Saurabh Rai is Executive Vice President, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Australasia, for Preferred Hotel Group, overseeing the success and retention of the company’s Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Beyond Green portfolios of hotels, resorts, and residences in South Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Australasia. Saurabh began his career with Preferred Hotels & Resorts in 2008 as Director of Global Sales & Development for India and Middle East. He progressed to Regional Director of India in 2009 and gained additional responsibilities upon his subsequent promotion to Regional Director of South Asia & the Middle East. In April 2014, Saurabh was appointed Area Managing Director of South Asia & Middle East and, due to his astute business acumen and strong leadership skills, achieved a promotion to Executive Vice President, South Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Australasia in January 2016. Later that year, he opened the company’s new regional headquarters in Dubai, where he is based. During his tenure with Preferred, Saurabh has been integral to the company’s development across the region, growing its portfolio in India, enhancing its presence across the Middle East, and solidifying key relationships with major partners such as Katara Hospitality, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, ITC Hotels, and Palazzo Versace Dubai. As testament to his knowledge of the hospitality industry, strategic insight on market trends, and strong relationships with key decision makers, Saurabh was ranked among the “Power 100 – Top 100 most influential people in the hospitality industry” by Hotelier India in 2013.

Saurabh’s hospitality industry experience spans over a decade and includes development consulting, sales and marketing strategy, hotel operations, market studies and quality assurance. He began his career with The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts and moved on to The Imperial, New Delhi, where he spearheaded the hotel’s sales and marketing initiatives.