Hotelier Middle East Power 50: The list
We've now revealed the Hotelier Middle East Power 50 – the fifty biggest, boldest and most influential names attached to the hospitality industry in the Middle East today.
From the heads of regional tourism and cultural departments to the head honchos who oversee vast hotel empires; from the suppliers that hoteliers simply couldn't ever live without to the chefs capable of turning a failing outlet into a must-eat venue.
The full list, in reverse order, is:
50th - 41st
50 = Maggie Moore Exhibition Director, DMG World Media Interview
50 = Jonathan Worsley Chairman, Bench Events Interview
49. Abdin Nasralla General Manager, Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
48. Fuad Mansoor General Manager, Park Inn Al Khobar Interview
47. Titus Van Der Werf Managing Director, The Parker Company (MIDDLE EAST) FZ LLC
46. Waleed Ahmed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi Chief Operating Officer, Mubadala
45. Wassim Mohey El-Din Chairman, Egyptian Hotel Association
44. Philip Barnes Regional VP, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts - UAE; GM, Fairmont Dubai
43. Talal Saeed Managing Partner And Director, Fino International
42. Edgar Solenthaler VP - Operations and Development, the ME, Swiss-Belhotel International
41. Daniel Hajjar CEO, Layia Hospitality Interview
40th - 31st
40. Tom Meyer Area General Manager, IHG, Dubai Festival City Interview
39. Lee Tabler Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development & Investment Company
38. Mansour Khodjasteh Managing Director, Al Aqili Furnishings LLC Interview
37. Peter Fulton Managing Director, Hyatt International South West Asia Ltd
36. Thomas Tapken GM and regional manager, Dubai, Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts (MPHR) Interview
35. Amadeo Zarzosa Senior VP and GM hotel operations, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
34. Shuja Zaidi GM, Makkah Hilton & Towers, VP, Projects, Hilton Hotels, Saudi Arabia
33. Michael Scully Managing Director - Hospitality, Seven Tides
32. Jean-Michel Gathy Principal, Denniston
31. Rahim Abu Omar Chief Executive, Habtoor Hotels
30th - 21st
30. Bernhard Haechler Vice president Middle East and GM Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai
29. Ahmed A. Al Nuaimi Chairman, Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority
28. Darroch Crawford Managing Director, Premier Inn Hotels LLC
27. Pascal Duchauffour Area vice president, Middle East and GM of The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC
26. Michel Noblet CEO, HMH - Hospitality Management Holding
25. Ulrich T. Eckhardt President Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels
24. Nihad Kattan Area Vice President for Middle East & Africa Marriott International Interview
23. Kurt Ritter President and CEO, Rezidor
22. Jean-Paul Herzog Area President Middle East and Africa, Hilton Hotels
21. Sarmad N. Zok CEO, Member - Executive Committee, Director KINGDOM HOTEL INVESTMENTS
20th - 11th
20. Abdullah S. Al Jehani & Dr Salah AL-Bhukayyet Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities
19. Sami K. Al-Ansari CEO, Ishraq
18 = Nasser Saif Mubarak Al Reyami Director, Tourism Standards Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
18 = HE Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
17. Ali Lakhraim Chairman and founder of Lakhraim Business Group
16 = HE Khalid Ahmed Bin Sulayem Director General, Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing
16 = Majid Sager Al-Marri Director, Dubai Hotel Classification Department
15. Tom Wright Technical Director, Atkins
14. Ron Hilvert Managing Director of EAHM
13. Phil Kasselis VP development IHG
12. Abdulla Mohamed Almulla Chairman, Almulla Hospitality
11. Ahmed Ramdan CEO, Roya International
10th - 1st
10. Talal Jassim Al-Bahar Vice Chairman & CEO, IFA Hotels & Resorts Kuwait
9. Christophe Landais Managing Director, Accor Hospitality Middle East Interview
8. Guido De Wilde VP, Regional Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East
7. Paul Bell Managing Director, Aldar Hotels and Hospitality
6. HE Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri Chairman, Abu Dhabi National Hotels
5. Joe Sita CEO, Nakheel Hotels
4. Jurgen Fischer Senior Vice President, Hotel, Leisure and Entertainment, Tatweer LLC
3. Marc-Francois Dardenne CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group LLC, Emaar Hotels & Resorts LLC
2. Gerald Lawless Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group
1. Selim El Zyr Co-founder, president and CEO, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation Ltd