Sarmad Zok

Position: Chief executive officer, Kingdom Hotel Investments

Biography: Sarmad Zok has been chief executive officer (CEO) of Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) since 2001. Zok led the company's initial public offering on the Dubai International Financial Exchange in 2006. He has also worked with Kingdom Hotel Partners, a private equity fund operating in London and New York. Before becoming CEO, Zok led the development of all KHI's assets in the Middle East and set up its portfolio and management team. Before joining KHI, Zok headed UK hotel company Forte's development drive in emerging markets. Zok holds a bachelor's degree in hotel management from the University of Surrey in the UK, and a master's in property valuation and law from London's City University. Zok is a member of the board of directors of Switzerland-based Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts and the US' Fairmont-Raffles Hotels.

Contact Tel: (+971) 4361 1800

Majed bin Abdul Mohsen Alhokair

Position: CEO, Al-Hokair Group

Biography: In March, Hilton Hotels Corporation signed two management agreements with Al-Hokair Group to launch the first two Hilton Garden Inn properties in the Middle East, in Riyadh. CEO Majed bin Abdul Mohsen Alhokair is leading the company's co-operation with international hotel companies and occupies several positions at the group, including executive chairman of Alhokair Group for Tourism & Development, and secretary general for the Ataa Center, an education centre for young people. Alhokair is a member of several professional associations including the Tourist National Committee of Saudi Arabia. He is also chairman of the technical committee of the Saudi Football Federation, and an honorary member of the Riyadh Sports Club. Alhokair has a bachelor's degree in business administration from King Saud University in Riyadh.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1413 4444

Musaed al-Said

Position: CEO, Al-Khozama Management Company

Biography: Musaed al-Said was appointed CEO of Al-Khozama Management Company (AKMC) in 2006. From 1985 to 1993, he worked as a senior systems analyst for Saudi Basic Industries Company (Sabic), and from 1993 to1995, he was regional manager for US software producer Oracle. Al-Said is a board member of Saudi IT company Zajoul for Advanced Communications Technology and a member of the Chamber of Commerce in Riyadh. He also sits on the board of directors of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres. Al-Said has signed agreements with several international hotel companies in recent years, as they invest heavily in the kingdom. In April 2008, he oversaw the management and operation agreement signed by AKMC and Durat al-Riyadh Real Estate Development Company to build the first resort hotel in the Riyadh region.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1273 2659

Fahad al-Nowaiser

Position: CEO, Saudi Brothers Commercial Company

Biography: Fahad al-Nowaiser was appointed CEO of Saudi Brothers Commercial Company in 2003 and is a member of its board of directors. Before his appointment as CEO, he headed the investments and business development division of the group. He developed the company as an active investor in private equity markets in the US through the group's Oasis Venture Limited Fund, and the emerging markets of East and Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa through its Brothers' Investment division. Al-Nowaiser holds a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting from King Saud University's College of Administrative Science and a master's degree in business administration from Imperial College London. Jeddah-based Saudi Brothers Commercial Company was established in 1970 and is now one of the Middle East's largest privately owned holding companies.

Contact Tel: (+966) 2660 6802

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud

Position: Chairman, Kingdom Holding Company

Biography: Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud is the majority shareholder in Kingdom Hotel Investments. Prince Alwaleed established the company in 1984 as a subsidiary of Kingdom Holding Company to consolidate the ownership of his Middle East hotels. In January 2005, he bought the Savoy Hotel in London for an estimated£250m (SR1.35bn), to be managed by Fairmont Hotels, in which Alwaleed owns an estimated 16 per cent stake. In January 2006, in partnership with US real estate firm Colony Capital, Kingdom Holding acquired Canada's Fairmont Hotels, through which it now owns the iconic Raffles hotel in Singapore, for an estimated $3.9bn. Alwaleed is the nephew of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. He completed a bachelor's degree in business administration at the US' Menlo College in 1979.

Contact Tel: (+966) 1211 1111

Ziyad Ahmed bin Mahfouz

Position: CEO, Elaf Group

Biography: Ziyad Ahmed bin Mahfouz joined the Saudi Economic & Development Company in April 2008 as senior vice-president, travel, tourism and hotels, at its Elaf Group division. Mahfouz was previously head of listings and dividends at Saudi Arabia's National Commercial Bank (NCB) from 2004 to 2008, having already been at NCB for 11 years. Elaf Group is a diversified company with a comprehensive portfolio of hotel, travel, tourism, Hajj and Umrah services. One of Mahfouz's briefs is to concentrate on the growth of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia. Mahfouz is working closely with Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdalaziz al-Saud, head of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities, to achieve the kingdom's vision of attracting 88 million domestic tourists by 2020. Mahfouz received his bachelor's degree in public relations from King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah in 1987.

Contact Tel: (+966) 2664 1233