Tom G. Stevens has stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer – Hotel Operations at The First Group Hospitality, effective January 2026. Based in Dubai, he will oversee hotel operations across the group’s growing hospitality portfolio, with a focus on operational excellence, performance optimization, and long-term asset value.
Stevens brings more than two decades of global hospitality leadership experience, spanning hotel operations, pre-openings, brand performance, and multi-country portfolio management across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and island resort destinations.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations at The First Group Hospitality from November 2024 to January 2026, where he played a key role in strengthening operational frameworks, supporting hotel openings, and driving guest satisfaction and profitability across the group’s assets.
Before joining The First Group, Stevens spent over six years with Rotana Hotel Management Corporation PJSC as Vice President Operations (August 2018 to November 2024), overseeing operations for 65+ hotels across more than 10 countries and supporting the opening of 20+ properties. His tenure was marked by strong operational governance, leadership development, and consistent revenue and profit growth.
Earlier, Stevens held multiple senior leadership roles with Hilton Worldwide across EMEA, including Director, Brand Sales & Commercial Activation – Full Service Hotels (EMEA) and Regional Director, Brand Performance Support – Middle East, Africa & Indian Ocean, where he acted as an internal consultant to dozens of Hilton and DoubleTree properties, supporting revenue, service, loyalty, and brand performance initiatives.
His on-property leadership experience includes General Manager roles at Hilton Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), where he led both pre-opening and opening phases, Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, overseeing resort operations and rebranding, as well as Hilton Dortmund and Hilton Antwerp. Earlier in his career, he held regional sales leadership roles in Europe, contributing to market expansion and commercial strategy development.
In addition to his corporate and operational roles, Stevens currently serves as a Community Council Member with the IHG Owners Association and The Future Club by Imagin3 Studio, reflecting his engagement with industry leadership and future-focused hospitality dialogue. He is also Creative Director of Twamanguluka, a long-standing social impact initiative focused on youth empowerment.
His appointment as Chief Operating Officer underscores The First Group Hospitality’s strategic emphasis on experienced leadership to support portfolio growth, operational consistency, and guest-centric excellence.
People on the Move is an initiative by Tourism Insights, a SECP-registered tourism think tank and hospitality media platform, spotlighting leadership appointments and career milestones across the global hospitality and tourism industry.
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