Dragos Paraschiv Honored in Hozpitality's Best 30 HR Leaders Powerlist in the Middle East for 2025
As the driving force behind human capital development at Hilton’s diverse Al Seef cluster in Dubai, Paraschiv skillfully combines operational insight with forward-thinking HR strategies, setting a new standard for excellence in hospitality human resources.
With an illustrious 25-year career spanning three continents, Dragos Paraschiv has been rightfully recognized as one of the Middle East's most accomplished HR leaders in Hozpitality's prestigious 2025 powerlist. As the strategic architect behind human capital development for Hilton's diverse Al Seef cluster in Dubai, Paraschiv masterfully blends operational expertise with innovative people strategies that have redefined hospitality HR excellence.
A true industry polymath, Paraschiv's journey began in hotel operations and F&B management, giving him unparalleled insight into the employee experience. This frontline perspective informs his current HR leadership, where he oversees all aspects of human resources for three distinct Hilton brands encompassing 1,200+ team members. His signature achievement includes successfully leading the complex rebranding and repositioning of the iconic Al Seef property into Hilton's Curio Collection while maintaining 92% staff retention - an unprecedented feat in Dubai's competitive market.
Paraschiv's strategic brilliance shines through his pioneering "World's Greatest Hospitality Talent" program, which revolutionized recruitment by combining behavioral profiling with immersive property experiences. This initiative reduced time-to-hire by 35% while improving candidate quality, earning Hilton recognition as an "Employer of Choice" in the UAE. His ISO certification expertise (14001, 22000, 10002) has been instrumental in implementing rigorous quality assurance frameworks that align HR processes with international standards.
What truly sets Paraschiv apart is his dynamic leadership philosophy. Colleagues describe his style as "electrifying yet precise" - a rare combination of motivational energy and operational discipline. His daily "Recognition Rounds" have become legendary, where he personally acknowledges exceptional staff contributions across all departments. This approach has driven employee engagement scores to 94% - the highest in Hilton's Middle East portfolio.
A sought-after industry voice, Paraschiv has been featured at 15+ international hospitality conferences, sharing insights on topics ranging from Gen Z workforce integration to AI-powered talent analytics. His upcoming white paper on "Cultural Alchemy in Multi-Generational Workforces" promises to further cement his thought leadership position.
With previous honors including HR Director of the Year 2019 (MEA) and consecutive appearances on Hozpitality's Best HR Leaders lists, Paraschiv continues to push boundaries. His current focus on developing a proprietary "Hospitality EQ" assessment tool demonstrates his relentless commitment to advancing the profession. This latest recognition celebrates not just his achievements but his enduring impact on shaping the future of hospitality HR in the region.
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