3 Marc-Francois Dardenne

July 16th, 2009

For bringing glamour to the Middle East hotel industry, Marc-Francois Dardenne enters Hotelier Middle East’s Power 50 at number three.

Since joining Emaar in 2007, having previously served as vice president and area general manager for The Ritz-Carlton Hotels in the Middle East, Dardenne has identified, undertaken and developed world-class projects in the region. This has resulted in the launch of international five-star hotel brand The Address Hotels + Resorts, arguably redefining luxury through its elegant design principles and outstanding quality of service.

Although there are only two properties currently operating, the impact of The Address Downtown Burj Dubai has been undeniable and announcements of future projects both in the region and beyond have been made despite the economic climate.

Dardenne’s association with the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai, through his role heading-up the flagship Armani Hotel Dubai for Armani Hotels & Resorts, a collaboration between Emaar Properties PJSC and Giorgio Armani S.p.A, branded hotels, makes him one of the most powerful hoteliers in the region today.