Eric Ricaurte

Founder & CEO – Greenview

Eric founded Greenview in 2008, an international consultancy helping organizations catalyze innovation and best practice through strategy, programs, data management, benchmarking, and reporting. Greenview’s clients include most of the largest hotel companies as well as hotel owners and developers, event organizers, cruise lines, DMOs, OTAs and industry organizations including the WTTC and UNWTO. With 20 years of hands-on experience, Eric is a frequent speaker, convener, and researcher on the topic of sustainability. Prior to founding Greenview, Eric specialized in the operations and development of nature-based lodges, theme parks and attractions in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Brazil. Eric earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and a Master of Science degree in Tourism & Travel Management from New York University. His notable industry work includes launching the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index, Green Lodging Trends Report, Destination Water Risk Index, and Hotel Owners for Tomorrow Coalition. Eric is a member of the UFI Committee on Sustainable Development and the International Standards Working Group of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. He has held a research fellowship at the Cornell University Center for Hospitality Research and been an adjunct instructor at New York University.

Anton Bawab

Executive Director, Hospitality – The Red Sea Development Company

Anton Bawab is the Executive Director Hospitality for The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) , a closed joint stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. He oversees the hospitality operations, design and technical services and hotel and commercial partnerships for a new international luxury tourism destination set along the Red Sea as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. He is responsible for all aspects of planning, implementing, and managing the hospitality and hotel operations related activities of the TRSDC.

Anton is a seasoned hospitality executive with extensive experience in corporate structuring and strategy, hotel operations, and hotel development in Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining TRSDC, Anton served as Regional President of Viceroy Hotel Group where he led the growth and operations of Viceroy Hotel Group’s outside the Americas, establishing the regional office in Abu Dhabi, and signing multiple long-term hotel management agreements for the company in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Prior to joining Viceroy's leadership team, he spent four years with Mubadala's Real Estate & Hospitality team [or division?] where he led the effort to acquire, restructure, recapitalize and turnaround KOR Hotel Group, which was later rebranded to Viceroy Hotels Group. Anton worked on the structuring and negotiation of several of Mubadala’s real estate and hospitality investments in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Anton started his career in the industry as a SixSigma Black Belt with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. He then moved to lead Starwood’s online marketing and revenue team in Northern Italy before moving to the OTA side to grow UniTravel Srl from a regional Italian OTA firm to a recognizable name and brand with operations across Europe.

Anton holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in International Hospitality Management from the Swiss Hotel Management School, Les Roches in Switzerland, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Cranfield School of Management in the United Kingdom.

Khalifa Bin Braik

Managing Director of Hotels – Majid Al Futtaim Properties

Khalifa Bin Braik is the Managing Director of Hotels at Majid Al Futtaim Properties, leading the business unit’s growth strategy across the entire portfolio of existing assets and new developments. Mr. Bin Braik is responsible for portfolio performance and expansion in alignment with Majid Al Futtaim’s vision of developing integrated lifestyle destinations.

Mr. Bin Braik has over 15 years of Real Estate and Hospitality leadership experience in various organisations. Starting his career with Dubai Holding, he joined Majid Al Futtaim - Properties in 2014 from Sharjah Holding as a Director in the Shopping Malls Business Unit and soon after was appointed as Head of Asset Management for the Hotels Business Unit. In his last role, Khalifa was responsible for optimising the operating and financial performance of the entire portfolio of Majid Al Futtaim Hotels, as well as building robust relationships with our international hotel partners.

Mr. Bin Braik Holds a Masters in financial economics from Boston University and a B.Sc. in Economics from Northeastern University.

Cedric Sala

MEA Hotel Segment Director – Schneider Electric

Cedric Sala has been working for Schneider Electric for 15 years in various position related to Energy management system and Building solutions. Cedric is now based out of Dubai and in charge of hotel segment for MEA region, working to help operators and owners to increase operational efficiency and enhance guest experience in their properties.