Alain Khalife, General Manager of JW Marriott Hotel Marina, has delivered measurable results across every performance metric since taking over the property. With more than 30 years of international hospitality experience across the Middle East, Asia, North Africa, and the Caribbean, he has applied his operational expertise to drive both commercial growth and guest satisfaction in one of Dubai’s most competitive markets.
Under his leadership, Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Member enrolment grew by 38%, surpassing the full-year 2024 target and exceeding the 2025 target by 6%. The hotel’s Intent to Recommend score rose by 10% year-on-year, placing it in the top 10 within the JW Marriott EMEA portfolio. Bonvoy Loyalty Satisfaction increased by 15%, now ranked 15th across 190 JW Marriott properties in the region.
Online reputation scores also improved significantly. The hotel’s TripAdvisor ranking climbed from #110 to #53, a 52% year-on-year increase. On Booking.com, the score reached 9.7 with a consistent public rating of 9.5, making it the highest-rated five-star city hotel in Dubai.
By June 2025, year-to-date Rooms Revenue was up 15% compared to the previous year and exceeded the budget by 2%. The hotel outperformed competitors with a 3% higher Market Penetration Index (MPI), 6% higher Average Rate Index (ARI), and 9% higher Revenue Generation Index (RGI). Premier Suite bookings increased by 16%, leading to a 23% rise in suite revenue year-on-year. Total hotel revenue grew by 7%, and Gross Operating Profit increased by 4%, despite external challenges in the region.
Employee engagement and retention have remained strong. The hotel recorded a 99% employee retention rate and a 95 employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS), with a diverse team representing 20 nationalities.
Khalife also led the fastest hotel conversion in Marriott International history, completing a brand reflagging in just 27 days. Under his direction, the property reactivated underutilised areas, including the launch of the JW Garden, which added a guest experience element tied to the property’s F&B offering. He also led a successful reengineering of menus, resulting in a 19% revenue increase at Harbour Sports Bar and a 7% increase at Griffin Lobby Lounge. A targeted influencer and media event, the Summer Solstice Festivity, helped boost brand visibility, with attendance from Condé Nast Traveller Middle East and other key media.
Khalife holds an MBA from Cornell University and continues to lead with a data-driven, people-focused approach aimed at long-term performance and operational excellence.
