Showcase Morocco 2024 | API Events on Glue Up

Event Details

MOROCCO'S PREMIER INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOURISM INVESTOR GATHERING

Taking place from 19-20 November 2024 at the Marriott Hotel, Casablanca, The bilingual ( English / French) Showcase Morocco Summit: Tourism, Hospitality, Investment, will provide over 300 international investors, hoteliers, and tourism leaders from 15 countries to connect and do business in one of the world's most attractive tourism markets.

Co-Organised by Société Marocaine d'Ingénierie Touristique (SMIT) and API Events. The Showcase Morocco: Tourism, Invest & Hospitality Summit will promote opportunities for business leaders, hotel investors, developers, leading banks, and industry professionals interested in securing deals and projects in one of the world's most attractive hospitality markets.

For sponsorship opportunities, please email: Murray@apievents.com

Speakers

Elie YOUNES

Global Chief Development Officer at Radisson Hotel Group

Imad BARRAKAD

Chairman & CEO of SMIT Morocco

Xavier GRANGE

Global Chief Development Officer at Accor

Olivier GRANET

Co-CEO & Managing Partner of Kasada Capital Management

Ali AKDIM

Director: F&B Cluster of Barceló Hotel Group

Othmane AKHERRAZ

Co-Founder of The Game Changer Company

Othman Cherif ALAMI

President at Investour Holdings

JS ANAND

Founder & CEO of LEVA Hotels

Simon ARDONCEAU

FOUNDER & CEO of AIRE

Daniel MORGAN

Partner at TGP International

Hamza FAROOQUI

CEO of Millat Group

Marcson BAKER

Investment Manager at DEG

Yasmine BEKKARI

Managing Director of AMS Africa

Selma BELKHAYAT

Co-Founder & Managing Director of AMS Africa

Valentyna ARDONCEAU, PhD

Manager at Arthur D. Little

Reda FACEH

Vice President Development- Northern & Western Africa at Accor

Jalil BENABBES-TAARJI

CEO of Tikida GROUP

Youssef BENABBÉS-TAARJI

Head of Development at Dar Taarj SA

Nasser BENJELLOUN

Deputy CEO of REIM Partners

Sofia LOPEZ-BENHAMIDA

Managing Director of RISMA

Ludwig BOULDOUKIAN

Regional Vice President Development MEA at Hyatt

Julien BRACONNIER

Head of Hospitality at Voltere

Ewan CAMERON

Director: Africa of Westmont Hospitality Group

Youssef CHRAIBI

Managing Director of Magespro Africa

Ivan CORNET

Managing Partner at Latitude Five

Kieran DAY

Group COO at Elewana Afrika

Alain DEBARE

Partner- Head of Investment & Asset Management at HVS

Wiam SAMIR

Director General of Sustainway

David DESTA

Vice President: Hotels & Hospitality at JLL Africa

Mark DUNFORD

CEO of Knight Frank Kenya

Abdellah ESSONNI

Development Advisor at Kerten Hospitality

Grégory FORTEMS

Manager at In Extenso Tourisme Culture et Hôtellerie

Erwan GARNIER

Senior Director: Development of Radisson Hotel Group

Philippe GAUGUIER

Senior Advisor at In Extenso Tourisme Culture et Hôtellerie

Sylvain GILET

Director of AIRE

Wayne GODWIN

CEO of JLL Africa

Bani HADDAD

Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality

Majd HAMAMOUCHI

Coporate Business Development Director of Time Hotels

Bouchaib HARMOUZI

Development Director of Azalaï Life

Hicham HASSOUNI

Chief Business Officer at Our Habitas

Catherine HENDRY

Executive: Property Finance Africa at Nedbank Limited

Marloes KNIPPENBERG

CEO of Kerten Hospitality

Mehdi KSIKES

Managing Partner at Family Office

Ninon LAMOTHE

Africa Director; Consulting Hospitality, Tourism, Leisure of Voltere

Lotfi LEBBAR

Principal Investments at EBRD

Esteban LOZADA

Managing Director-Development of Hilton Hotels

Frederique MASI

Regional Director, North Africa of Proparco

Salim MIKRAM

Senior Advisor at Istich Consulting

Hafid MIRABTI

Director-Business Development, Middle East, Turkey & Africa of The Ascot Limited

Govind MUNDRA

Head of Development - Middle East & Africa at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Fabio NAVA

Director - Advisory and Transactions, Africa of CBRE Excellerate

Ken OGWANG

Senior Dealmaker at IDC

Wesam OKASHA

Managing Director & Board Member of TUI Blue Hotels LLC

Carlos ORTEGA

Head of Global Development at Palladium Hotel Group

Ramsay RANKOUSSI

Vice President, Development-Africa & Turkiye at Radisson Hotel Group

Ibrahim SAGNA

CEO of Silverbacks Holdings

Nawale SAOUD

Director: Projects & Development Services of JLL Africa

Dineo SKWAMBANE

Acting Head Services Business Unit at IDC

Faïçal TADLAOUI

Founder & CEO of Radio Factory

Jameel VERJEE

Founder & CEO of CityBlue Hotels (a member of The Diar Group)

Richard Von KALMAR

Partner at Senga Bay Capital

Mohamed YACOUBI

Managing Director of Real Estate Development & Investment Management

Ahmed ZAIRI

Investment Officer: Manufacturing & Services at IFC

Rita ZNIBER

CEO of DIANA HOLDINGS

Elie Younes leads Radisson Hotel Group’s organic growth and M&A expansions across EMEA and APAC with an international team based across the world. Younes has re-engineered Radisson Hotel Group’s development strategy to focus on an asset-right growth and relevant mature and new business concepts in a fast-changing environment. He has a clear vision on delivering a compelling value proposition to investment stakeholders. Younes’s cultural background and lifestyle accelerates his stamina and ability to be nimble, anticipate and act fast. A Lebanese national and English citizen, Younes began his career in managerial roles in his home country, before joining HVS in London in 2001. He progressed quickly to the position of Director and a Designate MD with HVS within 5 years. He also authored a number of publications on hotel performance assessments and investments. In 2007, he joined Starwood in London as Senior Director of Acquisitions and Development. His next move took him to Hilton Hotels Worldwide as Vice President Development, based in Dubai, before joining Radisson Hotel Group (formerly The Rezidor Hotel Group) in 2010, as Vice President of Business Development for the Middle East and Africa. Younes is fluent in English, French and Arabic. He is educated in Beirut, Paris, New York and London, at universities like Notre Dame, IMHI/Essec, Insead, Cornell University, Johnson Graduate Business School and City University.

Mr. Imad BARRAKAD serves as CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development – SMIT Since 2011. Mr. BARRAKAD has worked actively during this period on the development of the tourism product in Morocco both by raising investment capital as well as conducting strategic studies to launch several large scale tourism development projects. Mr. BARRAKAD coordinates with various stakeholders involved in these developments and attends several high profile international events dedicated to the promotion of tourism investment with the aim to boost and maintain attractiveness of Morocco. Mr. BARRAKAD also holds several positions as Director and Board Member of various development entities involved in tourism projects around the country. Prior to joining SMIT, Mr. BARRAKAD held several key positions in different government entities. Mr. BARRAKAD is an Industrial Engineer and holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management.

Olivier has extensive hospitality industry experience gained over 20 years at Accor. In his last position as CEO of AccorHotels Middle East and Africa, he was responsible for a portfolio of over 200 hotels consisting of 50,000 rooms in over 30 countries where he oversaw 30,000 employees.
He joined the Middle East team in 2011 when the Group had 40 hotels in the region. As a senior executive leading Accor’s expansion in the region, Olivier made remarkable strides in growing the network, where he was ultimately acquiring one new property signature every two weeks and opening one hotel a month. In 2016 Olivier took on the role of Chief Operating Officer Middle East, and in 2017 added Africa to his remit when he became Chief Operating Officer of Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Accor, he spent 10 years within Deloitte’s Audit and Corporate Finance practice. Olivier has a BA from Grenoble Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po Grenoble) and an executive MBA from ESSEC Business School. Olivier is French and speaks English & French.

Othman Cherif Alami, a visionary in the Moroccan tourism industry, has been at the forefront of its transformation for decades. Starting with Atlas Voyages, founded by his father in 1964, Othman drove the company to become the market leader, offering diverse products from luxury travel to all-inclusive resorts. His leadership culminated in the evolution of the business into Investour Group, a powerhouse encompassing brands across travel, hospitality, transportation, and IT sectors.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Othman is a dedicated advocate for sustainable tourism and ethical practices. He has been instrumental in national strategies like Vision 2010 and Vision 2020, promoting collaboration among stakeholders. Actively involved in various tourism associations and the Casablanca Mers Sultan Rotary Club, he contributes to impactful social and economic projects, further solidifying his role as a key figure in Morocco’s tourism landscape.

Named as part of Forbes' Top Travel and Tourism Leaders in 2023 and 2024, one of the Most Powerful Leaders and most inspiring visionary leaders in the Middle East by Arabian Business Magazine, with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and an impeccable record of notable achievements, JS Anand is a prominent hotelier and passionate corporate leader. After earning his diploma in hotel management, he refined his hands-on management style as he advanced through senior roles in world-class hospitality companies. He has been featured on the Power 50 - Most Influential Leaders by Hotelier Middle East, Executive Power list 2023: The Most Influential Hotel Leaders in the Middle East, Most Innovative Business Leaders Inspiring the World 2022 by The Excelligent Magazine, and Most Influential Entrepreneurs From Dubai To Watch in 2022 By The Gulf Entrepreneur Magazine. People-centric and future-focused, JS aims to make an impact on the hospitality industry by building on the importance of employee well-being and satisfaction, creating an unforgettable service culture that gains global recognition, and being more involved in humanitarian causes around the world. Building long-lasting connections play a pivotal role in his work, especially in his mission to propel LEVA across the MENA region and Europe.
JS is a charismatic corporate leader with a hands-on management style. He lives by the company’s core values that are firmly focused on delivering, efficiently and effectively, what was promised to its stakeholders and clients. Now he is committed to creating the best lifestyle hotels in the Middle East and beyond, becoming one of the leading hotel management companies dedicated to clarity, transparency, and delivering on its promises to clients and stakeholders.

Daniel Morgan, Partner at TGP International, has 31+ years of industry experience specialising in advisory, business development and operational management. His expertise spans more than 15 years in the GCC region, where he has served as a trusted consultant to government developers, hoteliers, and leading F&B companies. In addition, Daniel brings 10+ years of experience from the UK and Australia, where he worked with prominent F&B operators, developers, and hotel groups.
As a key figure in TGP International’s leadership, Daniel specialises in the strategic planning and operational oversight of large-scale F&B projects. His focus lies in developing innovative business solutions that enhance operational efficiency, profitability, and sustainability for clients across a range of high-profile ventures. Daniel played a significant role in TGP International's involvement in COP28, where the team provided comprehensive F&B services to over 600,000 attendees across 136 outlets. While leading the strategic and operational planning, Daniel ensured that the execution aligned with the event's sustainability goals involving the delivery of over 1 million meals across a diverse mix of outlets while adhering to a low 1.5°C degrees carbon footprint threshold across all F&B offerings.
Building on TGP International’s role as F&B Masterplanners and lead consultants for Expo City Dubai, Daniel Morgan also played a key role in shaping the F&B ecosystem for the site. He focused on driving strategic growth and ensuring the successful delivery of a diverse range of F&B venues and events. Leveraging his expertise in business development and commercial strategy, Daniel has also worked with major giga project clients, including Neom Sindalah, Neom Oxagon, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya, SEVEN, and the Ministry of Culture (KSA), providing innovative and scalable F&B solutions that contributed to the success of these landmark projects.

Hamza Farooqui is a dynamic and visionary entrepreneur whose impact on the South and Southern African hospitality and tourism sectors is as profound as it is transformative. With an unwavering belief in Africa’s, and specifically South Africa’s, vast potential, Hamza is dedicated to keeping the region at the forefront of global investment opportunities. His work through Millat Group, the company he founded, is not just about business—it’s about driving socio-economic development, creating sustainable growth, and positioning South Africa as a leader on the global stage. Hamza’s driving mantra is to shape and grow sustainable businesses through strategic investment initiatives and entrepreneurial innovation. His expertise in tactical value investments stems from years of experience crafting and growing successful enterprises. He believes the local market is ripe for growth and that South Africa is ready to take the lead by forming strategic, lasting partnerships with leading international brands. A central aspect of Hamza’s vision is his strong passion for creating unforgettable experiences, particularly in the food and beverage sector. He understands that memorable experiences are at the heart of the hospitality industry, and this belief fuels his commitment to bringing global brands to South Africa. Hamza’s approach is not only about introducing these brands but also about the kinetic energy and innovation they bring, revolutionizing the travel, tourism, and leisure sectors. Since founding the Millat Group in 2016, Hamza has positioned himself as a trailblazer in international hotel investments, orchestrating strategic partnerships that have brought prestigious global brands to South Africa. His portfolio is marked by significant milestones, including the introduction of the Hyatt brand to South Africa during a period of global uncertainty. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamza successfully launched the Hyatt Regency in Cape Town, followed by two additional Hyatt properties in Johannesburg, with a fourth set to open in 2024. His ambitious goal to control 2,000 hotel keys across South Africa by 2025 underscores his commitment to the country’s growth and his vision for its future. Beyond the Hyatt brand, Hamza has also brought global brands like Circle K and Pret a Manger to South Africa. His partnership with Uber Eats marked Millat as the first hotel group in South Africa to launch dark kitchens, catering to the evolving demands of modern consumers. These initiatives reflect his deep understanding of market trends and his passion for delivering exceptional experiences in the hospitality sector. Hamza’s focus is firmly rooted in hospitality, where his leadership continues to attract global investors, driving growth in South Africa’s tourism and hospitality industry and contributing to the nation’s economic prosperity. For Hamza, entrepreneurship is about more than just building businesses—it’s about creating a legacy of service, unity, and sustainable growth. Through Millat Group, he is ensuring that South Africa not only attracts global attention but also sets new standards in the travel, tourism, and leisure sectors, creating unforgettable experiences for all.

Réda started his career in Paris at Xerox spending two years working as Key Account Manager. His career with Accor started in 2001 and Reda has had the responsibility of defining, deploying and managing the sales strategy of Accor Morocco from luxury to economic segments during 8 years as Country Sales Director. Since 2008 he has held the position of Development Director for Morocco after being promoted in 2012 as Development Director for Morocco, Tunisia & Libya. From 2009 to 2012, Reda has had also the responsibility as Board member to launch the joint-venture SMHE which has developed the first low-cost hotels chain in Morocco with Ibis Budget Hotels. As VP Development from 2014, Réda is responsible for the development of AccorHotels brands from luxury to economic segments in Northern & Western Africa. From 2018, Reda has also been appointed as Board member of the joint-venture SIEHA which develop as investor Ibis & Novotel in Algeria (7 hotels under operation). Réda Faceh holds a Master in “Service Industry Management” from EM Lyon Business School in Lyon (France).

Youssef CHRAIBI holds 25-year experience in the property and hospitality industries and combines global market knowledge gained in 4 continents. Youssef started his career in Property and Asset Management in Canada. He then moved to UAE and contributed to the development of high-rise office buildings in new economic zones for the Government of Dubai. He returned to Morocco with EMAAR to lead the development of large-scale projects, including mixed-use urban district development. Youssef graduated from both La Sorbonne University in Paris and HEC Business School in Montreal. He has been a visiting professor at American University in Dubai and HEM in Rabat. In 2012, along with his partner Paco BRICENO, Youssef founded MAGESPRO, an international engineering consulting firm, based in Casablanca, Morocco to pursue emerging opportunities in the continent, mainly in Morocco and in West African countries, offering invaluable support to both public and private investors in achieving success and dedicated to delivering specialized and innovative real estate services.

I am the Managing Partner in charge of real estate and urban infrastructure at Latitude Five, an investment and advisory firm operating in emerging markets. In my role, I collaborate closely with institutional investors, developers and operators, providing market insights and uncovering exclusive off-market opportunities. My expertise extends to structuring, executing, and managing diverse commercial and financial transactions, including sustainable initiatives for which I hold the IFC EDGE Expert for Green Buildings in Emerging Markets credential. With over twenty-five years of extensive experience in the real estate landscape across the EMEA region, I have worn various hats—as a lawyer, investor, and financier. My journey has equipped me with an understanding of the complexities of emerging and frontier markets involved in underwriting and executing structured projects and transactions. I hold senior executive and non-executive positions with several international and African real estate and investment companies, including as a member of the RICS World Regional Board for the Middle East and Africa. I am passionate about contributing to the growth and development of the regions and sectors I am dedicated to. I actively participate in events, publications, and initiatives aimed at promoting these countries and strengthening the real estate, infrastructure, and investment sectors across Africa. Since 2022, I have been a member of the judging panel of the Africa Property Investment Awards, which each year recognise outstanding achievements within the African real estate sector. Having been based in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (2012-2018 and again in 2023) and Casablanca, Morocco (2018-2019), I bring a unique perspective shaped by my experiences in diverse and vibrant settings.

As a passionate sustainability enthusiast and entrepreneur, Wiam SAMIR has carved a niche in the field of sustainable development. Her remarkable journey began with managing the LEED certification for Morocco's first high-rise, the CFC First Tower. Her expertise extends to a diverse portfolio, including luxury hotels, high-rise office buildings, residential housing, and even Morocco's largest university campus. Beyond project management, Wiam is a sought-after advisor, guiding clients on optimizing built environments, backed by her accreditations in HQE, LEED, WELL, Edge, and BREEAM. In 2018, Wiam chaired the Morocco Green Building Council, significantly expanding her international network and influence in sustainable development. Her academic pursuits at the University of Cambridge, where she earned a Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment with distinction for her research on Zero Carbon housing in England, have profoundly influenced her professional trajectory. This achievement complements her Bachelor's degree in Engineering and Management Sciences from Al Akhawayn University and her Environmental specialty from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Wiam's commitment to sustainability is not just a career choice but a lifelong passion, driving her continuous pursuit of innovation and excellence in the field of sustainable development.

I currently have the privilege and responsibility of overseeing Knight Frank’s business in Kenya. Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy, serving as our clients’ partners in property for over 125 years. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank has more than 20,000 people operating from 488 offices across 57 territories. Recruiting and retaining exceptional people is key to Knight Frank’s continued success. As such, I get the pleasure to work with a dynamic and canny group of colleagues out of our base in Nairobi, the commercial capital of East Africa. Should you require any advice or assistance with building, leasing, buying or selling real estate please don't hesitate to reach out to me or please visit our website www.knightfrank.co.ke
Most of my career has been spent providing advice and building businesses across multiple global markets. As a result, I have strong knowledge of international corporate growth and commercial real estate. Given my studies at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, I began my journey in the hotel yield management space before growing into a hospitality development specialist and then transitioning into more generic leadership. I am a firm believer that real estate has a vital role to play in a global future that is socially and environmentally conscientious, responsible and sustainable.

Abdellah Essonni is a seasoned hospitality and real estate expert with over 35 years of international experience spanning four continents and encompassing the industry’s various facets from development to operations and asset management. Abdellah is now based in Casablanca, Morocco after a two-year tenure with the Public Investment Fund in Riyadh where he kick-started one of the fund’s hospitality subsidiaries as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, he was Chief Hospitality Officer at Maad International, a Jeddah-based real estate developer, for close to six years during which he delivered, among other assets, Makkah’s single largest upper scale complex with 4,500 rooms and suites under IHG’s newly introduced brand, voco. Prior to that, Abdellah spent over five years as CEO of Abjar Hotels International, a subsidiary of Almulla Group, which owns and operates a dozen managed and franchised hotels in Dubai under renowned global brands such as Ritz Carlton, Crowne Plaza and Sheraton. Before Abjar, he was Managing Director at Actif Invest, a Casablanca-based hospitality investment fund with development and asset management mandates across Morocco including the very successful mixed-use complex in Marrakech, Carre Eden. Before that, he was head of hospitality at Sama Dubai, a government owned master developer. During the first two decades of his career, Abdellah has held several executive positions of increasing responsibility with major operators such as Hyatt, Four Seasons, Jumeirah and Kempinski. Abdellah graduated in tourism and hospitality management from Institut Supérieur de Tourisme in Tangier, Morocco and completed an executive management program at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Abdellah is a regular key speaker at leading hotel investment conferences and a member of several advisory boards.

Grégory Fortems is a Manager at In Extenso Tourisme, Culture & Hôtellerie (In Extenso TCH), a leading consulting firm based in Paris and specialized in hotel and tourism development. He joined the team in 2015. A graduate of SKEMA Business School in partnership with CNAM Paris, Grégory has worked on dozens of tourism and hotel real estate assignments in France and abroad, including Morocco. His ten years' experience, combining operational and functional positions, has enabled him to consolidate his expertise in market research and strategic thinking, for both local authorities and private operators. Gregory’s knowledge covers hotels, tourist residences, business facilities, as well as regional strategies for tourism development and accommodation. He has extensive experience of hotel projects in Morocco, and is currently working on strategies, solutions and levers to reduce the seasonality of tourism in Morocco. Grégory is also responsible for the development of the statistical observatory for the Moroccan hotel industry, and takes part in numerous conferences - Les Tendances de l'Hôtellerie - In Extenso TCH.

Philippe Gauguier is the Founder, Partner and now Senior Advisor at In Extenso Tourisme, Culture & Hôtellerie (In Extenso TCH), a leading consulting firm based in Paris and specialized in hotel and tourism development. After graduating from hotel school and acquiring solid experience in various hotel departments, Philippe participated in the development of a French hotel chain before turning to hospitality consulting. In addition to hotels, Philippe is heavily involved in all aspects of tourism development, from health tourism (spas, thalassotherapy, etc.), golf tourism and casinos to business tourism (convention centers, etc.), both in France and abroad. Philippe has significant knowledge of the Moroccan hospitality industry, in particular, having regularly worked in the Kingdom for over 30 years. Initially specialized in market research and analysis, Philippe has rapidly become a leading expert in hotel asset valuation, as a member of RICS. In partnership with STR, Philippe heads up the most representative statistical observatory on hotel performance in France, as well as on tourism residences, thalassotherapy, French hotel supply and Moroccan hotel industry performance. Philippe also organizes regular hotel trend conferences in both France and Morocco, and lectures at leading French business

As CO-CEO Africa, Wayne focuses on delivering strategic advisory services and capital market oversight to local, regional, and global clients across Sub-Saharan Africa. Wayne has over 13 years’ experience in the hospitality real estate industry. His broad range of experience includes hotel feasibility assignments, commercial due diligence for hospitality platforms and portfolios, hotel asset management and operator selection and management contract negotiations.

Wayne joined the team at JLL in 2015, prior to which he was a Senior Consultant with a regional hotel and tourism consulting firm. Other previous roles include analyst at JSE listed Hospitality Property Fund and Consultant at hospitality and tourism advisory firms. Wayne has a BA in Tourism Development from the University of Johannesburg, a PDM from WITS Business School, and an MSc in Property Studies at the University of Cape Town.

Following a successful 25-year career in the hospitality business, Bani Haddad founded Aleph Hospitality in 2015 to provide hotel owners in the Middle East and Africa with a customised, results-driven alternative to traditional hotel management models. A visionary leader, acclaimed speaker and widely respected hotelier, Bani successfully developed, launched and managed several major international hotel brands prior to making the bold move to set up Aleph Hospitality. From site selection, fundraising and construction at Hospitality Management Services and pre- and post-opening operations at Starwood and Disneyland Resort Paris, to strategic growth and development as Regional Vice President Middle East & Africa for Wyndham Hotel Group, Bani has first-hand experience in virtually every aspect of hotel management.

Under Bani’s leadership, Aleph Hospitality operates 10 hotels and has more than 15 under development in Africa and the Middle East. Bani holds an MBA from IMHI, a joint programme established by Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and ESSEC. Originally from Lebanon, Bani has lived in the United Arab Emirates since 2005.

Majd HAMAMOUCHI is a Passionate Executive about leveraging industry expertise to drive long-term success. he is Goal oriented Person and recognized for exceptional negotiation skills, and strategic thinking. he has the ability to deliver sustainable growth in highly competitive markets. Majd joins TIME HOTELS with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. An eclectic and well-versed professional, with expertise in sales, Revenue Management, Development Management, Real estate and Strategy advisory. Majd’s distinguished career showcases his exceptional business acumen and keen ability to operate in a multitude of countries with Proven track record in identifying and capitalizing on new market opportunities, forging strong partnerships, and expanding brand presence across diverse regions. Through his deep understanding of the development process, strong network at Global Scale and awareness of the latest hospitality trends, MAJD HAMAMOUCHI is spearhead and accelerate the expansion of TIME HOTELS in the EMEA region

Azalaï Life Experience embodies a new vision of luxury hotels in Morocco with chic ecolodges and bivouacs, offering all the comforts, designed through an eco-responsible and solidarity-based approach, in line with the vision of the group's director, Mr. Bouchaïb Harmouzi. This philosophy underpins all aspects of Azalaï Life Experience addresses, from the choice of sites to the catering and activities offered, including construction and decoration. Blending seamlessly into their surroundings, the ecolodges and bivouacs are designed to minimize their ecological footprint by using local and sustainable materials, including stone and recycled wood. In the same spirit, landscaped gardens favor endemic plants, with little water requirement. The kitchen also highlights seasonal and local products, sourced directly from nearby producers.

Our raison détre has been to make an impact! This is the core of our mixed-use developments philosophy & endless evolution. Naturally, and in a very short time, we’ve transformed into an ESG-focused lifestyle operator that manages & operates mixed-use projects with short & long stay & working component, complemented by Food & Beverage, health/wellness, entertainment/culture concepts. For our growth, a staple has been the collaborations around community-centric projects that exist within a holistic Ecosystem & deliver value to all stakeholders – owners, guests, teams, the Local supply chain. In our transformative journey, we discovered that the key to curating a unique lifestyle destination where locals & international travelers connect and support the Neighborhoods takes a visionary owner & a purpose. We recognized the need to build Collaborative Concepts that create a destination embracing ESG contributing to Locality – hiring, supply, purchases, social causes. Jointly with our owners we crafted spaces with short and long-term stay, a working component - Hub for entertainment, socializing, entrepreneurial connections.

Investment Manager: Developed a strong credit analysis skills and good understanding of the leveraged finance and private equity environment, Invested in LBO transactions on behalf of New Amsterdam Credit Funds and CDO, Monitoring investments and credits, Led the due diligence and credit analysis process for more than 60 leveraged finance transactions and early-stage opportunities, Pitched LBOs, take private and refinancing opportunities as well as exit ideas to financial sponsors, Worked on various M&A Telecom assignments: developed in-depth modelling, valuation and presentation skills, Prepared presentations and teaching material for the M&A task force: defence tactics and use of consent solicitation to remove boards, Advised CenturyTel in the sale of its wireless asset ($1.7 billion) to Alltel (defence mandate in hostile transaction, Used multiple valuation methods; compared various bids; drafted a fairness opinion memo and prepared a board presentation· Performed various strategic analyses for Bellsouth (one of the largest US telecom operators, Analysed various mergers and acquisitions scenarios of large telecom companies (including SBC, AT&T, Sprint, VoiceStream) and their impact on Bellsouth’s earnings, credit ratings and competitive positioning

Hafid Mirabti is a dynamic hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles of sales and marketing and business development in the Middle East, and Africa with leading hospitality groups. He has been responsible since 2012 for the growth strategy in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa of the Ascott Limited, the Singapore headquartered hospitality group operating over 165,000 units globally in hotels, hotel apartments, co-living and independent senior living accommodation offerings. Prior to joining Ascott, Hafid held various senior positions in Sales & Marketing with international and regional hotel groups including the former five-star JAL Fujairah Resort & Spa and the Dubai based JA Resorts & hotels. Originally from Morocco and living in Dubai since 1997, Hafid holds a master’s degree in hotel management from the international hospitality management school in Morocco.

Wesam Okasha is a German citizen and a native Global Player with direct link to worldwide network of ultra high-net-worth individuals (HNWI/UHNWI) and regional Family Offices. He completed his early education in Beirut & received his academic education in Switzerland, Germany and the USA, specializing in all aspects of hospitality & tourism industries. Wesam is well versed in all development, Procurement & operating disciplines including Pre-& Post-openings as General Manager & Regional Manager as well. He was most noted and known for the "Cosmopolitan Energizer Osprey" in all his Merges & Acquisitions activities on 4 continents. Mr. Okasha has completed several strategic merges, acquisitions, rebranding and investments for cnt group and other companies/investors in the Emerging markets and Middle East area, where he also served as Regional Director of operation, turn around General Manager & business developer. Due to his extensive experience & exceptional relationships within the emerging markets, Wesam acted as senior consultant in different merge & acquisition catering-projects before been appointed at the Lufthansa SG as Vice President Sales & Services for the Emerging Markets Region. Since 2014, Wesam fully contributed as Senior Development Advisor to the TUI Group & ROBINSON Club Brands. Introduced 65+opportunities with local JV partners for equity placement abroad. Focus countries Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Vietnam, Thailand, La Reunion, Rodrigues Island, United Arab Emirates & a selected key cities within the EMEA. With a versatile professional and multiple lingual backgrounds, Wesam has command of a variety of cultural settings including Africa, Western Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. He is fluent in French, German, English, Spanish and Arabic, also he is conversant in Italian and Hebrew. Wesam Okasha holds an MBA with major in International Business from the Chase University in Athens, Georgia, United States of America.

An entrepreneurial self-starter and deal maker with strong analytical, modeling, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. Proven track record in originating and executing various type of deal structure within the hospitality industry across Middle East, Turkey & Africa with more than 100 single transactions concluded. Recognized leadership with accountability in underwriting, strategic planning, due diligence, investment analysis and asset management. Based in Dubai, Ramsay currently looks after the Radisson Hotel Group’s strategic growth across Africa & Turkey and previously led all efforts across the Middle East. With a team based in Dubai, Europe and Cape Town, he directly reports to the Global Chief Development Officer. Ramsay previously led the investment arm of Millennium Hotels & Resorts, one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing hotel groups. During his time, he helped take the company into the top 10 ranks in the region. A Belgian national, Ramsay is fluent in multiple languages and with a multi-cultural background. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, an MBA from the ESSEC Business School in Paris and recently completed his Executive MBA at INSEAD Business School, ranked in the top 3 globally. His broader experience in growth and strategy execution has led him some advisory roles across VC firms further helping younger startups reaching their potential while pursuing his interests in corporate turnaround, venture capital and private equity.

Ibrahim Sagna (pronounced “San Ya”) is the Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings (“Silverbacks”), a private investment firm focused on value investing in sports, technology, entertainment, media, and fashion. He directs the firm’s strategy, investments and investors relation in accordance with its board’s principles. Ibrahim has been named in 2023 as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in Africa by New African Magazine. He is an institutional platform builder, technology enthusiast and prolific private investor. He is a seasoned executive with various board governance roles & the privilege of close to three decades' track record enabling over USD 30 Billion of company related financings throughout 40+ African and emerging economies covering consumers, infrastructure and natural resources. The spectrum of his former employers spans from global Private Equity (PE) portfolio companies to international PE groups and Hedge Funds (HF) management firms as well as leading Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). In his fulfilling journey across the value chain of private capital, he also led a few award winning transactions in publicly listed markets. Silverbacks’ purpose is to accelerate the corporate maturity of select private companies. The firm dedicates its resources to the delivery of attractive capital gain opportunities for investors while unearthing outliers operating in underserved industries. Ultimately, the goal is to help exceptional founders surmount challenges, ease their access to liquidity, improve their governance, amplify their reach beyond their original jurisdiction, and as a result reinforce their dominance.

Dineo is a seasoned development finance practitioner with extensive financing experience spanning over 20 years. Strong foundation was solidified at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Financing experience is augmented by specific sector knowledge within the clothing, textiles and footwear industries as well as tourism. For a number of years funding experience was focussed on small, micro and medium enterprises targeting youth and women led businesses, skills were attained and sharpened whilst at the Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF). Dineo spent 10 years at the IDC. The last 6 years she spent as a Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Head managing a team of 12 investment professionals with a total book of between R1,7bn and R2,2bn (i.e. debt, mezzanine debt and equity).

I have 20+ years of entrepreneurial experience across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a passion for progress, people development and the creation of growth businesses. I moved into entrepreneurship from one of the world’s leading law firms where I worked in London and Paris for five years. I left the law as a 3-year PQE qualified solicitor. Today, as principal of The Diar Group, I wear various investment management hats. Day to day, however, I am the Founder and CEO of Africa’s fastest-growing local hotel chain, CityBlue Hotels. Having conceived and created the brand from the ground-up, I have developed CityBlue across Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. I have also evolved the brand offering into five categories, catering to different segments and needs of the African market. In 2023, I was truly honoured to receive the “Creating Impact” award for Outstanding Contribution to Africa by the Advisory Board of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

With over twenty years of international experience, including in-depth real estate exposure in Morocco and extensive African development, Mohamed Yacoubi held various executive positions within Moroccan-based investment funds and major Moroccan and multinational property developers, where he has successfully managed and delivered several mixed-use high-end real estate and hospitality projects, managing an excess of 2 B$ investments.
Mohamed started his career in management consulting, IT implementation strategy and corporate finance, while he worked at Deloitte Consulting in the USA and in Canada and at Pratt & Whitney Canada. Mohamed Yacoubi holds an engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Lyon, an MSc in Industrial Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and an MBA from HEC Montréal. Mohamed has also been a Choiseul Africa laureate from 2014 to 2016.