Hospitality Plus presents you the 2019 edition of the Hotelier Middle East Power 50, the only list that recognises and celebrates the top 50 most influential hotel professionals working in the Middle East hospitality industry. Two in a hierarchy out of these 50 professionals will be covered every month. Give a read and feel inspired.
Pascal Gauvin
Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
IHG currently operates 93 hotels and more than 32,000 rooms across the MENA region. The group’s pipeline is one of the largest in the region with 38 hotels and 13,700 rooms expected to open.
After the successful reflagging of Dubai’s Nassima Royal to Voco Dubai, the group recently signed the ‘world’s largest’ Voco property in Makkah. The property comprises 4,200 rooms and will be the second Voco-branded hotel in the region. Another upcoming IHG property will be the first InterContinental Hotel in Ras al Khaimah: the InterContinental Mina Al Arab Resort, which will launch in 2021.
IHG secured the second place in the ‘Great Place to Work’ 2018 survey in Saudi Arabia. IHG in Saudi Arabia was also recognised amongst the “Best Multinational Workplaces in Asia in 2019” and ranked sixth on the list this year.
https://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/lists/107996-pascal-gauvi
Kamel Ajami
Vice President, Operations, KSA & Levant, Hilton
With almost 100 active hotel deals in the Middle East and North Africa pipeline, Hilton has ambitious expansion plans.
In July 2018, Hilton made the global debut of its luxury collection brand LXR Hotels and Resorts with the re-branding of Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels and Resorts in Habtoor City.
In March 2019, Hilton announced the introduction of its lifestyle brand Canopy by Hilton to open at the Avenues – Riyadh, with an expected opening date of 2023.
Some of the positive initiatives taken by Hilton is the partnership with the government on HR programmes in KSA and collaborating with the Queen of Jordan on an effort to see the establishment of a hospitality university and a youth job service.
The brand is also working to attract more females to careers in the hospitality industry and help its own female Team Members reach leadership positions through various management development programmes.
