Candice D’Cruz
Vice President, Luxury Brands, Middle East & Africa
Marriott International Inc., Middle East & Africa
Candice D’Cruz is the Vice President, Luxury Brand Marketing & Management, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International. She is currently responsible for developing and leading the luxury brand portfolio within the region consisting of eight of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands including The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and W Hotels Worldwide. Candice was recently voted as the most influential woman leader in the hospitality industry in the Middle East.
Having spent most of her career in the luxury sector, Candice has developed a keen understanding of today’s diverse luxury consumer. She drives the marketing strategy for luxury hotel openings and is responsible for raising awareness around first-time introductions of the brand across the region. She is also focused on developing and executing distinctive brand activations and partnerships that support the growth and the vision for each of the eight extraordinary luxury brands, while looking at unique ways to collectively bring them together under the #MILUX lens. She is an expert in luxury brand management at both a global and regional level and specializes in intrinsically localizing global strategies.
Candice started her career with leading agencies like Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and Weber Shandwick. Following this she honed her local experience at EMAAR where she led the marketing and communications for the launch of the Burj Khalifa and the world’s first Armani hotel, both of which garnered international acclaim.
Candice joined Starwood Hotels in 2011 where she held various roles at both on property as well the regional level across Europe, Middle East and Africa, and is responsible for raising awareness around first-time introductions of the brand across the region.
Prior to assuming her current role, Candice was the Head of Brand Marketing and Communications for Dubai-based developer, Meraas’ hospitality division.
A brand marketing and communications specialist with experience in diverse markets such as Australia, Belgium, India, including over a decade in the Middle East alone, Candice’s strategic leadership plays a pivotal role in positioning Marriott International as a key luxury player in the region.
Of Indian origin, Candice currently resides in Dubai, with her husband and daughter.