspiration from my father from a very young age. Even through his passing away, I have become stronger and his teachings help me to this day.”
35. Sumair Tariq, Managing Director, R Hotels (New entry)
It’s been a busy year for R Hotels, with several new hotels signed in the UAE.
In November last year, R Hotels announced plans to develop the first sharia-compliant four-star resort and spa on Palm Jumeirah, with the company targeting a Q4, 2016 opening following an AED 500 million (US $136.2 million) investment.
The company opened its fifth hotel in the UAE just last month on Al Mina Road, Jumeirah. The hotel is being managed through a franchise agreement with AccorHotels under its Ibis Styles brand, and has 191 keys and two speciality restaurants.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 5
Number of years in company: 8
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 5
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 3
36. Maximilian Lennkh, Vice President – hotel operations EMEA, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts (Last year 33rd)
Maximilian Lennkh has been VP of hotel operations EMEA for banyan tree hotels & resorts since april 2014. He began his career with the group as general manager in 2001, overseeing properties in the Maldives.
Lennkh has previously worked with Hilton Worldwide and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide during his 24 years in the hospitality industry. In his current role, he oversees operations of the group’s Banyan Tree and Angsana-branded hotels and spas within the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 2
Number of years at company: 2
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 2
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 0
Fun Fact
Maximilian Lennkh is fluent in German, English, Portuguese and Spanish.
37. Antoine Sayegh, President, Gloria Hotels & Resorts and Mourouj Gloria Hotels Group Company (Last year 36th)
Gloria’s president is On a mission to prove that dry hotels can be as profitable as those with bars and nightclubs.
With a stated ambition to open a Gloria branded hotel in every GCC capital and all major Saudi cities, Sayegh is pioneering his value-for-money hotel concept without bars or nightclubs.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 6
Number of years with company: 11
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 10
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 5
Top inspiration
“Hesham Murad, the Gloria management company executive VP and partner in the company has put tremendous confidence in me as a person and in our company philosophy.”
38. Siegfried Nierhaus, Vice President Middle East, Steigenberger Hotel Group (New entry)
It has been a busy seven months since Siegfried Nierhaus took up the role of vice president, Middle East for Steigenberger Hotel Group.
During the past year, Steigenherger Hotel Group, the ‘legacy’ German chain, has set up its regional office in Dubai and started work on Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay Dubai, due to open in the autumn.
By the numbers
Number of years in the role: 1
Number of years with the company: 1
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 6 hotels (plus three Nile ships)
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 5
Top inspiration
“I take inspiration from powerful team performances. Few teams have been more successful than the 2014 FIFA World Cup winning German national side. The team inspired me greatly because of their organisation, methodology, team spirit, competiveness and down-to-earth attitude.”
39. Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, Vice Chairman and CEO, Meliá Hotels International (Last year 50th)
Gabriel Escarrer Jaume led the company’s response against the financial crisis, characterised by an internal strengthening, a financial consolidation, and a steady growth of its brands in new and existing markets.
In February, Meliá Hotels International signed the first Innside property in the Middle East in Dubai. The four-star property will be located in Jumeirah Lake Towers and will cater to more than 5500 companies registered in the area when it opens in 2016.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 7
Number of years with company: 21
Number of operating hotels in Middle East: 2
Number of pipeline hotels in Middle East: 4
40. Russel Sharpe, Chief Operating Officer, Citymax Hotels (Last year 39th)
CITYMAX’s coo can boast More than a third of a decade of Middle East hotel operations management experience, but he is still innovating.
Sharpe can claim credit for creating a successful, branded and home-grown mid-market hotel group with 700 employees. But he is not resting on his laurels or the company’s current 20% profit growth rate, and has plans to double the size and strength of the business by 2018.
By the number
Number of years in role: 4.5
Number of years with company: 5.5
Number of operating hotels in the Middle East: 3
Number of pipeline hotels in the Middle East: 5
Top inspiration
“The Dalai Lama”