POWER 50 2018: Here are the top 10 hoteliers in the Middle East
2018 was definitely was a busy year for hoteliers in the region. Given all the exciting developments, it was certainly a challenge for the Hotelier Middle East editorial team to rank this year’s list.
As always, the Power 50 is a subjective ranking, but it’s also grounded in facts and data. As with previous years, the team used an algorithm developed in-house, wherein data such as number of operating hotels and pipeline figures were collected.
AccorHotels’s CEO Middle East and Africa, Olivier Granet has earned his well-deserved spot at the top of the list. Granet led the operator through a period of rapid growth, tripling the portfolio to 160 operational hotels in the MENA with another 115 in the pipeline. After the release of the Power 50 rankings, AccorHotels also finalised the acquisition of Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, further boosting its portfolio in the region.
2. Alex Kyriakidis, president and MD, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International
3. Pascal Gauvin, MD, India, Middle East & Afria, InterContinental Hotels Group
Managing director, India, Middle East and Africa, @IHG InterContinental Hotels Group, Pascal Gauvin has retained the number three spot https://t.co/4gQJhSe1vc
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 2, 2018
4. Omer Kaddouri, President & CEO Rotana Hotel Management Corporation
. @RotanaHotels is on track to open 14 properties by the end of 2018. President & CEO Rotana Hotel Management Corporation Omer Kaddouri moves up seven places in this year's list! https://t.co/xBYtAc8Hq0
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 2, 2018
5. Tim Cordon, Area senior vice president, Middle East, Turkey and Africa Radisson Hotel Group
6. Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, President, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Middle East & Africa
Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi has been the prolific head leading @millennium Millennium Hotels & Resorts as the president for the last 16 years and in the last year, and has made noticeable strides in his efforts to expand the footprint of the company https://t.co/Fq6xC0Q8hW
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 2, 2018
7. Olivier Harnisch, Chief executive officer, Emaar Hospitality Group
Over the last 12 months, ( @EmaarHotels ) Emaar's focus has been to strengthen the footprint of its existing three main hotel brands. Hospitality group CEO Olivier Harnisch moves up to 7 on our Power 50 list. https://t.co/cGfhyxKMpw
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 2, 2018
8. Marc Descrozaille, President MEA, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts
9. Kamel Ajami, Vice President, Operations, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Levant, Hilton
Hilton’s footprint in the Middle East is massive and while Kamel Ajami is responsible only for Saudi Arabia & Levant, it’s no small feat as the 15 operating hotels he heads counts for approximately 25% of the Hilton’s supply @hilton https://t.co/1LDjQdkaj2
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 2, 2018
10. Ignace Bauwens, Regional vice president, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Over the last two years, Ignace Bauwens has overseen the group’s portfolio grow by 30%, from 8162 rooms in 2016 to 10,593 rooms today in the Middle East and Africa. @WyndhamHotels https://t.co/SIU6W290iS
— Hotelier Middle East (@HotelierME) September 2, 2018
To see the whole Power 50 list, head to: http://power50.hoteliermiddleeast.com/