4th Edition Hospitality Innovation Summit - Africa

STRATEGY

SYNERGY

SUCCESS

26-27 FEB

Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City

DUBAI, UAE

ABOUT OUR EVENT

GCC is thriving where Saudi Arabia & UAE are the shining stars of the region. Massive hotel pipeline, infrastructure development and ease of travel has resulted in these countries being some of the most sought after and flourishing hospitality markets. Hospitality Innovation Summit makes for a premium, targeted platform that connects decision makers representing some of these top projects and has become a melting pot of hospitality industry in the region. Yet again, this summit brings the best together to create Synergy, Strategy and Success through global collaborations. Attendance by-invitation-only, an engaging agenda, targeting networking and custom-matched prearranged meetings are some of the exclusive offerings for the summit. Time is money and money is serious business – We are in the business of creating highest value for your time – We are GBB.

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B2B Meetings

who you will meet

  • Architects
  • Interior Designers
  • Developers
  • Hotel Operators
  • Hotel Owners
  • Consultants
  • Contractors
  • Global Solution Providers
  • Media / Associations

Features of the event

Pre-Qualified Delegates

Global Suppliers

Distinguished Speakers

Network of Industry Associations

Prior Notification of Attendees

Strategized Networking

Influential Media

Customized Business Meetings

SIGNATURE MEETINGS

Our most valued offering, creates most value for your time with us. The signature meetings bring together select decision makers from some of the largest hospitality projects in Africa with unique project needs and innovative suppliers from across the globe with some of the most in-demand offerings. The requirements and offerings are then painstakingly and diligently matched and the meetings organized at the summit with dedicated account managers to ensure seamless execution.

Our Speakers

Wahdan Al Kadi

Chief Business Officer

Tourism Development Fund, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed Elsamman

Group CEO

Rajhi Invest

Hazem El Banna

Chief Operating Officer

Knowledge Economic City

Phillip J. Jones

Chief Tourism Officer

Royal Commission of AlUla

Imran Changezi

Development Senior Director

Diriyah Gate Development Authority

Hala Matar Choufany

President-HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia | Managing Partner

Abu Soma Development Company [Somabay]

Saeed Al Nahdi

CEO

Sumou Holding

Dr. Abdulgader Amir

Deputy CEO - Planning & Development

Aseer Development Authority (ASDA)

Kristina Zanic

CEO

Kristina Zanic Consultants

Maya Ziadeh

Chief Development Officer, Premium Midscale & Economy - Middle East, Africa & Turkey

Accor

Hakan Ozkasikci

Executive Vice President, Global Design & Technical Services

Kerzner International

Jacqueline Shaddock

Head of Interior Design

Emaar

19. Maliha Nishat

Director, Interior Design, Global Design

Marriott International

Vibha Sawhney

Senior Director of Design & Construction Services

Kempinski Hotel

Richard David Nelson

Partner

Kengo Kuma & Associates

Jeremy Heyes

Managing Principal

WATG

Paolo Testolini

Principal

Woods Bagot

Diane Thorsen

Hospitality Design Director,Principal

Gensler

Rahul Deo Gupta

Executive Director EPMO

Boutique Group

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OUR PAST CLIENTS

SUMMIT PARTNERS

SUMMIT PARTNERS

SUMMIT PARTNERS

SUMMIT PARTNERS

SUMMIT PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ASSOCIATIONS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ASSOCIATIONS

MEDIA PARTNERS

Client Testimonials

It’s a great chance so much time with the buyer, and it’s very important to maximize our presence in Saudi Arabia. It’s a great opportunity to interact with a lot of players in the business in a very short time and to have very effective conversations. If I had to do it in a different way, it would take me much more time and would be less effective, so I’m grateful for this chance

ABB
VP Global Marketing - Smart Buildings

We are a famous luxury experience brand, and I was here today to present our hospitality and real estate opportunities. I’m very happy about this experience. I had a chance to present what we do to the Saudi market, which is very important. We think that it is a great opportunity indeed, and I was very happy to be here and to have very interesting meetings. I would like to thank GBB for having me here. Everything was so well organized, and I’m really happy with the experience. I think it was highly professional but also very informal, and we were just very comfortable. We enjoyed it a lot! Thank you!

Tonino Lamborghini
COO Hospitality and Real Estate Development

Hospitality is booming in the region so it is definitely the right time to host such an event and bring together the hospitality leaders to discuss and to shape the future of the industry. It was a very good opportunity for the suppliers to meet the buyers, but at the same time, it was a good opportunity for the buyers to see the new innovations, technologies and products offered by the suppliers. I'm very happy to be a part of this event, and we are looking forward to the next one.

LIXIL EMENA
Leader Architecture and Design MENA

This is my first time here in the Hospitality Innovation Summit and this has been a great experience for me, and I see a lot of opportunities. Hopefully, I get to come here many years to come, and I wish everyone the best of luck and we’ll do great! Thank you!

Gruppo Bounifante
VP of Sales

I’m very happy to be here today at the HIS 2023. It’s an amazing place where we can meet industry leaders.

Schneider Electric
MEA Hotel Segment Director

I am the CEO and founder of RKF Group from France. I appreciate so much the way that it is because I came here for the third time because each time I feel like it's increasing the level, the category and the qualification of the people attending the event, from both sides, buyers and suppliers. The quality of the connection and the organisation itself is really high-end.  And when you know the key people coming here and that's why I congratulate the organizer for bringing these people.

RKF Linen
CEO and Founder
Ira Sundukova
Founder of Sundukovy Sisters
(S+S) Studio
Sundukovy Sisters (S+S) Studio is a renowned interior design studio celebrated for its vibrant, artistic, and innovative designs in restaurants and hotels worldwide. With 20 years of experience and a portfolio showcasing over 200 projects across multiple countries, the studio has earned over 16 awards for excellence in hospitality design. The studio has a strong presence in the MENA region, with recent hotel projects in the UAE, Egypt, Kenya, and Benin and restaurant projects in London, Los Angeles, Marbella, Limassol, and Dubai.
Turab Saleem
Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Advisory Services
Knight Frank
An accomplished and meticulous professional with 25 years of proven success record in various aspects of the hospitality industry including management, development and operations. A strategic thinker with excellent communication skills and a strong work ethic with the ability to inspire others through positive attitude, clear direction and resourcefulness. His consulting experience includes over 68 projects with a value of approximately USD 42 Billion. He has worked in various continents including Europe, North America, USA and the Middle East holding prestigious positions as Regional Partner Head, contributing his expertise over several years to renowned and established hotels. He has been involved in planning and advising some of the successful Hospitality and Tourism-related projects in Paris, Miami, New York, London, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bangkok particularly with Academic/ Professional Qualifications Intercontinental and Shangri La group of hotels. Special Projects • Jazan Tourism Development Plan – Hospitality Advisory- Saudi Arabia • Tourism Development Fund – Hospitality Advisory – Saudi Arabia • Emirates Airlines – Hospitality Advisory– UAE • Qatar Airport – Hospitality Advisory – Qatar • Rua Al Madina - Hospitality Planning and Advisory - Saudi Arabia • Jeddah Central Development Co. - Hospitality Advisory- Saudi Arabia • Saadiyat Island - Master Planning Advisory – Abu Dhabi, UAE • Jabal Akhdar - Project Development and Planning– Oman • NEOM - Hospitality Advisory – Saudi Arabia • Gulf Coast Real Estate Development Company – Hospitality Advisory - Saudi Arabia • Qiddiya - Financial Advisory– Saudi Arabia • Diriyah Gate - Financial Adv - Saudi Arabia Turab Saleem has made significant contributions to various hospitality conferences across the Middle East and Africa as a distinguished speaker and moderator. With extensive years of expertise in the industry, he is a sought-after speaker, known for his insightful presentations and engaging moderation. Recently, Turab further solidified his reputation by presenting on "The Future of Hotel," where he explored the evolving landscape of the hospitality sector. His discussion covered upcoming trends, innovative technologies, and the changing expectations of guests, offering valuable perspectives on what the future holds for hotels. His contributions continue to shape the dialogue and development within the hospitality industry in the region. Turab Saleem has significantly contributed to the hospitality industry through his extensive media presence and research work, establishing himself as a credible source of information and insight. His deep expertise and years of experience make him a sought-after speaker and moderator at various hospitality conferences across the Middle East and Africa. His involvement in various research projects within the hospitality industry has solidified his reputation as a thought leader. This research work, combined with his forward-thinking perspectives, showcases his ability to identify emerging trends, innovative technologies, and evolving guest expectations. Turab's comprehensive analysis and insights continuously influence the discourse and development within the hospitality sector, further highlighting his expertise and leadership qualities.
Lee-Anne Singer
Partner
HVS Middle East & Africa
Lee-Anne, along with her business partners, oversees various businesses within the travel, hospitality, hotel, and property sectors in South Africa. With over 27 years of experience in the industry, she has a proven track record of driving business development for a diverse portfolio of brands. She is passionate about leadership, empowerment, and social entrepreneurship, and actively participates in various community and entrepreneurship programs that foster social change and job creation. Her public roles include serving on the board of Cape Town Tourism; Committee Chair of the Tourism Sector Portfolio at the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and West Coast Chapter Committee member at the Chamber. She is also the Chairperson of FEDHASA Cape, the national trade association for the hospitality industry, and a board member of Glendale Home Cape Town, a home for intellectually disabled adults. Lee-Anne has been recognised as a positive role model in the corporate sector when she was awarded the 2020 Gender Mainstreaming Positive Role Model Award in the Cape province. She enjoys speaking at conferences and events, sharing her insights and expertise in the tourism industry. Her biggest and most exciting project, however, is raising her three children and pursuing her dream of running ten of the world's most famous half-marathons.
Dipo Adebo
Senior Partner, Principal Architect & Senior Project Manager
DAA Architects Ltd.
Highly accomplished Architect and Managing Director with 35+ years of experience driving project and team success through exceptional leadership, collaboration, and innovative design solutions. Key Strengths - Proven track record of managing large interdisciplinary project groups and fostering ownership among clients, teams, and users - Expertise in complex architectural, technical, and functional projects, with a focus on hospitality design and development - Strong leadership and motivational skills, with a passion for challenging teams to adapt to evolving design and project development systems Experience - Managing Director, DAA (35 years) - Successfully led the firm to become the premier hotel design and development firm in West Africa - Collaborated with international hotel management groups and local boutique hotel brands on numerous hospitality projects in Nigeria and West Africa Specializations - Hospitality design and development - Project management and team leadership - Complex architectural, technical, and functional projects - Cross-cultural design and community engagement
Abbas Azzouzi
CEO
Experienciah and H Partners
Abbas Azzouzi is a recognized leader in the hospitality industry, currently serving as the President and CEO of Experienciah, the first innovative Moroccan platform dedicated to hotel management. Since 2022, he has led this company, which manages a portfolio of 22 hotels, with a focus on Moroccan art of living and customer experience. Under his strategic vision, Experienciah provides tailor-made solutions for hoteliers and investors and aims to expand its influence across the African continent. In addition to his role at Experienciah, Abbas Azzouzi is also the CEO of HPartners, a hospitality investment fund investing in Morocco. His career includes a significant role at the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) where he has been appointed by His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. he played a key role in promoting Morocco as a destination and implementing the strategic program “Vision 2010”. During his leadership the destination experienced an annual increase of 15% for arrivals, 25% for revenues and achieved 7.4 million tourists, $8 billions of revenues in 2007. He spent also a key role in formatting the media sector in Morocco by launching the first private news channel in Morocco. In 5 years, the channel reached a market share of 15% and multiplied the audience share by 10 to reach 7,5%. Before coming back to Morocco, he spent more than 15 years in Europe with a strong experience in the luxury industry (LVMH, Christofle) dealing with business acquisitions, transformation and internationalization. With a career marked by business transformation and the development of innovative strategies, Abbas Azzouzi stands out for his ability to lead ambitious projects and create sustainable value across various sectors, always with a strong commitment to excellence and innovation. Abbas Azzouzi is an alumni of EMLyon and The University of Texas at Austin where he graduated with an MBA. He managed (from 2007 until 2016) the Mawazine Festival, one of the biggest festival in the world.
Siegfried Nierhaus
Vice President & Head of Development Middle East, India and Africa
H World International
Siegfried Nierhaus is a well-respected name in the Middle Eastern hospitality industry, known for his passion and dedication towards his work and team. Born and raised in a family of restaurateurs and hoteliers in Germany and Austria, Siegfried inherited the love for hospitality from his family and has entertained guests at his family business since the age of 4. His more then 30-year career in the industry has been dominated by 15 years spent in France and 16 years based in Dubai with responsibilities throughout the Middle East, India, Asia, and Africa. In the Middle East, Siegfried has held strategic and leading operational positions, and board of director positions while working for different international hotel operators, hotel owners, and hospitality consultants. He is the only German in the hospitality industry who has been recognised as one of the Top 50 hoteliers in the Middle East since 2011. Siegfried holds the position of Vice President and Head of Business Development for H World International covering the Middle East, India, and Africa (MEIA) region with over 32 hotels, 8344 keys to date. With a strategic vision and a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences, Siegfried has led numerous high-profile projects, enhanced operational excellence and driven business growth across diverse markets. Siegfried’s deep understanding of the unique cultural and business dynamic within the MEIA region, has positioned him as a key influencer in the hospitality sector and inspire and empower teams to achieve new heights of success, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence throughout the organisation. Siegfried’s motto is to empower his team by fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where every voice is valued by encouraging open communication, providing opportunities for continuous learning and professional development with skills needed to succeed in a fast-paced industry. He promotes a culture of accountability and trust, empowering the team to take ownership of their roles and make decisions that drive the business forward. The leadership style is rooted in mentorship, actively guiding and inspiring his team to reach their full potential.
Diane Thorsen
Design Principal, Global Hospitality Lead
Gensler
Diane is passionate about creative solutions in interior architecture, Diane Thorsen believes that great design begins with understanding a client’s vision, their culture & designing from the inside out. Her extensive experience spanning over 30 years coupled with leadership ability has resulted in an award-winning design studio of thought leaders. Diane relocated to the Middle East in 2008 where she embraced the region’s nuances and responded with sensitivity to appropriate design solutions. Most notably her designs for international hospitality and mixed-use developments display attention to detail, a love of local art, and quality of craftsmanship. Her award-winning work and design approach is informed by human centric design, creativity, collaboration, and a forward-thinking approach with a structured, detailed process. A graduate of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture from the University of Johannesburg South Africa, Diane furthered her studies to include sustainability and is a LEED Accredited Professional and a WELL Building Accredited Professional. She is a Registered Interior Designer within the IIDA and serves on the advisory board of the American University in Dubai. Skilled at creating beautiful designs under a variety of budgets, styles, timeframes, and requirements, Diane guides clients through every phase of the design process and remains committed to delivering quality experiences.
Hamza Farooqui
CEO
Millat Investments
Hamza Farooqui is a committed South African entrepreneur holding a commanding presence across multiple sectors including fuel, convenience, real estate, technology, hospitality, tourism, and global financial services. As the founding CEO of the Millat Group, he has consistently steered negotiations with global business giants to successful conclusions. Farooqui has not only earned the trust of the Canadian multinational Alimentation Couche-Tard, the force behind Circle K, but also bridged a strategic alliance with Swiss based Trafigura, allowing him to play in the downstream fuel and gas space through the Puma Energy brand. He envisions lighting up the South African convenience map with 300 Circle K stores within the next three years. His resilience shone through the COVID crisis when he brought American hotel giant Hyatt to South Africa, opening the Hyatt Regency in Cape Town at the pandemic’s peak. Following this, two more Hyatt properties sprouted in Johannesburg, with a fourth one set to open in 2024. With an ambitious target of controlling two thousand keys in South Africa by 2024, Farooqui is not one to rest on his laurels. His innovative thinking has led to a partnership with Uber Eats, making Millat the pioneer hotel group to launch dark kitchens in South Africa. Informed by diverse cultures and a powerful sense of community, he embodies a service-oriented ethos. Farooqui travels the world widely, has extensive business interests in the GCC and the sub-continent, and through an extensive network has high-level access to global companies and their leaders. He also draws inspiration from the cultural diversity in these regions and his parental roots of Pakistan. Farooqui previously served as MD for satellite radio company WorldSpace in Africa, where he spearheaded capital raising efforts that culminated in a triumphant NASDAQ IPO. Farooqui ventured into hospitality and tourism launching his first global hotel brand with Coral Hotels in 2009. He paved the way for the Hilton brand in South Africa, introducing Hilton to Cape Town in 2011, and opening Conrad Pezula in 2012 – a first on African soil for the prestigious brand. Farooqui remains committed to his vision of seeing South Africa emerge as an economic powerhouse on the global stage. For Farooqui, his journey has never been solely about achieving personal milestones or acquiring wealth. He is driven by the ethos of servitude, a principle that permeates all his ventures and partnerships.
Karim Cheltout
Regional Vice President - Lodging Development, Africa and All-Inclusive EMEA
Marriott International
In his current role, Karim oversees the growth of Marriott International's footprint across the African continent. He is also leading the company All-Inclusive hotel development across EMEA. Karim joined Marriott in 2010 as Vice President of Development for Africa. Karim has over 23 years of experience in hotel real estate development, finance and investments. Prior to joining Marriott, Karim was a Director of Investments at Istithmar. In his role he was responsible for origination and acquisitions of hotel and leisure assets globally. Karim started his career in hotel consulting with Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young Transactions Real Estate Advisory. He has advised hospitality companies, investors and lenders on M&A transactions, strategy and investment opportunities within Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Through his college years, Karim went to work as a summer intern with Club Med, and that got him to start his hospitality journey. Karim holds a Masters in Hospitality Administration from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, in Switzerland.
MARDRE MEYER
Creative Director
Source
Following a career in PR and media, Mardré’s passion for realising the full potential of brands continues in his work at Source Interior Brand Architecture. As Creative Director he ensures that the integrity of the concept is upheld and developed to its maximum. His involvement covers all aspects of the project starting from initial concept narrative, through design development and includes FF&E and finishes. Mardré has worked on projects ranging from large-scale hospitality developments, through boutique work environments to affordable housing schemes and exhibition stands. Most recently he has also formalised a branding offering as part of the studio’s hospitality expertise. This facilitates a much more meaningful creative relationship with the client, and more specifically the project, as it allows input and oversight of a much broader range of creative aspects that all contribute to the experiential storytelling. Mardré’ is currently included in Scape magazine’s ‘The One Hundred’ – ‘a special edition that spotlight the 100 iconic voices of the South African design industry earmarked by the publisher make waves and inspire. As a studio, Source IBA has spent more than 20 years passionately working to establish contemporary African design as an equal player on the global stage rather than a curiosity. As such, Source IBA has broken boundaries by becoming either the first and in some cases still the only African studio to be pre-approved by international hospitality brands Radisson Hotel Group, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt, Accor Hotels, Marriott International, Kempinski, Melia Hotels and most recently Intercontinental Hotel Group.
Ajay K. Bakaya
Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Director
Louvre Hotels
A trailblazer in Indian hospitality. An experienced hotelier with 46 years of work in India, Africa, Australia, France & UK. Ajay has contributed to the phenomenal growth story of Sarovar since its early inception, beginning from a shared office table to over 125 hotels today. Ajay was Director Rooms at Australia’s largest hotel, now the 878 room Hyatt Regency, Sydney. He was a GM with Oberoi Hotels at the age of 31 years. An MBA alumni of IMHI (Cornell – ESSEC, France), Ajay is a graduate of the Oberoi School, and a Bachelor of Science. He leads with entrepreneurial zeal. He has been awarded ‘Hall of Fame’, ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ and ‘CEO of the Year’ in India.
Olya Sundukova
Co-Founder
Sundukovy Sisters (S+S) Studio
Ira and Olga Sundukovy, founders of Sundukovy Sisters (S+S) Studio, lead a renowned interior design studio celebrated for its vibrant, artistic, and innovative designs in restaurants and hotels worldwide. With 20 years of experience and a portfolio featuring over 200 projects across multiple countries, the studio has earned more than 16 awards for excellence in hospitality design, including the Designers of the Year award at the Golden Key Awards in 2018. The studio has a strong presence in the MENA region, with recent hotel projects in the UAE, Egypt, Kenya, and Benin, along with restaurant projects in London, Los Angeles, Marbella, Limassol, and Dubai.
Victor Oluwole
Head and Editor
Business Insider Africa
Victor Oluwole is the Head and Editor at Business Insider Africa, where he oversees both the editorial and commercial operations. With nearly a decade of experience in business journalism, Victor manages content direction while also driving revenue strategies and managing client relationships. Since joining Business Insider Africa, Victor has led the publication to new heights, significantly growing its audience and impact. His efforts have ensured the platform's commercial sustainability, and he has created influential stories that have resonated locally and internationally.
Tarek Hegazy
CEO & Creative Director
Living Design
A long and illustrious career with over 35 years of experience, and numerous prestigious projects in his portfolio, resulting in more than 420 plus projects, the majority being 5 stars hotels, Tarek Hegazy joined Living Design in 1999 and has since then gradually risen to become the CEO and Creative Director of the company since 2006. His company, Living Design, the oldest ID company in Scandinavia, a Swedish based International Interior Design firm established in 1984 and celebrating 40 year’s anniversary in 2024 is considered by its peers to be one of the leading Interior Design studio in Europe and Scandinavia with more than 400+ `hotel projects successfully completed to-date. Living Design has earned over 120 awards for their hotels and is considered a top ranked interior design firm within the hospitality, high end residential and commercial projects. During his time at the helm of Living Design, the company has grown to be a leading design player within its field. This all encompassing role has given him the impetus to develop a much stronger work and cooperation ethic with all key players involved within this industry. From clients, investors and operators, he continuously assists them in their comfort and ease of use with the facilities he creates, and of course, with his own team of professionals. Living Design has achieved a large number of projects in all 4 continents, and for some of the most prestigious hotel brands across Europe, the Middle East and the US. Prior to Living Design, Mr. Hegazy has also served at various major companies in his carrier all of them from the top 100 in architecture & Design. Living Design currently have it’s headquarter in Stockholm, Sweden with another offices in Zurich and in Geneva, Switzerland and a liaison office in Cairo with eye on expanding to Saudi Arabia in 2024. Mr. Hegazy is a member of the Swedish Architekt Association, The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International Interior Designers Association (IIDA), NEWH The hospitality Network, as well as the Egyptian syndicate of Engineers Mr. Hegazy has lectured and continue to lecture about Interior Design and industry future topics to prestigious bodies including the AIA, The Chinese Institute of Architects, the UN Environment Summit, and several governmental bodies and investment conference across the globe in addition to design conferences and is considered as one of the top executives in the Hospitality. He has won numerous awards in Design and his work has been featured regularly in different reputable publications.
Ahmed El-Halawany
Chief Development Officer
SODIC
Ahmed El-Halawany is the Chief Development Officer at SODIC. El-Halawany has over 15 years of experience in managing the development portfolio of prominent real estate players in Egypt and the region. Prior to joining SODIC, El-Halawany served as the Chief Development Officer at Orascom Development, Egypt, where he led the real estate business unit in El Gouna with special focus on projects' progress, revenues, deliveries, and cash flow management. El-Halawany also served as the Development Director for Malls & Residential at Marakez, the Development Director at Eagle Hills Properties and held the same role at SODIC, overseeing Eastown for two years. Earlier in his career, El-Halawany spent five years as the Development Manager at Emaar Properties, Mivida, following his role as Design Architect at Dar El Handasah. El-Halawany holds a BSc in Architecture from Cairo University.
Ezana Kirubel
Owner
Anyana Hospitality
Owner of Anyana Hospitality. Involved in the hotel business in Ethiopia and in the process of building the first luxury boutique hotel in Ethiopia - Founder and CEO of Stellar Solutions. Involved in the import of construction materials, export of agro commodities, and distribution of FMCG products.
Justin Wells
Founder & CEO
Wells International
Wells International is a preeminent global hospitality design consultancy crafting some of the world’s most unique, original and luxurious hospitality projects. Founded by CEO Justin Wells, the goal of Wells International is to be the most distinctive hospitality design company in the world. Wells International uses a unique ‘manifesto’ in the ideation process being Design Mirrors Theatre. Their design approach is to create deep research-led, inventive storytelling, which results in emotively charged, transformational experiences. Wells believes the four pillars of Wells International’s design process, namely the creation of a Script, Scenography, and celebrations of Actors and Audience, are all deeply reflected in the hospitality industry, and therefore deeply shape the design philosophy of the company. As an award-winning designer and Australian architect, Wells has designed exquisite hospitality projects across the world for nearly three decades. His instinctive passion for hotel design was born out of travel at a youthful age, when he noticed the magical transformation of how resorts could reinvent from day to night, from a cognitive planning arrangement to a mystical ambience of intriguing spaces amongst light and shadow. Wells founded Wells International in Dubai to strategically service the locations of projects across Europe, Middle East and Southeast Asian regions. Having previously tenured with some of the hospitality industry’s giants, Wells continues to design with his international team located across Europe, Middle East and the Asia Pacific. As a positive contributor back to the design industry, Wells has also been a design judge for Global and MEA AHEAD awards on multiple occasions, a regular keynote speaker at industry events and conferences and is privileged to have an enviable client list comprising Royal Family members and Heads of State amongst numerous others. “Hospitality design and travel have been deep passions of mine from an early age,” says Wells. “I have always been fascinated by different places, cultures and experiences, and this has translated into an emotional approach to design.
Asser Hamdy
Chairman & Managing Director
The Arab Co. for Hotels & Tourism Investments 
In 39 years of hospitality experience, Asser, has built strong managerial skills within different 5 stars hotel brands in various regions including city and resort, serving both travel and corporate business mix. After having a degree in hotel management in 1982 ; with highest honors; Asser has started his career as a management trainee at Hilton international, he started stepping the ladder by becoming a front office manager, rooms division manager, ending by becoming General Manager. Asser has been with 5 stars international chains; including Hilton International, IHG, Le Meridien and lastly Sonesta International. Asser has attended the Genearal Managers Seminar & Workshop of The Hotel School – Cornell University. Asser has attended several AH&MA courses, and is a Front Office Management & Procedures (Certified Instructor). Since 2008; Asser has moved from the hotel operations field, into the owning companies field, starting with the Kharafi group of Kuwait , as Senior Director of assets for hotel operations of the group in both Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, ending with Emmar group in 2014 as Senior Director of Hospitality for Egypt operations. Starting 2015, Asser has joined the Oriental Weavers group ( OW); as Chairman & Managing Director, of their real estate and hospitality holding company; Orientals for Urban Development “ OUD”. Asser’s most recent role since January 2022, was the Chief Executive Officer for the hospitality division of Amer group. In his capacity, Asser was responsible for the overall performance and operations of the following subdivisions : Hotels, Malls, Sport Clubs, Porto Holiday’s program and Porto Vacation Club. Startin September 2022, Asser has started a new chapter in his hospitality career, when he became the Chairman & Managing director of The Arab Company for Hotels & Tourism Investment “ACHTI”. ACHTI, is the owning company of 2 hotels, Novotel Cairo Airport and Steignberger Achti resort Luxor. In his new capacity, Asser is in charge of the company operation, and that of the 2 owned hotels, including; renovation and refurbishment plans. The company’s budget and finding new revenue streams, is among his main duties.
Ibrahim El Missiri
Group CEO
Abu Soma Development Company [Somabay]
Ibrahim joined Somabay in 2012 as Director of Development and assumed his current role at the end of 2014. He is responsible for managing the Somabay group of eleven [11] companies, comprised of ASDC the master developer of the 10 million sqm peninsula, 5-Hotel Companies, and other related subsidiaries all operating in Soma Bay on the Red Sea in Egypt. During that time, Ibrahim led the transformation of Somabay from a collection of resort hotels to a high-end mixed-use destination comprising 10 hotels, 2,500 homes,marina, 2.5 golf courses along with all the associated ancillary services. Ibrahim started his career in construction where he worked with Bechtel the largest construction company in the world at the time for around 14 years across various business units; including hotels, infrastructure, aviation, ports, high-speed rail across 3 continents. His experience included work on some signature projects such as the New Doha International Airport [the second largest airport in the world] and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, UK [Transferring the main London Terminal for the Eurostar from Waterloo to St Pancras]. He also worked for shorter spells with Orascom and CH2MHill. The latter part of his career has been in real estate development, starting with Dubai World’s international arm [Limitless] as they set up in North Africa. This was followed by four years working on the transformation of MNHD to becoming one of the fastest growing private sector developers in Cairo and finally Somabay. El Missiri graduated from the American University in Cairo in 1994 with B.Sc. in Construction Engineering with High Honors. He then got his M.Sc. Degree from University College London in 1999 in Built Environment after being awarded the British Chevening Scholarship.
JS Anand
FOUNDER & CEO
LEVA HOTELS
Named as part of Forbes' Top Travel and Tourism Leaders in 2023 and 2024, one of the Most Powerful Leaders and most inspiring visionary leaders in the Middle East by Arabian Business Magazine, with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and an impeccable record of notable achievements, JS Anand is a prominent hotelier and passionate corporate leader. After earning his diploma in hotel management, he refined his hands-on management style as he advanced through senior roles in world-class hospitality companies. He has been featured on the Power 50 - Most Influential Leaders by Hotelier Middle East, Executive Power list 2023: The Most Influential Hotel Leaders in the Middle East, Most Innovative Business Leaders Inspiring the World 2022 by The Excelligent Magazine, and Most Influential Entrepreneurs From Dubai To Watch in 2022 By The Gulf Entrepreneur Magazine. People-centric and future-focused, JS aims to make an impact on the hospitality industry by building on the importance of employee well-being and satisfaction, creating an unforgettable service culture that gains global recognition, and being more involved in humanitarian causes around the world. Building long-lasting connections play a pivotal role in his work, especially in his mission to propel LEVA across the MENA region and Europe. JS is a charismatic corporate leader with a hands-on management style. He lives by the company’s core values that are firmly focused on delivering, efficiently and effectively, what was promised to its stakeholders and clients. Now he is committed to creating the best lifestyle hotels in the Middle East and beyond, becoming one of the leading hotel management companies dedicated to clarity, transparency, and delivering on its promises to clients and stakeholders.
Shady Hassan
Vice President Development, North Africa
Marriott International
In his current role, Shady Hassan oversees the growth of Marriott International's footprint across North Africa. Shady has over 17 years of experience in hotel operations, consulting, and real estate development. Prior to joining Marriott, Shady was with Meraas Holding, responsible for the planning and financial viability for all their hospitality assets. Shady started his career in hotel operations with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the US, and later the Middle East, after which he joined JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality team advising investors and developers across the Middle East and Africa.
Mohamed Shehata
Group CDO
Abu Soma Development Company [Somabay]
Mohamed joined Somabay in 2020 as Chief Development Officer. He is responsible for Somabay group Development, comprised of ASDC the master developer of the 10 million sqm peninsula, 5-Hotel Companies, all operating in Soma Bay on the Red Sea in Egypt. Mohamed started his career in development where he worked with Kharafi Holdings. A Leading Architectural and Engineering company in the world at the time for around 11 years across various business units; including hotels, infrastructure, and high-ways. He also worked for shorter spells with Damac Properties. The latter part of his career has been in real estate and hospitality signature development, such as Mandarin Oriental Maldives Resort, Long Island Resort – The Seychelles, Paramount Tower Hotel & Residences – Dubai , Majestine Tower – Dubai, Avanti Tower – Dubai, and finally Somabay. Shehata graduated from the American University in Cairo in 2002 with B.Sc. in Construction Engineering with High Honors.
Kevin Teeroovengadum
Group CEO
Janus Continental Group
Kevin Teeroovengadum is the Group CEO of Janus Continental Group and brings on board 22 years of experience in various sectors across African Real Estate, Hospitality, and Financial Services. Kevin is a seasoned executive with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, focusing on the African continent. He also serves as an independent non-executive director for various companies in Mauritius and South Africa, and is the co-founder of ProptechAfrica. Kevin was previously Chair of the Boards for Radisson Blu, Azuri Resorts and Spa, and Radisson Blu Poste Lafayette Resort and Spa, so we are delighted to have him share his knowledge and experience for this panel.