Gerald Lawless, President & CEO, Jumeirah Group: As President and Group CEO of Jumeirah Group, Gerald Lawless has helped establish Jumeirah as one of the premier luxury hotel brands in the world. He joined the company in 1997 after a 23-year career with Forte Hotels, which culminated in him setting up and growing Forte?s operations in the Middle East. Taking on the challenge of launching Burj Al Arab, the world?s most luxurious hotel, after the successful introduction of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel to an eager travelling public, Gerald went on to become President and Group CEO of Jumeirah Group. Jumeirah currently has 22 properties under management in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Maldives, Shanghai, Baku, Istanbul, Frankfurt, London, Mallorca, Rome, and New York with a robust pipeline of new openings planned, especially in the Middle East and Asia, each offering the promise of ?Stay Different?. Gerald is a Graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland and holds an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management by the Johnson & Wales University, State of Rhode Island in the U.S.A., and an Honorary Degree of Laws by the NUI Galway, Ireland. He is a member of the Executive Committee and Vice Chairman ? Corporate Governance of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC); member of the Global Agenda Council for Aviation, Travel and Tourism of the World Economic Forum (WEF); fellow member of the Institute of Hospitality (formerly HCIMA); member of the Advisory Group for the Global Irish Forum; member of the Dubai Holding Executive Committee and member of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates National Development Programme (ENDP). Gerald is also a Non-Executive Director at the Travelodge Board where he represents Dubai Holding, and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.
1 of 40