Ufi Ibrahim

Previously, as Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), 2010 to 2018, she reshaped and reformed the organisation from the ground up, achieving significant financial and commercial success. She led the BHA merger with the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, creating UK Hospitality, to wield increased commercial and political influence. Ufi also shaped the UK Tourism Industry Group, a Government led Advisory Board, and delivered ground-breaking campaigns, such as the Big Hospitality Conversation, which engaged over 4,000 businesses with the government to create 67,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for young people across the UK.

At the World Travel & Tourism Council, where Ufi was Chief Operating Officer between 2000 and 2010, she supervised the formulation of the International Competitiveness Monitor for Travel and Tourism. This established a benchmark for policy makers and is now operated by the World Economic Forum. Under the auspices of the WTTC and UNFCCC in 2009, she led the industry’s first global commitment to cut carbon emissions, 50% by 2035.

Ufi is also a commissioner of the Food Farming and Countryside Commission, overseeing executive and legislative issues affecting the future of the UK’s food and agricultural sector. The remit embraces negotiating with authorities and legislative bodies to address environmental impacts, changing economic climate and dietary trends, health & safety and funding to remain relevant within a highly volatile and competitive global market. Ufi also chairs the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Tourism, which works with the Government to enhance the UK’s tourism proposition to international investors.