Here is the power list of 2024:

Positions Dubai as a premier global hub for business, luxury, and leisure travel.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri is the Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. He is a member of the Executive Council of Dubai, a member of the Board of Directors of the Investment Corporation of Dubai and also the Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA).

Oversees a diverse hospitality portfolio (Sofitel, Raffles, ibis), driving digital innovation and brand expansion.

Sébastien Bazin is a French businessman. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of AccorHotels. As CEO of Accor, he has committed to the UN’s HeForShe campaign that seeks to promote women’s and men’s rights by pledging to reach parity in pay and equality between genders by 2020.

Known for operational reliability and customer-centric innovation in global aviation.

Edward Herman Bastian is an American business executive. He is the ninth and current chief executive officer of Delta Air Lines, serving in this role since May 2, 2016.

Leads the world’s largest hotel chain, expanding Marriott Bonvoy’s global footprint.

Anthony Capuano is President and CEO of Marriott International, Inc. In his role, Mr. Capuano presides over the world’s largest hospitality company and some of the most iconic brands in travel. The company now has nearly 8,700 properties across 139 countries and territories and over 30 brands. It also has the travel industry’s largest customer loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, which has more than 192 million members.

Transforms accommodations with home-sharing, extended stays, and localized travel experiences.

Brian Joseph Chesky is an American businessman and industrial designer and the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. As of January 2024, Chesky is the 232nd richest person in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $9.4 billion, mostly due to his ownership of 76 million shares of Airbnb.

Manages major airports (CDG, Orly), crucial gateways for global passenger traffic.

Augustin Pascal Pierre Louis Marie de Romanet de Beaune (born 2 April 1961) is a French political advisor and business executive, chief executive officer of Groupe ADP since November 2012. He served as the chairman of the Caisse des dépôts et consignations from 2007 to 2012, and held many government positions between 1986 and 2006.

Heads one of the world’s largest leisure/travel conglomerates, spanning tours, resorts, and cruises.

Sebastian Ebel has been CEO of the TUI Group since 1 October 2022. Prior to that, he had been Chief Financial Officer of the Group since 2021.

Leads one of the world’s largest asset managers, wielding significant influence through real estate and hospitality investments

Laurence D. Fink is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock. He and seven partners founded BlackRock in 1988, and under his leadership, the firm has grown into a global leader in investment and technology solutions. BlackRock's mission is to help our clients build better financial futures and the firm is trusted to manage more money than any other investment company in the world.

Oversees data-driven platforms (Booking.com, Priceline), central to how travelers discover and book trips.

Glenn D. Fogel is Booking Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer and President, a position he has held since January 2017, and Chief Executive Officer of Booking.com, a position he has held since June 2019.

Coordinates collaboration among 10 Southeast Asian nations, shaping visa policies, travel protocols, and tourism initiatives.

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn’s career has focused on strengthening Cambodia’s international relations, particularly in ASEAN, driving policy advocacy and promoting research, education, and development. Dr. Kao had served as a two-term Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, from 2013 to 2022. He has authored dozens of books and articles on Cambodia and ASEAN.

Operates a pivotal B2B bedbank, linking hotels and distributors worldwide.

Nicolas Huss (born 27 August 1964) is a French businessman, and previous chief executive officer of Ingenico Group.

Oversees Disney Parks & Resorts, a global magnet for family and entertainment-based tourism.

Robert Alan Iger (born February 10, 1951) is an American media executive who is chief executive officer (CEO) of The Walt Disney Company. He previously was the president of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) between 1994 and 1995 and president and chief operating officer (COO) of Capital Cities/ABC, from 1995 until its acquisition by Disney in 1996. Iger was named president of Disney in 2000 and succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005, until his contract expired in 2020. He then was executive chairman until his formal retirement from the company on December 31, 2021. After his exit from the company, Iger continued as an advisor to his successor.

Facilitates cross-border transactions, foundational to international tourism flows.

Alfred Francis Kelly Jr. (born 1958 or 1959) is an American business executive. Until February 2023, he was the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Visa Inc., a global digital payments company. In October 2016, Kelly succeeded Charles W. Scharf as the CEO of Visa. In April 2019, Kelly was elected as the company's Chair of the Board while continuing to serve as Visa's CEO.

Leads digital transformation and platform integrations at one of the world’s largest OTAs.

Kern has been a director of Expedia Group since completion of the IAC/Expedia Group Spin- Off, has served as Vice Chairman of Expedia Group since June 2018, and has served as Chief Executive Officer of Expedia Group since April 2020.

Advocates sustainable aviation fuels and operational efficiency, guiding a major global airline’s future.

John Scott Kirby (born August 13, 1967) is an American executive and the CEO of United Airlines. He was president of US Airways and American Airlines, as well as president of United Airlines from 2016 to 2020, when he was promoted as CEO.

Drives global mobility (ride-hailing, scooters), essential for last-mile and urban tourist connectivity.

Dara Khosrowshahi is an Iranian-American business executive who is the chief executive officer of Uber. He was previously CEO of Expedia Group, a company that owns several travel fare aggregators.

Expands an international tour operation specializing in European package travel.

Neşet Koçkar founded ANEX Tourism Group, which operates as ANEX Tour in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Germany, and as OREX Travel in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. With 26 Boeing aircraft and three airline companies under AZUR Air, ANEX is a major player in air transportation. Additionally, it includes AZEX brokerage, ADO Aviation, and AZUR Aviation. ANEX Tour serves 3 million tourists annually across various countries, with 318 tour operator offices in Russia and 29 sales offices worldwide.

Guides InterContinental, Holiday Inn, and Crowne Plaza with an emphasis on expansion and ESG.

Elie Maalouf has been Chief Executive Officer of IHG Hotels & Resorts since July 2023. Elie joined IHG as Americas CEO in February 2015. Under his leadership, the region’s estate has grown from approximately 3,700 hotels to more than 4,350. Elie led the delivery of record profits, oversaw the launch of new brands and formats, and strengthened how the business drives value for our hotel owners.

Accelerates digital and contactless payments, crucial for seamless global travel spending.

Michael Miebach is chief executive officer of Mastercard and a member of its board of directors. He is leading the company into a more digital world where Mastercard powers economies and empowers people by harnessing innovation and the continued application of new technologies. The company is helping to shape the future of seamless commerce, while bolstering cyber services and data-powered insights.

Promotes the Maldives as a top luxury, sustainability-focused island destination.

Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is a prominent Maldivian political figure, urban planner, and visionary leader, currently serving as the President of the Republic of Maldives. Known for his unwavering commitment to sustainable development, urban modernization, and the well-being of his citizens, Dr. Muizzu has become one of the most influential leaders in the Maldives.

Leading global brand expansion and major sustainability initiatives in hospitality.

Christopher J. Nassetta is an American businessman, who has served as president and chief executive officer of Hilton Worldwide since October 2007. He attended the University of Virginia.

Drives Europe’s ultra-low-cost model, aggressively expanding routes and slashing fares.

Michael Kevin O'Leary (born 20 March 1961) is an Irish businessman who is the Group CEO of Ryanair. With a net worth of around €848.6 million as of April 2018, he is one of Ireland's wealthiest businessmen.

Oversees Google Travel (Flights, Hotels, Maps), reshaping how travelers plan and book journeys.

Pichai Sundararajan (born June 10, 1972), better known as Sundar Pichai, is an Indian-born American business executive. He is the chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google.

Major private equity force with substantial real estate and hospitality assets, shaping industry growth.

Stephen Allen Schwarzman (born February 14, 1947) is an American businessman. He is the chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group, a global private equity firm he established in 1985 with Peter G. Peterson. Schwarzman was chairman of President Donald Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum.

Pioneers hospitality data & analytics, offering global hotel performance insights for strategic decisions.

Randy Smith is the chairman and co-founder of STR. In 2011, Mr. Smith was inducted into the Hilton Hospitality Hall of Honor (with Carolyn Smith, his co-founder and wife), named one of the “25 Most Influential Executives of the Business Travel Industry of 2011” by Business Travel News and the recipient of the 2011 Lodging Hospitality Magazine’sStephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award.

Elevates Chinese outbound travel through robust tech investments and consumer-facing innovation.

Jane Jie Sun has served as the chief executive officer of our company, as well as a member of the board of directors, since November 2016. Prior to that, she was a co-president since March 2015, chief operating officer since May 2012, and chief financial officer from 2005 to 2012.

Influences economic and tourism policies in one of the world’s fastest-emerging travel markets.

Anurag Singh Thakur (born 24 October 1974) is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party and a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. He was former Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting in the Second Modi ministry. His father, Prem Kumar Dhumal was a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Former IAG CEO, now shaping global airline policy and standards at the highest industry level.

William Matthew Walsh is an Irish airline executive who is currently the Director General of the International Air Transport Association. Until 2020, he was CEO of International Airlines Group, and had previously been CEO of Aer Lingus and British Airways.

Oversees the world’s largest cruise line, emphasizing decarbonization and sustainability.

Josh is president, chief executive officer and chief climate officer of Carnival Corporation & plc and leads one of the world’s largest leisure travel companies that boasts a portfolio of world-class cruise line brands including AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn.

Drives social media’s role in destination marketing; explores AR/VR “metaverse” travel experiences.

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is an American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the social media service Facebook, along with his Harvard roommates in 2004, and its parent company Meta Platforms, of which he is executive chairman, chief executive officer and controlling shareholder