Keith has spent more than 25 years working in the hospitality industry across a wide range of roles. He started his career in hotel operations and joined IHG in 2000. Since April 2011 he has been a member of IHG’s Executive Committee. Directly before being appointed Chief Executive Officer, Keith served as Chief Commercial Officer for four years. In this role, he led IHG’s global brand, loyalty, sales and marketing functions, and oversaw IHG’s loyalty programme, IHG® Rewards Club. Prior to this, Keith was CEO of IHG’s Greater China business for four years, setting the foundations for growth in a key market and overseeing the launch of the HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts brand.

Keith is a Non-Executive Director of Yum! Brands. He also sits on the Board of WiHTL (Women in Hospitality Travel & Leisure). Keith is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and is currently a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for The School of Hotel Administration, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

Keith is responsible for the executive management of the Group and ensuring the implementation of Board strategy and policy.

Gloria joined WTTC in August 2017, following a varied career in Travel & Tourism. Recognised as one of the most influential women in Mexico by CNN and Expansion, Gloria began her professional career in 1989 at NCR Corporation working in the Latin America, Middle East, and Africa regions.

Since 1995 she has worked for the travel industry, starting at the Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Holdings, she was later CEO of JV Sabre Mexico reporting to a board of directors from Aeromexico, Mexicana, and Sabre.

In March 2010 President Calderon appointed her as Minister of Tourism and two weeks after she was given in addition the full responsibility of the Mexican Tourism board. Under her leadership the “National Agreement for Tourism” in Mexico was created and signed on 28 February 2011.

Gloria received the Good Neighbour Award from the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and Virtuoso awarded Mexico the best tourism board in the world due to her successful branding and repositioning efforts.

In addition, Gloria has been Special Advisor on Government Affairs to Harvard University, and part of the Future for Travel, Tourism and Aviation Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Dr. Peter E. Tarlow is a world-renowned speaker and expert specializing in the impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event and tourism risk management, and tourism and economic development. Since 1990, Tarlow has been aiding the tourism community with issues such as travel safety and security, economic development, creative marketing, and creative thought.

Tarlow has worked with numerous US government agencies including the US Bureau of Reclamation, US Customs, the FBI, the US Park Service, the Department of Justice, the Speakers Bureau of the US Department of State, the Center for Disease, US Supreme Court police, and the US Department of Homeland Security. He has worked with such US iconic locations as the Statue of Liberty, Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and Liberty Bell, the Empire State Building, St. Louis’ arch, and the Smithsonian’s Institution’s Office of Protection Services in Washington, DC.

Tarlow has been a keynote speaker for governors’ tourism conferences around the nation including those for Illinois, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington State and Wyoming.

As a well-known author in the field of tourism security, Tarlow is a contributing author to multiple books on tourism security, and publishes numerous academic and applied research articles regarding issues of security including articles published in The Futurist, the Journal of Travel Research and Security Management. Tarlow’s wide range of professional and scholarly articles includes articles on subjects such as: “dark tourism”, theories of terrorism, and economic development through tourism, religion and terrorism and cruise tourism. Tarlow also writes and publishes the popular on-line tourism newsletter Tourism Tidbits read by thousands of tourism and travel professionals around the world in its English, Spanish, and Portuguese language editions.

Among the books that Tarlow has authored are:
-Event Risk Management and Safety (2002).
-Twenty Years of Tourism Tidbits: The Book (2011)
-Abordagem Multdisciplinar dos Cruzeiros Turísticos (co-written 2014, in Portuguese)
-Tourism Security: Strategies for Effective Managing Travel Risk and Safety (2014)
-A Segurança: Um desafío para os setores de lazer, viagens e turismo, 2016 published (in Portuguese) and republished in English
-Sports Travel Security (2017)

At numerous universities around the world Tarlow lectures on security issues, life safety issues, and event risk management. These universities include institutions in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. Tarlow earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M University. He also holds degrees in history, in Spanish and Hebrew literatures, and in psychotherapy.

Tarlow has appeared on national televised programs such as Dateline: NBC and on CNBC and is a regular guest on radio stations around the US. He is the recipient of the International Chiefs of Police highest civilian honor in recognition for his work in tourism security.

Tarlow is a founder and president of Tourism & More Inc. (T&M). He is a past president of the Texas Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA). Tarlow is a member of the International Editorial Boards around the world.

Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) since Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) since June 2019, brings a wealth of industry experience to aid the continued growth of Ras Al Khaimah as one of the fastest growing destinations in the world and will spearhead RAKTDA’s drive to attract 3 million visitors by 2025, while developing the Emirate’s tourism infrastructure, creating sustainable investment opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for Ras Al Khaimah’s residents.

Phillips is an award-winning hospitality veteran and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience working with some of the world’s most renowned brands including Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Universal Studios Orlando. He was recognized & published by Hotelier Middle East as “Top 20 Most Powerful Arab Hoteliers”.

Phillips, an American national and a fluent Arabic speaker, has a great understanding of the region having worked in the Middle East since 2005 and specifically in the UAE since 2007.

Phillips joins RAKTDA, the authority tasked with establishing Ras Al Khaimah as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel, from the Dubai based International Hospitality Consulting Group INHOCO, where he was Senior Partner and Senior Vice President of Development. In this role he developed hotel project pipelines exceeding $5 billion in assets and negotiated multimillion-dollar hotel deals for global luxury brands in 12 countries and 26 markets.

As well as launching and developing hotels globally, Phillips is one of the Co-Founders of Earth Hotels a sustainable, tech-forward and design centric hotel concept.

Phillips is also an expert in the food & beverage sector and was behind several successful concepts including Hard Rock Live Orlando and Noire the Middle East’s first Dinner in the Dark restaurant. He is also the Co-Founder and former CEO of SugarMoo Desserts, Dubai’s first online dessert delivery bakery that has expanded from a home grown UAE concept to a popular regional brand in multiple countries including KSA & Oman.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MBA in Organizational Management.

His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa brings over 15 years of dynamic professional experience in various commercial, tourism and economic fields in Sharjah.

Under his leadership, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority (SCTDA) has achieved many successes at both international and local levels, becoming a major cornerstone of the emirate’s tourism development efforts. Al Midfa has taken the emirate’s events and forums to even higher standards. Further cementing his commitment to taking Sharjah’s tourism success to new heights, Al Midfa continues to play key a role in the execution of the new tourism strategy that aims to attract 10 million visitors by 2021; including SCTDA’s adoption of four strategic pillars.

Beside his responsibilities as the Chairman of SCTDA, Al Midfa is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, the Chairman of the Higher Committee of National Day Celebrations in Sharjah and the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Sharjah International Marine Club. Prior to taking on the role of SCTDA Chairman, Al Midfa served in a senior administrative role at the Sharjah Airport Free Zone.

Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat is the current Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board; the leader in positioning and promoting Jordan as the destination of choice in international markets.

Prior to his position at the Jordan Tourism Board, Dr. Arabiyat filled the position of Finance Department Director at the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission as well as previously holding that position and the position of Director of Administrative Affairs at the Commission simultaneously.

Preceding that, Dr. Arabiyat worked in several ministerial positions including; Serving in the Financial Department at the Ministry of Planning before moving on to becoming the Head of Auditing as well as Financial Manager at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities before moving on to becoming the Financial & Administrative Manager for the Tourism Development Project ( JICA)

Dr. Arabiyat holds a PHD in Finance from the Amman Arab University for Graduate Studies, a Masters degree in Banking and Financial Science from the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Science and a BA in Public Administration and Political Science from the University of Jordan.

His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry is Director General of Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) in Ajman, UAE.

Mr Al Geziry, a seasoned marketing professional who possesses a wealth of global tourism experience, is widely- known in the UAE tourism industry for his exceptional leadership skills, as well as his unique ability to identify and maximize growth opportunities.

Mr Al Geziry, who was announced to be ATDD’s Director General in May 2017, is responsible for strategically strengthening Ajman’s economy through attracting tourists and inward investment into the emirate while delivering Ajman’s tourism vision for 2021.

Prior to joining ATDD, Mr Al Geziry held executive leadership positions, with increasing responsibility, at Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company whose destinations includes City Walk, The Beach, Boxpark and Blue waters, a man-made mixed-use island off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence, among others. In his capacities as Director of Hospitality and Vice President of Retail Marketing, Promotions and Recreations, Mr Al Geziry led several world-class projects and was responsible for overseeing the expansion of the company’s portfolio in the hospitality and retail sector.

Early in his career, Mr Al Geziry spent more than a decade marketing Dubai’s tourism industry as part of his role as Director of Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions at The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), where he developed and implemented successful tourism initiatives that helped to position Dubai as a global business and leisure destination.

During his tenure at DTCM, Mr Al Geziry led high-profile international delegations and organized more than 100 exhibitions and road shows across diverse geographies. He also managed a wide variety of marketing campaigns, including Kids Go Free, a summer promotion that encouraged the growth of family tourism, while overseeing the activities of DTCM’s overseas offices, and serving as a spokesperson for the establishment.

Mr Al Geziry is a winner of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme Award and was a member of the International Promotions Committee for the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities.

He holds a BBA in Marketing from the American University in Dubai and an Executive Diploma in Public Administration from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Republic of Singapore.

Marwan Al Sarkal was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shurooq in 2009 at the time of its establishment as per the Emiri Decree no.2 of 2009 that was issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. In his capacity as CEO, he intensified efforts to drive and lead the investment and cultural growth and development of Sharjah.

H.E. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal is Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), an entity tasked with leading the continued transformation and economic diversification of the emirate of Sharjah.

Operating under the wise directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and under the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal played an integral role in transforming Sharjah’s economic infrastructure, diversifying markets and facilitating new investments by leading projects and partnerships across major sectors such as tourism, healthcare, environmental, logistics, real-estate, retail and light manufacturing.

Al Sarkal has spearheaded all the major infrastructural projects and key partnerships at Shurooq, initiating the development of its portfolio of projects, initiatives and partnerships estimated at a total value of more than AED 10 billion (more than USD 2 billion), and covering Sharjah’s western, central and eastern regions.

His creative, innovative thinking and ambitious drive, rooted in the emirate’s traditions, has enabled Shurooq to adopt worldclass standards in providing an array of services and infrastructural facilities to attract investors from the UAE, the Middle East, and beyond.

Issam Kazim is the CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), which was established in December 2013 as an affiliate of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism).

Having built and developed DCTCM’s team from the ground up, as well as its large network of international offices, Kazim leads all activities vis-à-vis the branding, promotion and marketing of the emirate of Dubai. He is instrumental in negotiating and facilitating global partnerships and plays an integral role in the development of relationships with industry stakeholders, partners and investors that contribute to the overall growth in visitation to the city. He also regularly acts as a key media spokesperson and the face of Dubai Tourism for events, presentations, interviews and visiting VIP delegations, influencers, public personalities and government bodies.

Kazim’s accomplishments since taking up his post at DCTCM in February 2014 include developing innovative destination tools and dynamic digital platforms to enhance the visitor experience in Dubai. He has also played a pivotal role in facilitating high profile broadcast productions such as Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour, as well as other initiatives that have helped showcase Dubai as a ‘must-visit’ destination. Kazim has also initiated collaborations with A-list celebrities including an award-winning #BeMyGuest campaign featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Kazim previously worked as Director of DXB Live and Commercial at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and successfully launched strategic live events including Dubai Music Week.

Ben has over 20 years experience in communications at world leading agencies with a particular focus on building and managing international corporate reputations.

Ben leads Edelman UK’s International Affairs practice which provides strategic communications consultancy to clients looking to build, enhance or protect reputations across multiple markets. These clients encompass a mix of NGOs, government agencies, foundations, philanthropists and sovereign state-owned bodies.

Ben has a particular focus on developing compelling narratives and strategic campaigns to support international governments enhance their economic development ambitions across multiple markets.

Ben has run major international communications campaigns for destinations including Chile, Canada, Tunisia, Morocco, Armenia and Dubai.

Prior to joining Edelman, Ben was Head of Issues and Crisis for Ogilvy PR London.