Sandeep Walia, COO, Middle East, Marriott International
With over 25 years of international experience in the hotel industry, Sandeep is currently responsible for the operations of Marriott’s properties in the Middle East (including Egypt and Turkey) which features over 146 operational properties and more than 90 properties in its pipeline.
Podcast
Overview
The global pandemic has taken a hit on several businesses around the world. The tours and travel industry has faced a major part of this blow. However, with vaccination campaigns all over the world and a decrease in cases, people are slowly getting back to their pre covid lives. Tourism is gradually getting back and businesses are slowly seeing growth.
The Brand Called You welcomes senior hotelier Sandeep Walia on the podcast. Sandeep, a renowned professional from the middle east is the Chief Operating Officer for Marriott International (middle east). He has worked in multiple countries. He is also a member of the prestigious Young Presidents Organisation.
In today’s interview with host Ashutosh Garg, Sandeep shares his experience in working with one of the biggest hotel chains of the world. The Marriott International hotels are highly demanded and cherished globally. As COO of the Middle Eastern region of this mighty hotel chain, Sandeep talks about business in the pandemic. He throws light on the relevance and vitality of hygiene in the current situation and why Mariott stands out. He shares that people not only book hotels while traveling but have started booking hotels for short luxurious staycations.
Sandeep also reminisces about his time as General Manager of a hotel in Moscow. He believes that the newer generations are more about the experience. And that they lead hotels to be modern and techno-savvy. Having led a large number of hotels, Sandeep gives his piece of advice on multi-brand management too!
Profile
Sandeep Walia is the Chief Operating Officer for Marriott International in the Middle East. With over 25 years of international experience in the hotel industry, Sandeep is currently responsible for the operations of Marriott’s properties in the Middle East (including Egypt and Turkey) which features over 146 operational properties and more than 90 properties in its pipeline.
Sandeep is a seasoned hospitality professional with strategic business acumen driven to deliver operational and financial excellence to create market leading returns and establish mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with stakeholders. A dynamic and result-oriented leader, he is adept at building and nurturing high performance teams guiding and motivating them towards setting and achieving visionary goals by effectively aligning company values with key business initiatives and brand experiences.Sandeep joined Marriott International in 2005. Prior to his current role, Sandeep was the Area Vice President for the United Arab Emirates and overlooked the operation of the company’s largest market in the Middle East. Before taking on his role in the UAE, he was the Area Vice President – Luxury Brands for Western Europe, overseeing the company’s luxury portfolio across Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, the UK and all BVLGARI hotels in Europe.
Having worked for brands across Asia (India), Middle East, Africa and Europe, Sandeep has a global mindset and a key understanding of the consumer landscape and their evolving needs and aspirations.
Sandeep’s other key accomplishments include an Executive MBA from the Kellog School of Management at Northwestern University, a degree in Leadership from Harvard Business School and a post-graduate from the Oberoi Center of Learning and Development.
Of Indian origin, Sandeep currently resides in Dubai and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization.
