Name: Nick Clayton
Title: Chief operating officer
Company, city: Jumeirah International; Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Number of employees: 14,000
Recent project: In April 2013, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Resort opened its doors after a six-year redevelopment. This urban resort has been stunningly designed with amenities for corporate, group and leisure travelers alike. We are extremely proud of what our local leadership and team of colleagues delivered — the best hotel in Kuwait!
First job: Front desk attendant, Four Seasons Dallas/Fort Worth
Little-known fact about you: I am a student of Bikram yoga.

Your Business

Essential business philosophy: Practice integrity and humility in all relationships.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Focus on the fundamentals and innovate in areas where customers have a high degree of sensibility.

Yardstick of success: Jumeirah’s target is growth over the next several years around the globe. Being successful in this growth as we take Jumeirah from a smaller brand to a larger player will be our yardstick.

Nick Clayton as a Traveler

What is the most important item you take when traveling? My workout gear

How do you spend your time on board? Working on administrative duties, cleaning out my mailbox and other paperwork

What is your favorite restaurant in the world? My favorite mealtime is a leisurely lunch — in beautiful weather, sitting outside watching the world go by — especially at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills; not over the top, but simple and sophisticated.

What is your favorite destination in the world? The cities of Italy

About Jumeirah International

What is the future for Jumeirah? Where do you plan to open your next hotels? Our plans for the future include growth in distribution and the number of options for customers to experience the Jumeirah brand. We have openings planned for Bali, Bangkok, China, Mumbai and St. Petersburg (Russia). In the Middle East and North Africa, we have planned openings in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman and Qatar. We would be overjoyed if we found a location in New York or Los Angeles.

What do your hotels offer business travelers? How do Jumeirah properties stand out among other 5-star hotels? Jumeirah hotels offer business travelers reliable and gracious service. Our colleagues take great pride in anticipating the requirements of our guests and executing every detail. Small, thoughtful things add up to create memorable experiences. Our general managers extract the unique nature of their destination and subtly introduce these services or touch points into the guest experience.

We are dedicated to offering a holistic approach. For example, we own our own food and beverage establishments rather than farming these out to franchise entities. We are not afraid of fighting it out with our competition on any level. We focus on returning guests and their desire to book with Jumeirah over and over. We believe in personalizing the experience with room preparations based on guest needs and past experiences. We want to make sure we can segment our customers based on the destination and their desires.

What is the most challenging aspect of maintaining a competitive edge in the ever-developing U.A.E. hospitality market? The people side of the business represents the most challenge for a small company. We can’t fill the career paths of all the employees all the time. We have to realize that they may need to find other positions outside the company to fulfill their career dreams, and having Jumeirah on their résumé is a strong differentiator.