13. Hussein Ali Hatata, Vice President, Hospitality Division, Al Khozama Management Company
Hatata solely created a hospitality division and nurtured it to become Saudi Arabia’s leading luxury hospitality company, starting with one hotel in 2007 to eight properties in 2016, with six further potential properties under development
With almost four decades’ experience, Hatata currently holds the position of vice president, hotels division at Al Khozama Management Company, a property development, management and investment company owned by the King Faisal Foundation (KFF). Since taking on his current position in 2005, Hatata has played an active role in driving the organisation’s ambitious expansion strategy into key cities across Saudi Arabia, growing from just one hotel in 2007 to eight operational properties in 2016, with more under development.
In addition to the management of the Al Khozama-owned facilities in Riyadh, he has increased Al Khozama’s hotel management portfolio to include Al Shohada Hotel in Makkah and Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina in King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah.
Openings in the last year include the Al Faisaliah Resort & Spa at Durrat Arriyadh in June 2016. He also signed an MOU for three properties in Jeddah — under negotiation for management agreements, as well as an MOU for a hotel and residence in Riyadh.
Hatata has also overseen the signing of management agreements for two new luxury hotel properties in Al Khobar, scheduled to open in 2016/17.
Most recently, Hatata negotiated with Rosewood Hotels Group the transition process for Al Khozama-owned properties — Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Faisaliah Suites, Hotel Al Khozama, Al Faisaliah Resort at Durrat Arriyadh, and led the transition team ensuring seamless operation and zero employee turnover throughout the process.
Hatata first joined the Hotel Al Khozama, Riyadh in 1978, working in a number of operational and managerial roles. In 1997, he led the opening of the five-star Abha Palace Hotel on behalf of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, simultaneously holding the rooms division manager position for the Hotel Al Khozama. He was promoted to hotel manager in 1999, before travelling to Istanbul, Gstaad, Lausanne and Geneva, working in various hotels and positions as part of a development programme.
In 2003, he led the opening of the Al Faisaliah Residence, an apartment development in Riyadh which was converted in 2011 to a luxury five-star facility — Al Faisaliah Suites — featuring 106 contemporary suites, a ladies spa and an Italian restaurant — La Cucina.
A graduate of Lausanne Hotel Management School, and holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management, Hatata has completed management programmes at Cornell University, US, and the American Hotel & Motel Association hotel operations programme.
By the numbers
11 Number of years in role
38 Number of years with company
8 Number of Middle East operating hotels
7 Number of Middle East pipeline hotels
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