Profile

Philip Barnes

Chief Executive Officer
Rotana

Philip Barnes is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with hotels across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Türkiye. In his current role, Barnes oversees all aspects of Rotana’s growth and operations, from directing long-term strategies to improving day-to-day efficiencies. With a focus on robust expansion in the region and beyond, Barnes plays a pivotal role in propelling Rotana to new heights and driving the company’s ongoing success. With over 40 years of experience spanning five continents, Barnes specialises in hotel and resort openings, turnarounds, and asset re-positioning. His successful stints in Asia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America underscore the breadth of his expertise and global impact on the industry. Career highlights for the British national include 25 years at Fairmont Hotel & Resorts, where he held several senior leadership positions worldwide. In the Middle East, he served as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ Regional Vice President of the United Arab Emirates where he oversaw the operations and pre-opening for several properties. He also held the position of Vice President of the Middle East for the group, leading the developments and planned openings in South Africa, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Prior to joining Fairmont Hotel & Resorts, Barnes held positions at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Shangri La Hotels & Resorts among other leading international brands. At Rotana, Barnes works closely with the wider team to grow Rotana’s legacy and firmly position it as one of the leading hospitality players in the region. He remains dedicated to redefining the hospitality experience, creating Treasured Time for guests and setting new benchmarks for the industry.