𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗳: 𝗔 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Gerrit Gräf is a distinguished hospitality executive with over 25 years of multi-regional leadership across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Renowned for spearheading iconic hotel launches, driving strategic brand transformations, and building award-winning teams, he has become a defining figure in global luxury hospitality. Currently serving as Multi-Property General Manager of JW Marriott Marquis Dubai and Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, Gräf continues to blend operational excellence with visionary leadership, shaping unforgettable guest journeys and sustainable business growth.

𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

With more than two decades at Marriott International, Gerrit Gräf has led some of the world’s most prestigious luxury and lifestyle hotels. His leadership spans the successful opening of 14 hotels, repositioning global brands, and driving operational performance through guest-centric strategies. From Europe to the Middle East and Asia, he has cultivated expertise in building strong team cultures, enhancing brand equity, and executing large-scale pre-opening projects with precision and purpose.

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

Throughout his distinguished career, Gerrit Gräf has:

• Opened and successfully positioned 14 luxury and lifestyle hotels in international markets.
• Elevated guest satisfaction by combining personalized service with innovative hospitality solutions.
• Strengthened financial outcomes while maintaining brand integrity and service excellence.
• Built and mentored multicultural teams, empowering them to deliver peak performance.
• Championed cross-cultural leadership, adapting strategies to dynamic and diverse markets.

Career Milestones: Shaping Hospitality Across Regions

Multi-Property General Manager, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai & Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites (2023–Present): Leading two flagship properties in Dubai, with a focus on innovation, market leadership, and exceptional service delivery.

1. Multi-Property General Manager, The Luxury Collection Doha (2020–2023): Oversaw Le Royal Méridien and Palais Vendôme, managing complex pre-opening projects and positioning the hotels among Qatar’s luxury benchmarks.
2. Area Vice President, Premium & Select Brands, UAE (2019–2020): Directed Marriott’s premium portfolio, driving operational performance and brand strategy across the Emirates.
3. General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh (2016–2019): Led one of the Middle East’s most iconic luxury properties, delivering excellence in guest service and financial growth.
4. Hotel Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah (Pre-Opening, 2015–2016): Directed pre-opening operations of a landmark luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia.
5. General Manager, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit (Pre-Opening, 2011–2015): Successfully launched a dual-branded property, driving market positioning and operational excellence.
6. Area Director of Operations, South Asia, Malaysia, Maldives & Australia (2008–2011): Supported multiple Marriott brands in pre-opening, operational strategy, and service transformation.

Earlier Leadership Roles: Including Hotel Manager for Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, Director of Operations at JW Marriott Dubai, and Food & Beverage leadership at Renaissance Hotels and Sheraton Berlin.

𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲

• Hotel Openings and Pre-Opening Project Leadership
• Strategic Brand Management and Market Repositioning
• Operational Excellence and Guest-Centric Innovation
• Talent Development, Mentorship, and Team Culture
• Financial Stewardship and Revenue Maximization
• Cross-Cultural Leadership and Global Market Strategy

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Gerrit Gräf is a graduate of the Hotel Management School of Hamburg, where he earned a specialized Hotel Economist degree. This strong academic foundation, combined with decades of international leadership, has shaped his ability to integrate strategic vision with operational precision.

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆

For Gerrit Gräf, hospitality leadership is about empowering people, creating meaningful guest experiences, and shaping brands with authenticity and purpose. He believes in building teams that are inspired to deliver excellence, fostering cultures that value both performance and human connection.

“Hospitality is not just about managing hotels; it is about creating legacies of experience, service, and innovation that resonate across cultures and generations.”

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

As a visionary hospitality leader, Gerrit Gräf continues to redefine luxury experiences through innovation, sustainability, and guest engagement. His mission is to strengthen global hospitality standards by blending operational mastery with human-centered leadership.

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲 proudly recognizes 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗳 as one of the 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, honoring his exceptional leadership, career achievements, and transformative contributions to the global hospitality industry.