Shafi Syed has joined TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION? as vice president of development and acquisitions for India, the Middle East and Africa (IMEA). An industry veteran with more than 20 years of related experience, Syed will steer expansion efforts from TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION’s new regional headquarters in Dubai – a strategic hub in a region crucial to achieving the brand’s goal of 30 hotels by the year 2020.
Syed will target key developing markets in the region identifying and cultivating relationships with highly select investors and hotel developers who seek a globally recognized luxury brand that can open new markets and quickly capture existing market share.
“Dubai is uniquely located and accessible to a broad range of markets that the Trump development team has identified as high-priority for brand expansion, and Shafi is the right choice to lead our efforts there,” said Todd G. Wynne-Parry, senior vice president of global hotel development and acquisitions of TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION. “We are confident with his unique skill set and broad contact base that the best partners and projects will be identified and secured to establish a strong foothold for the brand throughout the region.”
Added Chief Operating Officer Jim Petrus, “Shafi will play a key role in TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION’s global strategy, and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.”
For more than four decades, The Trump Organization has set new standards of excellence as it has expanded its interests in world-class hotels, luxury residential real estate, top-tier office buildings, championship golf clubs, entertainment, fine dining, and merchandise.
Syed brings to his position almost 25 years of experience in business development, sales, brand expansion, and hotel operations. He has represented luxury hospitality brands throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. Most recently, Syed served as regional development director of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals in the Middle East and North Africa, during which time he led the expansion of the Wyndham brand footprint in the region. His vast experience also includes senior management positions at Cendant VNG, based in London, and Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces in India.
Syed is a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management in Bangalore, where he earned a degree in hotel management. He is a dual citizen of the U.K. and India.