07. Mark Griffiths, SVP, Regional Operations, Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels
Griffiths graces hotelier qatar’s power list, having taken the helm of Kempinski’s regional operations as senior vice president ten months ago, coinciding with the launch of doha’s marsa malaz.
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.
Eckhardt’s successor Griffiths took over in June from his role as vice president of asset management hospitality for Majid Al Futtaim Properties. He also previously led the operations of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa, Kuwait as general manager.
With a focus on expanding the Kempinski portfolio in the region, Griffiths’ experience in owner and operator companies will help to facilitate the growth of the Kempinski’s portfolio, and the Middle East is part of its global ambition to double its international portfolio by 2020.
In the past year, the company has opened Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl — Doha, which has a total of 281 rooms, including 69 suites, and is the first five-star hotel on The Pearl, a major man-made island featuring both residential and commercial elements. A key pipeline property is the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski in Cairo — one of 10 pipeline properties — which is being set up to cater specifically for meetings and conferences.
“We have excellent business partners, with whom we’re excited to be working, preparing their openings and managing their operations thereafter,” he says.
Currently Griffiths oversees Kempinski’s 19 operating hotels in the Middle East and Africa, while he has been entrusted with the task of ensuring the 10 pipeline projects open successfully.
By the numbers
Number of months in role: 10
Number of months with company: 10
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 19
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 10
Number of Qatar hotels: 2
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