Marriott’s Sandeep Walia takes on expanded global leadership role

Marriott International has expanded the remit of Middle East-based executive Sandeep Walia, appointing him as Global Leader for Design Hotels and Chief Operating Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa. Walia will take on the new responsibilities alongside his existing role as COO for the Middle East and Luxury, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

 

Based in Dubai, Walia currently oversees a region that has grown to more than 1,300 properties across 28 brands and 78 countries. In his new capacity, he will lead operations across Sub-Saharan Africa while shaping the strategic direction for Design Hotels globally – a collection of owner-operated, design-driven properties that form part of Marriott’s soft-branded portfolio.

 

This leadership update, part of Marriott’s ongoing realignment of its global management structure, follows the promotion of Neal Jones – who previously headed Design Hotels – to President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), effective 28 March.

 

Jones led the integration of the Berlin-based Design Hotels brand into Marriott’s portfolio, which today encompasses around 300 distinctive hotels in more than 60 countries. The brand champions individuality, creativity and local character, with properties spanning from urban hubs such as New York and Hong Kong to remote nature retreats.

 

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Commenting on his appointment in a LinkedIn post, Walia described Design Hotels as embodying “creativity, individuality and a strong sense of place – values I admire greatly.”

 

With more than 25 years of global hospitality experience, Walia has held several senior roles within Marriott International. In addition to overseeing the company’s Middle East operations – including Egypt and Türkiye – he manages Marriott’s EMEA luxury portfolio across iconic brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, and The Luxury Collection. His remit also includes the group’s growing branded residences business across the region, comprising 72 projects.

 

Prior to his current position, Walia served as COO for the Middle East, overseeing operations in key markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Kuwait. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts across India and Egypt, gaining operational experience in F&B management.

 

In related leadership movements, Satya Anand, a 37-year Marriott veteran who has led the EMEA region since 2020, has been named Group President for the US, Canada and CALA (Caribbean and Latin America). 

 

For more information, visit marriott.com