Lokesh Kumar has been appointed as the Director of Development, Middle East by minor Hotels, which has 540 hotels and resorts located in 56 countries. With 23 years of experience in strategic corporate leadership, Lokesh has cultivated strong relationships with shareholders and key management partners, and developed strategic public-private partnerships to increase revenue and reduce costs.
“We are delighted to welcome Lokesh to Minor Hotels,” reported Amir Golbarg, Senior Vice President of Middle East, Africa, and India for Minor Hotels. “His sterling reputation in developing and managing strategic business operations across the GCC and India aligns seamlessly with Minor Hotels’ vision for our future. Lokesh’s astute thinking and expertise in the market will be invaluable as we move forward with our plans for the future.”
The latest addition to the team at minor Hotels is Lokesh, who has previously worked as a Management Consultant and demonstrated his proficiency in developing the tourism offer on the 1,600 km Coral Highway from Jezan to NEOM, while also creating innovative hotel concepts for the Tourism Authority of Saudi Arabia Arabia.
He also provided feasibility and development strategies for mixed-use urban development projects in various asset classes, including hospitality, retail, residential and education. Lokesh also acted as an advisor to KSA Management Company, the state-owned entity, in identifying potential hotels and providing advisory services for joint venture evaluation and operator selection.
Lokesh Kumar shares, “I am indeed privileged to join Minor Hotels. It’s an exciting time for the company, which has witnessed impressive growth in recent years. I’m eager to contribute to its continued success with new openings across the Middle East. The entrepreneurial approach of the company aligns with my professional goals, and I look forward to working with the team to further accentuate growth.”
He has extensive experience in key development, finance, and commercial roles at hospitality firms like Movenpick, Unison Hotels, The Oberoi Group, etc., which positions him as the ideal person for leading the future growth initiatives and expansion of Minor Hotels in the Central east region.
In his new role, Kumar will oversee the development strategies and property management of Minor Hotels’ portfolio of hotels, including Anantara, Avani, NH Hotels, NH Collection, Oaks and Tivoli. His expertise in business process improvement also contributes to business efficiency.