17. Robert Kunkler, Chief Operating Officer, Minor Hotel Group
Relatively new to the role of chief operating officer, in which he oversees 19,000 staff, Kunkler has nevertheless already made rapid strides for Minor Hotel Group in the middle east.
In February 2015, the Minor Hotel Group had a major 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.
Then in April 2015, the group announced a partnership with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company to develop two new Anantara resorts in North Africa, to open in 2017.
Minor Hotel Group operates 10 properties across the Middle East, and the future is looking extremely bright for the company.
Two hotels have been announced in Oman — in Jabal Akhdar and Salalah — and another in Dubai, and the firm will add more properties in other GCC countries and is exploring its options throughout the Emirates.
Under Kunkler’s leadership, Minor Hotel Group has added properties in eight new markets, expanded operations to 21 existing countries and has upcoming projects in 10 countries.
Kunkler is known as a perfectionist, putting customer feedback and satisfaction high on his list of business deliverables.
By the numbers
Number of years in role: 16
Number of years with company: 16
Number of Middle East operating hotels: 10
Number of Middle East pipeline hotels: 3
Number of Qatar hotels: 1
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