Speakers

Candice D’Cruz is the Vice President, Luxury Brand Marketing & Management, Europe, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International. She is responsible for developing and leading the luxury brand portfolio within the region consisting of eight of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands including The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and W Hotels Worldwide.

Candice’s remit includes over 150 operating hotels and resorts, and another 60 hotels in pipeline across EMEA, and she plays a vital role in ensuring localization alongside supporting efforts around service, brand design and brand marketing and culinary experiences to deliver on each luxury brand’s differentiation and promise.

With close to two decades of international experience in the hospitality and luxury space, Candice joined Marriott International in 2017 to setup the luxury discipline for Middle East & Africa. In 2020 her responsibilities were expanded to also lead Europe. A brand specialist with experience in diverse markets such as Australia, Belgium, India, including over a decade in the Middle East alone, Candice’s strategic leadership plays a pivotal role in positioning Marriott International as a key luxury player across EMEA.

Candice is a true believer that travel defines us more than our nationality and often turns to her young daughter for inspiration on how to cater to the new generations of ever-demanding luxury consumers who are rewriting the industry rulebook.

Candice has been voted amongst the Top 50 most influential woman leader in the hospitality industry in the Middle East and 2019’s Top Storyteller by Forbes Middle East.