These visionary leaders, selected through a public voting process, represent a wide range of expertise and organizational backgrounds.

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hozpitality.com proudly presents its prestigious Power List of the 30 Most Popular Hospitality and Tourism Leaders, recognizing the remarkable achievements of top executives who have made a profound impact on the region’s dynamic hospitality and tourism industries. The honorees include influential figures from airlines, hotels, tourism boards, and hospitality management firms, all of whom have played pivotal roles in transforming the Middle East into a global travel hub.

The honorees, selected through an extensive public voting process, represent a diverse array of industries, including hotel chains, airlines, tourism boards, and hospitality management companies. These visionary leaders are recognized for their innovative contributions, inspiring leadership, and their role in positioning the Middle East as a global destination for both leisure and business travelers.

Transforming the Middle East’s Hospitality and Tourism Landscape

The Middle East is undergoing unprecedented growth in its hospitality and tourism sector, spurred by strategic investments, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts that the sector will contribute approximately $250 billion to the region’s GDP by 2025, with a projected annual growth rate of 5.5%. In 2022 alone, over 27 million international tourists visited the Middle East, marking a significant recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are leading the region’s tourism renaissance through initiatives such as Expo 2020 Dubai and Saudi Vision 2030, which have helped bolster infrastructure and diversify tourism offerings. The hospitality sector is experiencing similar growth, with hotel occupancy rates in major cities exceeding 70% and airlines expanding their networks to connect more travelers to the region.

Celebrating Leadership and Innovation

The leaders recognized by Hozpitality exemplify a dedication to promoting the Middle East as a prime travel destination while fostering sustainability, cultural preservation, and economic growth. Their efforts have not only propelled their companies but also shaped the future of travel in the region.

List of the Best 30 Most Popular Hospitality and Tourism Leaders (in alphabetical order):

• Adel Abdullah Ali, Group CEO & Executive Director, Air Arabia
• Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO, Emirates Airline & Group
• Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah International Airport Authority
• Amir Golbarg, Senior VP, Middle East & Africa, Minor International
• Antonoaldo Neves, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group
• Badr Mohammed Al Meer, CEO, Qatar Airways Group
• Basmah Al-Mayman, Regional Director, Middle East at UNWTO
• Cenk Ünverdi, COO, Rixos Hotels and AIC
• Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
• Duncan O’Rourke, CEO Middle East, Africa, Turkey & Asia-Pacific | Premium, Midscale & Economy, Accor
• Elena Sorlini, MD & CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports
• Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA)
• Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai
• Guenter H Gebhard, Regional VP, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
• Guy Hutchinson, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Hotels
• Haitham Mattar, Managing Director MEA & Southwest Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
• Kamil Al-Awadhi, CEO, Kuwait Airways; Regional VP Africa & Middle East, IATA
• Mark Kirby, COO – Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group
• Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek
• Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels
• Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports
• Pawan Kachroo, MD, Khamas Hospitality
• Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
• Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
• Sandeep Walia, COO Middle East, Marriott International
• Simon Casson, CEO, Corinthia Hotels Limited
• Sultan Al-Otaibi, CEO, Dur Hospitality
• Tim Cordon, CEO, Radisson Hotel Group
• Tyrone Reid, Group CEO, MMI & Emirates Leisure Retail

These leaders have set benchmarks in operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability, and their influence continues to shape the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors for years to come.

For further information, please contact: Hozpitality Group Email: [email protected], Phone: +971 4 334 3177

About Hozpitality Group: Hozpitality Group is a leading name in the global hospitality industry, providing a platform for professionals to connect, share, and celebrate excellence in hospitality. With a strong presence in Dubai and India, Hozpitality Group hosts prestigious events, including the Middle East Chef Excellence Awards, to recognize and honor outstanding achievements in the industry.

Hozpitality.com is an online platform for professionals from Hotels, Restaurants, Airlines, Travel agencies, Clubs, Cruise Lines, Cinemas, Spas, Schools, Suppliers and Retail. Hozpitality offers Branding options, A Community Network for Employers and Job seekers, a directory of Hospitality Suppliers, Latest Hospitality News, Hotel News, Movements and Appointments and Hospitality Announcements Hotel Industry Recruitment, Professional CV designing, Hospitality Courses etc. We provide an effective platform where all hospitality professionals can come together, network and benefit.

Hozpitality.com offers a selection of best Hotel Management Institutes, Schools and Universities and Hotel Management Courses. Hospitality Students can search and apply for Hotel Management Courses and join the School’s Alumni and network with their colleagues. Hozpitality also offers a Market Place for Hospitality Suppliers where Hospitality Products, Services, Offers and Deals can be listed and sold to millions of Global Hospitality professionals.

Hozpitality reaches out to over 1.2 million professionals thru its 2 group websites, www.hozpitality.com and www.hozpitalityplus.com with Registered Members and Social Media from over 186 countries.

The dedicated hospitality Media and News website Hozpitalityplus.com, publishes and shares Latest Hospitality News, Announcements, Hotel openings, Promotions, Events, Hospitality Movements and Appointments and Hospitality announcements, Reviews, Blogs etc.

Hozpitality Consulting is a Global Executive Search consultancy based out of Toronto, Canada. Our success lies in building a long-term relationship and delivering results quickly and efficiently for a “much lower cost”. We are experts in locating the best possible suitable executive and management candidates for placements in all types of hospitality organizations around the world. Through our matchless database, communication and networking, over the world, we provide our clients with the most skillful candidates.

“Hozpitality Buzz- The inside scoop” is a TV show based on the hospitality industry in Dubai and UAE, is in English and telecast-ed on a premier TV channel in Middle East & North Africa reaching out to approx. 10-12 million viewers. To know more about the TV show, Please log on to:- www.facebook.com/hozpitalitybuzz and https://www.youtube.com/Hozpitality 

Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards are presented to recognize top industry organizations which have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity and success in the Middle East & North Africa’s growing hospitality industry. Logon to www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com

To know more about the group, please log on to:
www.hozpitality.com, www.hozpitalityplus.com, www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com  

Contact:-
Raj Bhatt
Founder & CEO
HOZPITALITY GROUP
A SUBSIDIARY OF VR ONLINE GROUP
P.O Box- 119395, Dubai, UAE
Phone:- +971 4 334 31 77, Fax:- +971 4 334 31 78
Email:- [email protected]

SOURCE Hozpitality Group

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