Hozpitality’s Best 30 Women Leaders in the Middle East- 2025
30 game-changing women are taking the lead, and transforming the Middle East’s hospitality scene from the top.
Dubai, UAE - The hospitality sector in the Middle East is renowned for its unparalleled guest experiences, iconic landmarks, and a tradition of welcome deeply embedded in the region’s culture. While the industry has long been a cornerstone of the economy, a profound and transformative shift is underway, one that is reshaping its very core: the rise of women in leadership.
Today, women are not just participants; they are visionary leaders, innovative entrepreneurs, and strategic thinkers who are driving growth, fostering inclusive environments, and redefining the standards of excellence. Their increasing presence reflects both their remarkable talent and the progressive initiatives across the region that are actively empowering female professionals. This is a new era for hospitality, and at its forefront are a group of exceptional women who are proving that diversity is the key to a vibrant and sustainable future.
The Hozpitality Group's "Best 30 Women Leaders in the Middle East" Power List is a celebration of this seismic shift. Unlike traditional awards, this prestigious list is a true reflection of the industry's collective voice. The nominees were put forward by their own companies and, in a powerful show of solidarity and respect, the final winners were chosen by popular choice, through an online voting process involving their peers and colleagues. This unique methodology underscores a crucial point: these women are not just successful in their roles; they are admired, respected, and championed by the very people they work with and inspire every day.
The importance of women in hospitality leadership extends far beyond a simple matter of representation. They bring unique perspectives that are essential for creating a more holistic and guest-centric industry. Research shows that diverse leadership teams lead to better decision-making, greater innovation, and stronger business performance. Women leaders often introduce a fresh, empathetic, and detail-oriented approach to management, which can significantly enhance guest satisfaction and build a more loyal team culture. They are also instrumental in mentoring the next generation, providing visible role models and creating clear pathways for young women aspiring to build a career in this dynamic sector.
In a region that is rapidly expanding its tourism and hospitality footprint, the contributions of these leaders are invaluable. They are navigating complex challenges, from market fluctuations to the integration of technology, with grace and acumen. They are not only driving commercial success but also championing social responsibility and sustainability, helping to build an industry that is both profitable and purposeful.
We are proud to present this year's Power List, recognizing 30 women whose dedication, leadership, and vision are setting new benchmarks for the hospitality industry in the Middle East. Their stories are a beacon of inspiration, a reminder that the future of hospitality is bright, inclusive, and led by the very best in the business.
Hozpitality’s Best 30 Women Leaders in the Middle East
- Aycan Pasli, Commercial Director, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai M Square
- Beena Vijayakumar, Director of Housekeeping, Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences
- Christina Samir, Operations Manager, Movenpick Hotel Apartments Al Mamzar
- Deepika Biju, General Manager, ibis Styles Dragon Mart
- Elif Yazoglu, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai - Jumeirah Beach
- Eva Muscheid, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai M Square
- Gisele Clark, Hotel Manager, Hilton Dubai The Walk
- Ilham Kassab, Director of Housekeeping, Grand Millennium Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi
- Josiane Jabre, General Manager, Delta Hotels City Center Doha
- Judit Toth, Founder & Managing Partner, Vivere Hospitality
- Julia Schamne, Cluster General Manager, Novotel & Aparthotel Adagio Premium Dubai Al Barsha
- Kuleni Jimilu, Cluster Head of Human Resources, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers | voco Bonnington Dubai | RIVA Beach Club
- Ligia Brasoveanu, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences
- Marina Akhmedova, Executive Chef, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai
- Mary Ann Coopera Andaya, Cluster Director of Talent & Culture, Accor Shared Services Dubai
- Maryam Al-Maskati, HR Manager, The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa
- Mouna Ouni, Director of Marketing and Communications, Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai
- Nada Sheshtawi, Chief Commercial Officer, Rotana Group
- Nadia Madi, General Manager, Al Samriya Hotel, Autograph Collection Hotels
- Nuran Kilani, Chief Operating Officer, L’azure Hospitality by Tabuk Investment & Tourism
- Paromita Ohri, Marketing & Communication Director, Hilton Bahrain City Center Hotel & Residences
- Prema Menon, Cluster Manager – EHS, Swissotel Al Murooj & Movenpick Grand Al Bustan
- Samreen Khan, Group EAM - Human Resources, Nordic Holding
- Sapna Chadha, Director of Marketing & Communications, Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek & Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences
- Shivani Sharma, Senior Corporate Digital Marketing Manager, TIME Hotels
- Shymaa Fahim, Executive Corporate Director of Marketing & Communication, TIME Hotels
- Sinead O Reilly-Henell, General Manager, Qabila Westbay Doha by Marriott International
- Soha Metwally, Cluster General Manager, TIME Oak Hotel and Suites
- Sona Rawal, Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek
- Tulay Kilic, Complex Director of Marketing, Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
Aycan Pasli
Commercial Director
DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai M Square
A data-driven commercial leader with 18+ years at top brands, recognized with the 2025 Hilton Values Award for delivering double-digit RevPAR growth and excellence in revenue strategy.
Beena Vijayakumar
Director of Housekeeping
Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences
An award-winning housekeeping leader achieving a 98.5% employee satisfaction score and pioneering sustainable initiatives, earning the Clean Middle East Power Woman Award in 2024 & 2025.
Christina Samir
Operations Manager
Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Al Mamzar
A strategic operations leader with 20+ years of experience driving revenue growth and operational excellence for renowned brands like Hilton, Wyndham, and Accor across the Middle East.
Deepika Biju
General Manager
ibis Styles Dragon Mart
A transformative GM with 25+ years of experience, from chef to leader, known for her bold, human-centered approach and nomination for the Hilton Global Summit Award for agile pandemic leadership.
Elif Yazoglu
General Manager
DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai - Jumeirah Beach
A 24-year Hilton veteran driving sustainability and inclusion, spearheading AI-powered green initiatives, and championing programs for people of determination while achieving outstanding business results.
Eva Muscheid
General Manager
DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai M Square
A dedicated Hilton leader since 2006, progressing from front office to GM, certified in Owner Relations and Asset Management, and known for driving revenue growth and leading large teams.
Gisele Clark
Hotel Manager
Hilton Dubai The Walk
A results-driven leader with 25+ years of global experience, achieving a record RGI of 132.6, securing the DET Gold Sustainable Stamp, and pioneering regional ESG and accessibility initiatives for Hilton.
Ilham Kassab
Director of Housekeeping
Grand Millennium Al Wahda, Abu Dhabi
A dedicated leader with 12 years at the property, digitally transforming HR operations and fostering a deeply personal, family-like workplace culture across 845 rooms and suites.
Josiane Jabre
General Manager
Delta Hotels City Center Doha
A strategic operator with 25+ years of experience, successfully repositioning the Doha property and revitalizing its visibility and profitability with a collaborative, problem-solving leadership style.
Judit Toth
Founder & Managing Partner
Vivere Hospitality
An award-winning entrepreneur with 16 years of expertise, founding INK Hotel and specializing in lifestyle concept launches, management agreements, and future-focused hospitality development.
Julia Schamne
Cluster General Manager
Novotel & Aparthotel Adagio Premium Dubai Al Barsha
A driven leader with 17 years across four continents, named 2024 Hotel Custodian of the Year for sustainability and operational excellence while revitalizing F&B performance and cluster profitability.
Kuleni Jimilu
Cluster Head of Human Resources
Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers | voco Bonnington Dubai | RIVA Beach Club
An accomplished HR professional with pre-opening expertise for iconic brands, recognized as the HR Rising Star among all Marriott UAE hotels in 2023 for her transformative leadership.
Ligia Brasoveanu
General Manager
DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel & Residences
A GM with 25+ years of international experience, specializing in hotel repositioning and recognized as a 2024 Hilton EMEA GM of the Year finalist for her strategic and inclusive leadership.
Marina Akhmedova
Executive Chef
Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai
An innovative culinary leader who transformed the resort's dining experience, achieving a Grade A health certification and a sustainability award through creative menus and operational efficiency.
Mary Ann Coopera Andaya
Cluster Director of Talent & Culture
Accor Shared Services Dubai
A strategic HR leader for 10+ Accor properties, fostering workplaces that thrive and earning top Great Place to Work rankings through evidence-based people strategies and a culture of excellence.
Maryam AlMaskati
HR Manager
The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa
A dedicated HR manager with a decade at the property, leading the full digitalization of HR processes and building an inclusive, community-focused workplace culture in Bahrain.
Mouna Ouni
Director of Marketing and Communication
Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai
A distinguished marketing director with 20 years of experience, securing 20 awards for the hotel and amplifying brand reach as a content creator with over 130,000 followers.
Nada Sheshtawi
Chief Commercial Officer
Rotana Group
A transformative C-suite executive with nearly 30 years of experience, unifying Rotana's commercial strategy to drive record portfolio performance and spearheading the empowering #SheRise initiative.
Nadia Madi
General Manager
Al Samriya Hotel, Autograph Collection Hotels
A distinguished leader with 15+ years of experience, transforming the property into a luxury cultural destination that authentically blends Qatari heritage with modern hospitality excellence.
Nuran Kilani
Chief Operating Officer
L’azure Hospitality by Tabuk Investment & Tourism
A visionary commercial and operations leader commanding luxury portfolios across NEOM, Riyadh, and Dubai, renowned for crafting culturally attuned strategies and negotiating high-profile partnerships.
Paromita Ohri
Marketing & Communication Director
Hilton Bahrain City Center Hotel & Residences
A trailblazing marketing leader with 17 years of experience, specializing in pre-openings with 9 successful launches and recognized as the Best Marketing Person of the Year (Middle East, 2024).
Prema Menon
Cluster Manager – EHS
Swissotel Al Murooj & Mövenpick Grand Al Bustan
A certified EHS leader with a decade of experience, achieving Green Key and ISO 22000 certifications and ensuring best-practice compliance across multiple Accor properties in Dubai.
Samreen Khan
Group EAM – Human Resources
Nordic Holding
A strategic HR leader with 11+ years of experience, expert in pre-opening talent acquisition for iconic properties, and now overseeing HR for a diverse portfolio, including luxury assets and AI teams.
Sapna Chadha
Director of Marketing & Communications
Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek & Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences
A strategic Marcom director with 15+ years of experience, generating a PR value of $1.47M and leading successful launches for F&B concepts that significantly boosted revenue and visibility.
Shivani Sharma
Senior Corporate Digital Marketing Manager
TIME Hotels
A dynamic digital strategist leading for 11 hotels, who generated over $200K in direct revenue and delivered 1M+ conversions through her data-driven rebranding and performance marketing expertise.
Shymaa Fahim
Executive Corporate Director of Marketing & Communication
TIME Hotels
An exemplary marketing leader named to Hotelier ME's Marketing Power List 2025 twice for her strategic vision and campaigns that significantly elevate brand visibility and drive profitability.
Sinead O'Reilly-Henell
General Manager
Qabila Westbay Doha by Marriott International
A seasoned GM with 28+ years of experience who led the hotel to win Marriott's highest GOP award for EMEA and achieved Green Key certification, balancing profitability with cultural engagement.
Soha Metwally
Cluster General Manager
TIME Oak Hotel and Suites
A results-driven leader achieving record-breaking metrics, including 14.1% ADR growth and a #23 Dubai DET digital ranking, while championing major sustainability and community initiatives.
Sona Rawal
Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing
Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek
A distinguished sales leader with 28+ years of global experience, recognized as the 2024 Most Popular S&M Leader in the Middle East for driving revenue optimization and market repositioning.
Tulay Kilic
Complex Director of Marketing
Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
An award-winning marketing director with 16 years of experience, whose Cannes-recognized campaigns and strategic partnerships with Vogue Arabia generated a PR value of 52M AED.
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