Honoring Financial Excellence with Hozpitality Best 30 Finance and Revenue Leaders in the Middle East
Recognizing exceptional professionals who drive financial success and strategic growth in the hospitality industry.
In the dynamic world of hospitality, the finance department plays a pivotal role in maintaining the financial health and operational efficiency of hotels and resorts. Finance leaders manage the intricate details of budgeting, financial reporting, and cost control. Their work ensures that every financial aspect of the business is meticulously handled, from daily transactions to long-term investments. By analyzing market trends and economic data, they provide crucial insights that guide strategic decision-making and enhance overall profitability. Their expertise supports smooth operations and fosters financial stability and sustainable growth.
On the other hand, revenue management is crucial for maximizing hospitality properties' profitability. Revenue leaders are responsible for optimizing revenue streams through strategic pricing, inventory control, and market analysis. They use their deep understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior to develop tailored pricing strategies that boost occupancy rates and enhance revenue. By forecasting demand and adjusting strategies accordingly, they help ensure that properties remain competitive and financially successful. Their role is integral in aligning revenue strategies with business goals, driving financial performance, and supporting long-term growth.
Hozpitality's Best 30 Finance and Revenue Leaders in the Middle East exemplify excellence in both these critical areas. These professionals combine their financial management and revenue optimization expertise to drive success in the hospitality industry. Their contributions extend beyond traditional financial oversight; they are strategic partners within their organizations, implementing initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and secure a competitive advantage.
The future of hospitality is promising, thanks to the dedication and expertise of these finance and revenue leaders who work diligently behind the scenes to turn visionary goals into reality. Congratulations to all the 2024 winners, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who nominated and supported this esteemed recognition.
Here's the list of Hozpitality's Best 30 Finance Leaders in the Middle East in alphabetical order:
- Abdul Qadeer Ahsan, Director of Finance, Dream Inn Dubai
- Annemarie Goani, Complex Director of Revenue Management, Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Le Meridien Fairway, Aloft Dubai Airport, Element Dubai Airport, Aloft Al Mina, Element Al Mina
- Ashish Aggarwal, Cluster Financial Controller, Al Habtoor Polo Resort LLC | Al Habtoor Polo & Equestrian Club LLC
- Ciju Thomas, Finance Manager, Doubletree by Hilton Dubai Al Jadaf
- Conteza De Guzman, Cluster Director of Finance, Minor Hotels
- Ehab Farouk, Director of Finance, NH Collection Dubai The Palm
- Glenn Waidande, Cluster Director of Revenue, Dusit Doha Hotel and Dusit Hotel & Suites
- Hatem Mohamed Zakaria Ibrahim, Director of Finance, Bab Al Qasr
- Heena Gupta, Chief Accountant, Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan Hotel & Convention Centre Dubai
- Ikhtiar Ahmed, Finance Manager, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah
- Kamal Kashyap, Director of Revenue, Swissotel Al Murooj
- Kiran Kumar, Financial Controller, The Tower Plaza Hotel
- Krishna Narayanan, Chief Accountant, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai
- Meysam Husain, Assistant Finance Manager, Zero Gravity
- Mohamed Ibrahim, Financial Controller, Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport
- Muhammed Hashim, Finance Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton M Square Hotel & Residences
- Nisar Ahmed, Revenue Manager, The Canvas Hotel Dubai
- Pannila Duke, Financial Controller, Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai
- Prerna Sood, Director of Finance, Jumeirah International
- Radwan Qunawy, Financial Controller, TIME Asma Hotel
- Rajdeep Roy, Cluster Director of Revenue, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Wyndham Dubai Deira, Days Hotel by Wyndham, and Super 8 by Wyndham
- Remon Gamil, Revenue Manager, The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel
- Richie Joseph, Director of Revenue Management, NH Collection Dubai The Palm
- Safeen Nooghukan, Chief Accountant, Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman
- Samer Abd El Monem, Director of Finance, İntercontinental Abu Dhabi
- Sandeep Singh, Financial Controller, The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel
- Siji Thajudeen, Financial Controller, The Chedi Al Bait
- Sujith Joseph, Cluster Finance Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Al Mina, Hilton Garden Inn Al Muraqabat, and Hampton by Hilton Dubai Airport
- Tamta Tsitskhvaia, Cluster Finance Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton, Business Bay
- Unnikrishnan Sreekumar, Director of Revenue, Bab Al Qasr
Abdul Qadeer Ahsan
Director of Finance
Dream Inn Dubai
Abdul Qadeer Ahsan's expertise in financial reporting, internal controls, and strategic financial planning makes him an asset in steering organizations toward sustainable growth and operational excellence.
Annemarie Goani
Complex Director of Revenue Management
Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Le Meridien Fairway, Aloft Dubai Airport,
Element Dubai Airport, Aloft Al Mina, Element Al Mina
With 16 years of experience in luxury hotels, Annemarie Goani leads the revenue department at Marriott, overseeing multiple high-profile properties.
Ashish Aggarwal
Cluster Financial Controller
Al Habtoor Polo Resort LLC|Al Habtoor Polo & Equestrian Club LLC
With over a decade of experience in financial management, Ashish stands out for his exceptional skills in optimizing fiscal performance, budgeting, and strategic financial planning.
Ciju Thomas
Finance Manager
Doubletree By Hilton Dubai Al Jadaf
Ciju's leadership was instrumental during the management-to-franchise transition. He implemented new finance systems with seamless execution, ensuring the transition occurred without operational disruptions.
Conteza De Guzman
Cluster Director of Finance
Minor Hotels
With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Conteza De Guzman has consistently demonstrated a proven track record of delivering exceptional results and substantial value to the business.
Ehab Farouk
Director of Finance
NH Collection Dubai The Palm
With over 15 years of specialized experience in finance and accounting in the luxury hospitality sector, Ehab has established himself as a leading expert.
Glenn Waidande
Cluster Director of Revenue
Dusit Doha Hotel and Dusit Hotel & Suites
Glenn's journey into the hospitality industry was fuelled by his passion for creating memorable experiences and connecting with people. Over the years, he has evolved this passion into a deep commitment to exceptional service, leadership, and innovation. An acute awareness of local and international market dynamics marks his approach to revenue management.
Hatem Mohamed Zakaria Ibrahim
Director of Finance
Bab Al Qasr
Hatem, our esteemed Director of Finance, is a highly accomplished professional whose extensive experience and expertise significantly benefit our organization. With a remarkable educational background and a proven track record, he remains an invaluable asset to our team.
Heena Gupta
Chief Accountant
Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan Hotel & Convention Centre Dubai
Heena Gupta is a standout Chief Accountant with over ten years of experience in the accounting field. Throughout her career, she has honed her skills in various aspects of accounting, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliation, payroll, P&L analysis, and balance sheet presentation.
Ikhtiar Ahmed
Finance Manager
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah
Ikhtiar Ahmed is an accomplished and results-driven Finance Manager with extensive experience in the hospitality industry. He possesses a passion for financial analysis and strategic planning, consistently delivering exceptional results in his role.
Kamal Kashyap
Director of Revenue
Swissotel Al Murooj
Kamal's track record of consistently meeting or exceeding revenue targets demonstrates his ability to drive revenue growth across various channels and segments. His focus on profitability by optimizing pricing strategies, managing costs effectively, and improving margins shows a strategic approach to revenue management.
Kiran Kumar
Financial Controller
The Tower Plaza Hotel
Kiran's exceptional leadership and financial acumen have been instrumental in driving The Tower Plaza's profitability while upholding its esteemed reputation. By ensuring that cost-cutting measures do not affect service quality, Kiran has upheld the hotel’s high standards and continued to deliver an exceptional guest experience.
Krishna Narayanan
Chief Accountant
Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai
With over 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, planning, and controlling, Krishna is crucial in maintaining financial standards and optimizing hotel performance.
Meysam Husain
Assistant Finance Manager
Zero Gravity
A self-starter and results-oriented finance professional, Meysam seeks to leverage his experience and knowledge to make a positive impact on his organization. His dedication, professional expertise, sincerity, and commitment to continuous learning have consistently contributed to his success.
Mohamed Ibrahim
Financial Controller
Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport
Mohamed Ibrahim has dedicated his career to developing effective budget strategies. With a Bachelor of Commerce and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential, he is currently pursuing the Certified Public Accountant (USCPA) qualification. Over the past 15 years in senior management, Mohamed has created robust financial plans to strengthen organizational strategies and stability.
Muhammed Hashim
Finance Manager
DoubleTree by Hilton M Square Hotel & Residences
With over 16 years of experience, Hashim demonstrated an exceptional commitment to understanding the ins and outs of hotel finance operations. His proactive approach showed by his volunteering to cover for colleagues during their vacations, allowing him to gain comprehensive knowledge across various finance functions.
Nisar Ahmed
Revenue Manager
The Canvas Hotel, Dubai
Nisar is an accomplished revenue manager with over 15 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Having worked with some of the most renowned brands in the sector, including Marriott, Accor, and Millennium, Nisar has consistently demonstrated a profound understanding of revenue management and strategic pricing.
Pannila Duke
Financial Controller
Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai
Pannila Duke is innovative when it comes to finding different ways of achieving revenue goals and goes out of his way to understand and solve the various problems that come along the way.
Prerna Sood
Director of Finance
Jumeirah International
With over 18 years of experience in finance, Prerna has established herself as a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her career is marked by a dedication to challenging norms and reshaping perceptions, advocating for diversity, inclusion, and gender equality.
Radwan Qunawy
Financial Controller
TIME Asma Hotel
Radwan has 15 years of finance experience and has been instrumental in the organization's development. His remarkable financial acumen and unrelenting commitment have successfully turned strategic vision into measurable financial outcomes.
Rajdeep Roy
Cluster Director of Revenue
Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Wyndham Dubai Deira, Days Hotel by Wyndham, and Super 8 by Wyndham
With over 18 years of experience in revenue management, Rajdeep Roy is a distinguished leader known for his commercial acumen and strategic expertise.
Remon Gamil
Revenue Manager
The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel
With 16 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, Remon has built a remarkable career, starting as a Telephone Operator and advancing to his current role as Cluster Revenue Manager. His extensive background includes various roles in leading hospitality groups, where he has demonstrated exceptional expertise in revenue management.
Richie Joseph
Director of Revenue Management
NH Collection Dubai The Palm
A dynamic hospitality professional with a Bachelor's in Hospitality and Certification in Hospitality Business Acumen from HSMAI, Richie Joseph has over 8 years of experience in Revenue and Yield Management with top hospitality brands. He continuously enhances his skills in Hospitality Sales and Marketing and excels in Total Hotel Revenue Management.
Safeen Nooghukan
Chief Accountant
Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman
Safeen brings 20 years of experience working in hospitality and other industries' Finance and Purchase departments. His journey from being a cashier to becoming a financial accountant at Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman has been inspiring.
Samer Abd El Monem
Director of Finance
Intercontinental Abu Dhabi
With over 25 years in the hospitality industry, Samer’s career began in the front office, where he demonstrated a remarkable commitment to excellence and perseverance.
Sandeep Singh
Financial Controller
The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel
Sandeep believes that every job has its own challenges, and how we manage them sets us apart. He enjoys the work environment at The Retreat Palm Dubai, appreciating the support and open-mindedness of the management, which encourages new ideas and innovation.
Siji Thajudeen
Financial Controller
The Chedi Al Bait
With over 16 years, Siji was crucial in setting up the hotel's pre-opening operations and developing its financial standards, adhering to the USALI-11th Revised Edition and the latest hospitality accounting standards.
Sujith Joseph
Cluster Finance Manager
Hilton Garden Inn Al Mina, Hilton Garden Inn Al Muraqabat, and Hampton by Hilton Dubai Airport
A tenacious, result-oriented professional with over 22 years of experience in operations management, financial reporting, process management, auditing, and team leadership, Sujith Joseph brings a wealth of expertise to the hospitality industry.
Tamta Tsitskhvaia
Cluster Finance Manager
DoubleTree by Hilton, Business Bay
Tamta Tsitskhvaia is an experienced Financial Manager with a demonstrated history of success in the hospitality industry. She is skilled in nonprofit organizations, negotiation, business planning, Microsoft Office programs, and English. Tamta is a strong accounting professional, holding a Master's degree in Finance and Banking from Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University.
Unnikrishnan Sreekumar
Director of Revenue
Bab Al Qasr
Unnikrishnan has enhanced the hotel’s online reputation score, reflecting his commitment to high standards of service and guest satisfaction. His dynamic upselling grid resulted in the best upselling revenue figures to date, significantly boosting ancillary revenue streams.
Meela Seenarain
Dubai, United Arab Emirates UAE