Luke James

Ex-Hyde Hotel Dubai general manager Luke James has left the UAE and returned to Australia for the first time in 15 years. James is now area general manager of Crystalbrook Collection, a luxury hotel group in Australia founded by UAE-based billionaire Ghassan Aboud.

The most senior role of his career, Aussie James now runs three properties, including Crystalbrook Bailey and Residences, Crystalbrook Flynn and Crystalbrook Riley. He joins the group relatively early in its lifespan, founded in 2016.

Ghassan Aboud Group (GAG) recently added the iconic Rydges Sydney to its portfolio for $100 million and in 2021, as reported in Hotelier Middle East, he also purchased Brisbane's Vincent hotel.

He led People of Determination and was the first to embrace Community and neighbourhood membership programs in Dubai and became a preopening specialist for Jumeirah, One&Only, SBM Monte Carlo and Ennismore.

In 2021, James worked as the pre-opening GM for the Hyde Hotel Dubai. Before that, James had been with Jumeirah for the past five years. He also spent two years with the group earlier in his career. Previous roles include director of operations for Jumeirah Creekside Hotel from 2016 to 2018 then general manager of Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens.

Under his leadership, the four-star hotel became one of the best-performing in the emirate. The hotel was awarded Hotel Team of the Year at last year's Hotelier Middle East Awards, while James himself was our Highly Commended General Manager of the Year.

At the Hyde Hotel, he has been succeeded by Charles Clark.

Crystalbrook Collection.
Crystalbrook Collection
Surry Hills Sydney
Australia
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