World-renowned experts in marketing, branding and customer experience to inform The Red Sea Project’s next phase ahead of opening
The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has appointed two industry experts to its global Advisory Board.
The new appointees, who have a combined experience of over 50 years in the hospitality and tourism sector, will play a pivotal role in directing The Red Sea Project towards welcoming its first guests at the end of 2022.
Frances-Anne Keeler (ex-Tourism Australia and VisitBritain) and Piers Schmidt (Founder of Luxury Branding) join the company’s existing international Advisory Board of eight world-leaders in business, investment, tourism, sustainability and conservation with immediate effect.
John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC said: “As we prepare to welcome our first visitors to the destination next year, our focus is turning towards how we share the treasures of The Red Sea Project. We are delighted to welcome the new Advisory Board members, whose experience will be instrumental in our preparation for launch.”
Frances-Anne Keeler has over 25 years of experience across hospitality and tourism, business and events and education and financial services. Having previously served as Tourism Australia’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and VisitBritain’s Executive Director of Europe, she has led international strategy, marketing and operations across multiple markets.
Frances-Anne has used her industry knowledge to launch her own tourism strategy consulting firm. She chairs the boards of various tourism initiatives, including Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, the national platform for digital tourism information in the region and Chocolateria San Churro, a unique Spanish chocolate café experience with over 50 stores in Australia.
Piers Schmidt brings over 25 years of experience in advising luxury brands. In 2002, Piers founded Luxury Branding, an advisory boutique for leaders seeking to create the world’s most hospitable brands. His experience includes the branding and roll-out of One&Only Resorts, extending the Giorgio Armani brand into hospitality and codifying five trophy assets into the Dorchester Collection. Piers is also a visiting professor on the MBA program at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, a prestigious hospitality school in Switzerland.
The two advisors will join the roster of regional and international experts* who currently advise the Board of Directors and Executive Management Team of TRSDC.
The Red Sea Project has already passed numerous significant milestones and work is on track to welcome the first guests when the international airport and the first hotels will open next year. All 16 hotels planned in Phase I will be opening by the end of 2023.
Upon completion in 2030, The Red Sea Project will comprise 50 hotels, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and around 1,300 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include a luxury marina, entertainment and leisure facilities.
