As President and Group CEO of the Jumeirah Group, Gerald Lawless has helped establish Jumeirah as one of the premier luxury hotel brands in the world.

Gerald, an Irish national, joined the company in 1997 after a 23-year career with Forte Hotels, which culminated in him setting up and growing Forte’s operations in the Middle East.

He is a Graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland and holds an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management from the Johnson & Wales University, State of Rhode Island in the US, and an Honorary Degree of Laws from the NUI Galway, Ireland.

He is a member of the Executive Committee and Vice Chairman – Corporate Governance of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC); member of the Global Agenda Council for Aviation, Travel and Tourism of the World Economic Forum (WEF); fellow member of the Institute of Hospitality (formerly HCIMA); member of the Advisory Group for the Global Irish Forum; member of the Dubai Holding Executive Committee and member of the Board of Trustees of the Emirates National Development Programme.

Gerald Lawless was honoured by the British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame in 2015.