The Cornell Hotel Society MENA Chapter, operating as CHS MENA FZE, has significantly boosted its partnerships and collaborations with major contributions from key industry leaders across the UAE ranging from hospitality operators, advisory and marketing firms.
Aleph Hospitality, a leading independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa has further enhanced their contribution to the Cornell Hotel Society supporting the chapter as an anchor partner and support of all future events. Led by alumni Bani Haddad MBA ‘00 and Neil George MMH ’98, have been instrumental in supporter our community and enhancing our reach within the hospitality ecosystem.
Grant Thornton UAE, a leading professional services firm, has made a significant contribution to the Cornell Hotel Society MENA Chapter. As the gold sponsor and strategic partner, Grant Thornton UAE has been instrumental in supporting various MENA chapter activities, reinforcing its commitment to fostering the Hotelier Community in the region. Led by Kabir Dhawan, Partner, Grant Thornton UAE was founded in 1966 and is one of UAE’s leading assurance, advisory and tax firms dedicated to serving the needs of privately-held businesses, public interest entities and family-owned businesses.
Meraki & Modus, a Dubai based international firm led by former hoteliers and destination marketing specialists who consistently deliver deep thinking and innovation to the hospitality and lifestyle sectors. Led by strategy lead and partner Sandhya Chhabria ’11, Meraki & Modus has built their reputation on the combination of curious, imaginative, and original thinking they are known for, matched with years of experience as insiders from the sectors to whom they now consult, to produce work that is always highly compelling and analytical.
The Cornell Hotel Society MENA Chapter, renowned for hosting key industry events, is about to host one of its flagship events, the 9th Annual Dubai Lodging Outlook on the 18th of September 2023, has seen remarkable success over nine years, attracting over 300 key industry leaders annually and raising more than $50,000 to date.
In partnership with STR, the Dubai Lodging Outlook focuses on highlighting prominent topics in the hospitality industry. Key themes include revenue management, macro development trends, mega events, and labour concerns. The event, hosted globally by multiple Cornell Hotel Society chapters in cities like Atlanta, Paris, Berlin, and Dubai, serves as a platform for industry stakeholders to collaborate and shape the future of the hospitality sector.
“Major contributions from such successful organizations enables us to engender our mission of advancing the Hotelie community in the Middle East and North Africa, and we look forward to working closely with all our key stakeholders through various scholarships and school programs at THE Hotel School!” stated Aditya Rajaram, Regional Vice President EMEA, Cornell Hotel Society.
The partnership between the Cornell Hotel Society MENA Chapter and the hospitality industry exemplifies the power of collective efforts to shape a brighter future for the hospitality sector. In addition to sponsoring the Dubai Lodging Outlook at the Waldorf Astoria, Palm, the Cornell Hotel Society MENA Chapter hopes to forge deeper ties through thought leadership and cross-promotion of best-in-class industry practices which will further enhance the Cornell Hotel Society alumni community and wider hospitality industry.
Cornell Hotel Society is the alumni association of the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. The school boasts some of the most successful business and hospitality alumni across the world ranging from Anthony Capuano ’87 (CEO – Marriott International), Keith Barr ’92 (Ex-CEO – IHG), Ted Teng ‘79 (Ex-CEO – Leading Hotels of the World) and Chuck Feeney ’56 (Founder – Duty Free)