Insights of hospitality in Saudi Arabia

50 Shades of Hospitality

In this podcast, Mohammed Marghalani, currently the Saudi Chief of Franchised Assets Operations for PIF Hospitality Projects, talks to us about the enormous changes that have occurred over the past five years in the Saudi hospitality field. With over 18 years in the hospitality field and an MBA from the Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne, Mohammed also discusses Swiss Hospitality education and how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is bringing best educational practices to hospitality schools there.

Mohammed also shares his passion for hospitality and describes how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is moving quickly to meet the hospitality and tourism demands that the country is facing. The Vision 2030 project is focusing on opening up new destinations for tourists and creating unforgettable experiences for them.

Finally, Mohammed discusses the efforts the Kingdom has made to be more open and to project a more modern image of their country. He also discusses the work opportunities for women in Saudi hospitality and what is being done to promote their employment.

Mohammed Marghalani is currently the Saudi Chief of Franchised Assets Operation at one of the PIF hospitality projects. He has more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He was the former Cluster General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh and Jeddah where he managed and oversaw the overall operations and strategic direction of the five-star property that consists of 493 rooms and suites, including its nine dining outlets.

Mohammed joined The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh as a member of the pre-opening guidance team in 2011 in the role of Assistant Director of Finance. Prior to this, he had a progressive and successful career with other well-known luxury brands. In January 2020 Mr. Marghalani became the General Manager for the iconic property and drove it successfully through the Covid -19 crisis and the return to its normal phases while achieving impressive results financially and qualitatively. He was recently awarded the best General Manager in Ritz-Carlton globally for 2023.

Marghalani began his educational career by acquiring a bachelor's degree in hospitality and tourism management in 2006 from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. After that, Mohammed went on to advance his knowledge in the field by obtaining his MBA with a concentration in hospitality management from the Ecole Hotelier de Lausanne in Switzerland. He was also enrolled with the Marriot Ascent Leadership Program at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in the United States to thrive and grow his leadership skills.

Marghalani has several leadership qualifications - he is a member of the Saudi Council of Leaders, and he has been one of the participants in the first version of the Leaders 2030 Program for the MiSK Foundation. This program has over 1000 leaders who contribute to achieving the goals and strategies of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.