Kempinski appoints Gordon Drake as...

Drake brings 30 years of real estate and hospitality experience to the role

Gordon Drake has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer at Kempinski, where he will oversee financial operations, analysis and risk assessment for Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group.

Drake, who was previously Chief Executive Officer for The Doyle Collection, is also tasked with managing financial resources to enhance profitability and growth.

This strategic appointment comes as the 127-year-old brand ushers in a bold new chapter.

With more than 30 years of experience in the real estate and hospitality sectors, the British national has also held senior positions at Six Senses, Movenpick, Westmont Hospitality, Kingdom Hotel Investments and The Savoy Hotel.

As CEO at The Doyle Collection, Drake led the company out of the Covid-19 pandemic, overseeing a revamped structure in sales and marketing, driving improved operational standards and loyalty programme participation and investing in the firm’s people and culture.

Commenting on the appointment, Drake said he was looking forward to “working alongside the talented team to drive sustainable growth, strengthen financial strategies, and create long-term value for our stakeholders”.

Elsewhere at Kempinski, a new department has been created dedicated to product development, led by Rasha Lababidi as Chief Product Officer.

Based in the Dubai office, Lababidi will lead product innovation, design and guest experience across the brand’s luxury portfolio.

Lababidi has more than 25 years of experience in executive marketing management, branding, guest experience, product and concept development, innovation and transformational corporate strategy for luxury hospitality and real estate.

Previously, she was Senior Director of Marketing at Emaar and Head of Marketing at Al Maabar International Investments (currently Eagle Hills). She is also co-founder of Meraki & Modus, a concept and strategy firm for luxury lifestyle destinations around the world.

Founded in Berlin in 1897 as the Hotelbetriebs-Aktiengesellschaft, the Kempinski group currently operates more than 80 five-star hotels and residences in 35 countries and has more than 34 projects under development around the globe, including Kempinski Residences Bayil Bay, set to be the most coveted address in the Azerbaijani capital when it opens in 2025.

In the Middle East region, Kempinski has 15 properties including four in Dubai, three in Egypt, two in Doha, Qatar, two in Jordan, one in Oman, one in Beirut and two in Saudi Arabia, including one on the shore of the Red Sea in Yanbu.

For more information, visit www.kempinski.com

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