HOTELIER
OF THE
WORLDNOMINEES
HOTELS presents its nominees for the 2020 Hotelier of the World awards , now in its 40th year . Readers are encouraged to vote online for one candidate in each category , Corporate and Independent , at hotelsmag . com / HOW2020 .
The awards recognize individuals and their careers based on criteria including how the nominees have defined standards of service ; operational excellence and performance ; creativity in management ; and what they have done for the greater good of the global hotel business .
Winners will be profiled in a November cover story and feted in New York .
ANTHONY COSTA
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT , JUMEIRAH GROUP , MANAGING DIRECTOR , BURJ AL ARAB , DUBAI
Anthony Costa joined Jumeirah Group in May 2018 as part of the executive leadership team heading the operations and management of the Burj Al Arab . He also oversees the operations of Jumeirah ’ s city hotels in Dubai , Jumeirah Emirates Towers and Jumeirah Creekside Hotel , and Jumeirah Vittaveli in The Maldives .
Since he joined Jumeirah Group , he has been instrumental in revamping the culinary experience . After the Emiratization of Dubai initiative announced by the ruling prince , he empowered the first Emirati woman pastry chef to revive traditional Emirati recipes and ingredients to reimagine tea time . He is bringing more women to the forefront , a first in the UAE , with # onlyattheburjalarab .
Costa , a British national of Greek Cypriot origin who started his career at age 18 under the guidance of his father , has a wealth of experience across Europe and Asia . He has worked and led at the Wynn Palace Macau , Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong , Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong and Mandarin Oriental Tokyo , as well as other luxury properties such as Four Seasons and Radisson SAS .
INDEPENDENT NOMINEES
ANTHONY LARK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , MONTARA HOSPITALITY , PHUKET , THAILAND
Born and raised in Sydney , Anthony Lark started his career at the local icon , the Wentworth hotel , before joining the Regent Sydney in 1982 as senior front officer manager . In 1988 , at age 27 , he was hired as the opening general manager at the famed Amanpuri on Phuket Island in Thailand , the first Amanresort . His love for Asian hospitality , design , landscaping and people came together as he ran Amanpuri and oversaw villa developments for 12 years . At the same time , he opened another four Amanresorts in Bali and Myanmar .
In 2000 , Lark joined Montara Hospitality Group , where he co-designed and in 2004 opened Trisara , an ultra-luxury , all-pool-villa resort . He also was responsible for the branding , marketing and sales of 30 multimillion-dollar villas .
After nearly 20 years , Lark , married with four sons , recently stepped away from the MD role at Trisara to oversee design and planning for Montara ’ s next developments .
He also is president of the Phuket Hotels Association , overseeing initiatives to create educational programs and to reduce plastics and drive sustainability initiatives at member properties .
12 hotelsmag . com April 2020