Mouna Faraj

Co-founder & CEO
ExploreTECH

Mona is a true business activist; her unrelenting energy and passion are the fundamental driving forces behind the 3 brands she actively works with. Mona is extremely well respected in the industry for her over 30 years’ experience, foresight and profound professional research. Her management knowledge is all embracing, ranging from her passion for hotel opening and start-ups, commercial management, to her in-depth market understanding across the Middle East region. With a far-reaching network of key industry leaders, Mona is admired for her forthright opinions and desire to provide real, honest and productive feedback and work. Her entrepreneurial journey started in 2007 following an extremely successful hotel career with Hilton and Rotana. With her intuitive understanding that the region required real ‘hands-on’ support for rapidly evolving industry across all commercial disciplines, Insight Out, founded in 2008, quickly became the go-to consultancy with an agility that outstripped the traditionally larger, established companies. In 2018 Mona resumed the role of the Managing Director of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for the Middle East Region totally believing in the mission of the global association and the value it brings to the region. Her latest venture is co-founding ExploreTECH in 2021 as the first digital marketplace in the Middle East and Africa regions. Among her many accolades, Mona holds a Degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut with a Total Quality Management certification from Cranefield University, UK and the Market Analyst & Manager for Phocuswright.