Enquire Now - 3rd Hospitality Innovation Summit - Africa

Enquire Now

Enquiry Now Supplier
Enquiry Now Buyer
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.