Tony Williams

Ecologist, Dubai

An ecologist, Tony Williams has been in the tourism, hospitality, conservation and hotel development for over 25 years. With design, development, operational and management experience across Africa, Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Asia and Australia he has developed and established some of the worlds' most acclaimed, financially successful and luxurious resorts, hotels and spas.

As businesses are increasingly judged on their environmental performance, Tony has successfully balanced economic realities and financial successes with the protection of natural environments and biodiversity, luxury travel and unique experiences with protection of cultural heritage and relevant hospitality operations - through creation of hotels and resorts which embrace a 'sense of place' and sustainability.

Most recently as Director - Hospitality Operations with Qatar Foundations' property development subsidiary Msheireb, (the largest LEED Gold-certified urban-renewal development in the world) and as Senior Vice-President of Emirates Airlines' hotel division to 2010, (establishing the largest UNEP and IUCN-recognised conservation areas in the Gulf region), Tony has a career spanning the development, management and marketing of successful tourism destinations, in 2010 leading the creation of the worlds' first internationally certified carbon-neutral resort.