Who ranked 21-30 in the Hotelier Middle East Power 50 2017?

Hotelier Middle East has revealed its 2017 edition of the Power 50 List, and in conjunction with the special issue of the September 2017 edition, has also launched a dedicated micro-site for the feature.

Here's a snapshot of the hoteliers who made it to ranks 21-30 - to read the full entries, head over to the micro-site.

Until then, watch a video of our round-up of the list... 

21. Mohamed Ahmed Awadalla, chief executive officer, Time Hotels Management LLC

Mohamed Ahmed Awadalla drives significant revenue and pipeline growth for home-grown hotel brand Time Hotels Management. The UAE-headquartered company has eight hotels in its pipeline throughout the Middle East, all of which are set to open by Q4 2018. The company is also planning to extend its footprint to Ajman and Fujairah in the UAE, followed by Saudi Arabia before the end of Q4 2018.

22. Henk Meyknecht, chief operating officer, Middle East and Africa, Kempinski Hotels

Europe’s oldest hotelier is celebrating its 120th anniversary and to mark the occasion, Kempinski’s chief operating officer, Middle East and Africa, Henk Meyknecht, has once again made it into the top quartile of the Hotelier Middle East Power 50. Previously at number 25, this year the industry veteran has climbed three spots and makes the list at number 22.

23. Andrew Shaw, assistant vice president – development EMEA, Dusit International

As assistant vice president for development in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Dusit International’s Andrew Shaw has enjoyed a busy year, especially within the mid-market hospitality segment. Dusit International operates six hotels in the region and more than 1,731 rooms. It also currently boasts a total of eight hotels in the pipeline.

24. Laurent A Voivenel, senior vice oresident, operations, and development for the Middle East, Africa, and India, Swiss-Belhotel International

French hotelier Laurent A Voivenel has recently taken over as senior vice president, operations and development for the Middle East, Africa, and India at Swiss-Belhotel International. Voivenel, with more than 32 years of experience, including 17 in the region, is focused on accelerating the growth of Swiss-Belhotel in the region. The group has seven hotels in the region, including one in Turkey, with plans to operate another 26 properties. Voivenel tells Hotelier that of the 26 hotels, 16 are under construction and 10 are under negotiation.

25. Sumair Tariq, managing director, R Hotels

Starting with two properties in 2010, the group now has seven in its portfolio: six operational and one to be completed in October 2017. Under the leadership of managing director, Sumair Tariq, R Hotels’ strategies for growth and expansion have been characterised as bold yet prudent.

26. Baran Turkel, managing director, Turkey, Middle East, and Central Asia, Best Western Hotels & Resorts

Baran Turkel has been associated with Best Western Hotels & Resorts for two-and-a-half years, and is responsible for a total of 16 hotels in the MENA region, and a further 15 in Turkey. The operator has 1,826 hotel rooms in MENA currently, and 1,385 in the Turkish market.

27. Hatem Gasmi, founder and managing director, Auris Group of Hotels

The Auris Group of Hotels was founded in Dubai in 2008 by its current managing director, Hatem Gasmi. According to the company’s website, the Auris Group of Hotels has already mapped out new development projects in Jordan, Sudan, and Tunisia, in line with its vision to be present in 15 countries by 2020. D

28. Aboudi Asali, chief executive officer, HMH – Hospitality Management Holding

It’s been barely four months since Aboudi Asali took charge as the chief executive officer at HMH – Hospitality Management Holding, and things are already changing. The group has significantly reduced the operating costs at its hotels, by approximately 15%, with an improved top line. He tells Hotelier Middle East: “What is noteworthy is that this was achieved without any redundancies.”

29. Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, vice chairman and CEO, Meliá Hotels International

Meliá Hotels International has added to its pipeline of hotels in the Middle East and North Africa with properties including the Meliá Saidia Beach and Meliá Saidia Residences in Morocco, ME Dubai, Innside Dubai JLT Emirates Golf, the Gran Meliá Iran (revealed last year), and others in the region.

30. Jamal Serhan, CEO and senior vice president, Warwick Hotels and Resorts

Jamal Serhan has spent six years with Warwick Hotels and Resorts as its CEO. He is spearheading the creation of two more brands under the Warwick umbrella. “We are in discussion,” he tells Hotelier Middle East.