Candice D'Cruz named among Hozpitality's Best 30 Hospitality and Tourism Leaders in the Middle East for 2023
Candice D'Cruz, Vice President - Luxury Brands - Europe, Middle East & Africa at Marriott International, has been recognized as one of the Best 30 Hospitality and Tourism Leaders in the Middle East by Hozpitality Group.
Candice D'Cruz is Vice President of brand Marketing and management for Marriott International Luxury Brands across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In this role, Candice is responsible for the company's eight distinct luxury brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bulgari Hotels, St. Regis, W Hotels, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, and JW Marriott.
Candice oversees luxury brand management, innovative brand marketing, and strategic growth across the region, which currently includes 155 luxury properties operating under seven brands. Leading a strong post-pandemic recovery highlight from Marriott International's luxury brands in the region include the exciting arrival of W Hotels in Italy with the opening of W Rome, the launch of The Ritz-Carlton, Amman in Jordan, and the signing of St. Regis in London. In addition to a highly anticipated pipeline of over 90 luxury properties, D'Cruz is spearheading the launch of Marriott International's eighth luxury brand debut in the region with the opening of Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, slated to open off the west coast of Saudi Arabia in 2023 as part of The Red Sea Project.
With close to two decades of international experience in the hospitality and luxury space, Candice joined Marriott International in 2017 to establish and oversee the luxury discipline for Middle East & Africa. In 2020, her responsibilities were expanded to also lead Europe. A brand specialist with experience in diverse markets such as Australia, Belgium, and India, including over a decade in the Middle East alone, her strategic leadership plays a pivotal role in positioning Marriott International as a key luxury player across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, beyond hospitality.
Offering an unmatched understanding of the harmonious and complex relationship between luxury and hospitality, Candice's Brand Management covers a broad scope, including areas such as design, development, and talent & culture relating to the strength and relevance of Marriott International's sector-defining luxury portfolio. On the Brand Marketing front, Candice drives marketing strategies that showcase the breadth and depth of the portfolio, including hotel openings and brand market debuts across the region, supported by intrinsically localized global blueprints and new creative campaigns that make an impact.
Candice is a true believer that travel defines us more than our nationality and often turns to her young children for inspiration on how to cater to the new generations of ever-demanding luxury consumers in a dynamic market. Embodying Marriott's 'people first' culture, Candice is committed to supporting people by helping them realize their full potential, particularly women. Candice is a strong advocate of female leadership and the nurturing of young talent. Candice has received many accolades throughout her career and is currently ranked among the top 50 storytellers of the region by Forbes Middle East; in 2019, Candice was voted Number One in the Hotelier Middle East Power 25 Women Leaders in Hospitality.
Meela Seenarain
Dubai, United Arab Emirates UAE