19. Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, Damac Hotels & Resorts
Ziad El Chaar moves up from last year’s spot, with the value of projects currently under development at US $20 billion
Ziad El Chaar from Damac Hotels & Resorts has moved up three places on the Power List, as he oversees a pipeline of 22 hotels with more than 13,000 keys on hotel rooms, serviced apartments and hotel villas.
Continuing the consistent growth since last year, El Chaar is responsible for 2,000 people — all spearheading the hospitality firm’s success story. As of July 2016, the brand has five properties in operation — the same as last year — but has added to its pipeline as well as brands under development. New brands signed or opened in the last year include Bugatti, Aykon Hotels and Resorts, Damac Maison De Ville and Damac Maison Royale.
The partnership with Paramount Hotels & Resorts continues with more projects in the works in Dubai and Riyadh. El Chaar tells Hotelier: “We have hotels that will be operated by Paramount Hotels & Resorts with a Hollywood theme, again another first-of-its-kind in the industry in the Middle East. Damac Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing, home-grown hospitality operators in the region. We opened five hotel properties within only 14 months, with 2,000 keys between hotel rooms and hotel apartments. We are also hard at work to develop more than 20 properties, with 13,000 keys to be added to the existing portfolio to reach 15,000 keys by 2021.”
By the numbers
5 Number of years in role
11 Number of years with company
5 Number of Middle East operating hotels
22 Number of Middle East pipeline hotels
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