Washington, DC—The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted Mr. Gerald Lawless, the Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group, for a roundtable breakfast and discussion on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. The breakfast was attended by representatives from the hospitality, finance, commercial aviation, security and real estate sectors as well as government officials from the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).

After a few welcoming remarks, Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, introduced Mr. Lawless to the meeting of executives. Mr. Lawless is a global authority in the hospitality business sector and has witnessed the explosive transformation that Dubai has experienced over the last few decades. Mr. Lawless provided the assembled guests an optimistic, yet realistic outlook on the hospitality sector in Dubai and the U.A.E. He highlighted the continued success and business development of the Jumeirah Group along with the difficulties and challenges that the group faced during the recent global economic downturn. Mr. Lawless confidently spoke on the issue of security and assured the delegates that the Jumeirah Group’s security operation is “the best and most discrete” in the industry, and requires the highest certification and licensing for security professionals.

The Jumeirah Group, a world-renowned luxury hotel brand, is set to potentially open 10 hotels in the next 16 months with a goal of owning and operating 60 hotels by 2012. Mr. Lawless emphasized that the Jumeirah Group, and any brand for that matter, could not reach full global luxury brand status without a U.S. presence.