HOTELIERS OF THE WORLD
Selim El Zyr VICE CHAIRMAN , ROTANA HOTEL MANAGEMENT CORP .
ABU DHABI
Bill Heinecke FOUNDER , CEO AND CHAIRMAN , MINOR GROUP
BANGKOK
CORPORATE NOMINEES
El Zyr co-founded Rotana in 1992 and served as president and CEO until December 2013 . He is now vice chairman . The first Middle Eastern hotel management company has a portfolio of about 60 properties in the Middle East , Africa , South Asia and Eastern Europe , with more under development .
After graduating from Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne in 1970 and completing further studies at Cornell and Columbia universities , El Zyr ' s first job was chief steward at New York ’ s Waldorf Astoria . He spent 12 years at Hilton International in Germany , Spain , Egypt , Canada and the U . A . E ., finally as regional director . He established a Lebanese fast food chain in 1982 and eventually moved to the U . A . E . to become vice president for Abu Dhabi National Hotels .
El Zyr was credited with introducing an “ all suites ” concept to the region in 1996 that was rebranded , in 2008 , to Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana ; entry into the affordable business hotel category with Centro by Rotana in 2006 ; introduction of the alcohol-free brand Rayhaan by Rotana in 2008 ; and other initiatives such as the loyalty program .
One of Thailand ’ s best-known expatriates , Heinecke ’ s beginnings are of great relevance to the company ’ s name . He borrowed US $ 1,200 to register his first companies in 1967 at age 17 , including the first office cleaning business in Thailand .
Today , Minor International owns and operates companies focused on restaurants , hotels and lifestyle brands . Starting in 1978 with the Royal Garden Resort in Pattaya , Minor now operates more than 156 hotels across 24 countries .
The creation of Minor ’ s discovery-led Anantara brand ( 35 properties in 12 countries with several more under development ) was the realization of a lifelong dream for Heinecke . In 2011 , Minor launched Avani , an upscale hotel concept to consolidate the group ’ s presence in city and resort locations .
A keen advocate of social responsibility , Heinecke created a foundation to support underprivileged children ’ s education in Thailand . To date , it has sponsored the education of over 10,000 children . His annual King ’ s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament has raised money to benefit Thailand ’ s elephants .
HOTELIERS
OF THE
WORLD
10 hotelsmag . com April 2017