Shafi SyedJumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has appointed Shafi Syed as Group Chief Development Officer. Taking up his position with immediate effect, Syed brings over 25 years of development expansion experience across diverse hospitality sectors, including hotels and branded real estate, in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Jumeirah Group has an established reputation as a valued partner for successful hotel owners and investors globally and currently operates 22 properties across 11 destinations. Syed is a highly experienced business development leader and, in his new role, he will head the Development team and lead the Group’s development strategy. Syed joins Jumeirah Group from Trump Hotels where he was Regional Vice President of development and acquisitions. He previously held senior positions in development and operations at Wyndham in London and Dubai, and Taj Hotels in India. Syed is a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management in Bangalore and holds an Advanced Certification in Real Estate and Hotel Investments from Cornell University, New York. He is a dual citizen of the UK and India and has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.