Sherif Kasseb | Qatar | Grow & Make Others Feel Welcome
Managing Director, Rixos Hotels | Award-Winning Hospitality Executive
Luxury Hospitality & Operations Leader
For more than three decades, Sherif Kasseb has built his career around a simple but powerful idea: exceptional hospitality is created by exceptional people, strong leadership and an unwavering commitment to the guest experience. Today, he is the Managing Director of Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North, Meryal Waterpark and Azure Beach Doha in Qatar, bringing together luxury hospitality, entertainment, lifestyle and leisure under one destination vision. But reaching this level of leadership was a journey built through experience, persistence and a willingness to keep learning. Sherif began his professional journey in Egypt, eventually entering the hospitality industry after completing his education at Helwan University in Cairo. His early career included experience in technical and operational roles before he found his path in hotel management. In 1997, he joined Marriott International, beginning what would become an extraordinary 23-year career with the organization. Starting in front-office operations at Sheraton Heliopolis in Egypt, Sherif progressively moved through positions of increasing responsibility, eventually becoming Front Office Manager, Director of Guest Services, Director of Rooms, Executive Assistant Manager and Director of Operations. His Marriott journey took him across Egypt, Doha and Dubai, giving him an increasingly broad understanding of luxury hotel operations, guest services, rooms division, leadership and commercial performance.
At Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, he spent years developing his expertise in guest services and rooms operations. Later, at Sheraton Grand Dubai, he became deeply involved in pre-opening operations and innovation, serving as Pre-opening Director of Guest Services and Six Sigma Green Belt before progressing to Executive Assistant Manager and Director of Operations.
His work in operational innovation became another defining part of his career. As an Operations Innovation Green Belt and leader within the innovation community at Sheraton Grand Dubai, Sherif helped drive improvements in service and operational efficiency, with the property achieving the highest revenue in the Middle East during his leadership of the initiative.
But Sherif's career has never been solely about numbers. Throughout his leadership journey, he has placed significant emphasis on people development. He has been recognized for building high-performing teams, improving colleague and guest satisfaction, and nurturing future hospitality leaders. His commitment to developing people eventually led to the creation of the Rixos Hotels Academy, designed to help develop the next generation of hospitality professionals. After more than two decades with Marriott, Sherif entered a new chapter with Rixos Hotels, where he continued to build a reputation as a leader capable of combining operational excellence with commercial strategy. At Rixos, he held senior leadership positions including Hotel Manager at Rixos Sharm El Sheikh and General Manager of Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha. During his time in Qatar, he played an important role in the launch and development of the country's first all-inclusive resort, combining luxury accommodation, entertainment and destination experiences. His leadership achievements earned further recognition, including General Manager of the Year at Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha and the President's Award.
In June 2024, Sherif became General Manager of Rixos Al Mairid Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. There, he led the repositioning of the luxury resort, overseeing its operations, commercial performance and guest experience while continuing to focus on team development and sustainable growth. The results included record commercial performance and multiple recognitions for the resort, further demonstrating Sherif's ability to lead properties through periods of transformation. His career has also extended beyond everyday hotel operations. He has been entrusted with major international responsibilities, including organizing Heads of State visits and managing significant conferences and global summits-experiences that strengthened his ability to operate under pressure while managing complex stakeholder expectations.
In 2026, Sherif returned to Qatar for his latest chapter. Appointed Managing Director of Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North, he assumed responsibility not only for the hotel but also for Meryal Waterpark and Azure Beach Doha. The role places him at the centre of a destination that brings together hospitality, entertainment, lifestyle and leisure.
For Sherif, returning to Qatar carries particular meaning. Having previously been part of the journey that introduced the country's first all-inclusive resort, his new position represents an opportunity to help shape the next evolution of Qatar's tourism and hospitality landscape. His focus is clear: sustainable business growth, operational excellence, exceptional guest experiences, stakeholder engagement and, perhaps most importantly, developing the people who will carry the industry forward. After more than 30 years in hospitality, Sherif Kasseb's journey demonstrates that leadership is not built overnight. It is built one guest interaction, one challenge, one team and one opportunity at a time.
From Front Office Manager to Director of Operations. From pre-opening specialist to General Manager. From hotel operator to destination leader. Sherif's career reflects the power of continuous growth and the importance of understanding every level of the business before leading it. For the next generation, his story offers an important lesson: your first position does not define your destination. What matters is what you learn, how you lead, how you treat people and how you use every chapter to prepare for the next. Sherif Kasseb has spent more than three decades helping build hotels, teams and experiences. Today, he is helping shape an entire destination-and creating opportunities for the next generation of hospitality leaders to follow. Great hospitality may begin with welcoming a guest, but great leadership is about creating an environment where people can thrive, grow and make others feel welcome too.
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