Elias J. Moukarzel is a distinguished executive in the luxury hospitality sector, with more than 20 years of experience leading hotels and operations in high-profile international destinations.
Of Lebanese-Russian origin, he has a solid background in hotel management in France, having earned an MBA in Hotel and Tourism Management from the Ecole Supérieure Internationale de Savignac, in addition to studies at the Ecole Hôtelière de Toulouse.
Throughout his career, he has worked for some of the world’s most renowned hotel groups, including InterContinental, Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Accor and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. His professional journey has taken him to leadership roles in Monaco, Cannes, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Beirut and Amman, managing teams and operations focused on exceptional service.
In December 2024, he was appointed General Manager of Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay, where he leads the hotel’s opening and positioning, with a strong focus on excellence, personalised hospitality and luxury experiences.
What does luxury mean to you?
Luxury, to me, is an expression of intention rather than excess. It is found in the quiet refinement of simplicity, where every detail is deliberately curated and every interaction feels effortless and sincere. True luxury anticipates rather than reacts, creating emotionally resonant moments that feel personal, timeless, and naturally elegant.
What inspires you on a personal level?
I am inspired by cities that seamlessly unite heritage and modernity, places where culture, architecture, and contemporary life coexist with ease. They reflect the beauty of evolution without losing identity, reminding me that refinement is built on continuity, curiosity, and respect for the past while embracing the future.
What would you say is the most distinctive trait of your professional character?
A visionary perspective grounded in disciplined attention to detail. I instinctively see the broader narrative of a project, yet I believe excellence is achieved through the careful refinement of every element. This balance between imagination and precision defines both my leadership style and professional ethos.
What inspires you in your day-to-day work within the hotel?
Our guests are my constant source of inspiration. Each arrival brings a new story, a new expectation, and an opportunity to create a moment that feels unique and memorable. Knowing that we can influence how someone experiences a place gives purpose and meaning to every day.
How did your career in the hospitality sector begin?
My journey began with a fascination for the way hotels act as meeting points for cultures, ideas, and emotions. Starting in an operational role allowed me to understand hospitality from its foundations and taught me that true service is rooted in empathy, attentiveness, and genuine human connection.
What key moment in your career would you consider a turning point?
Being entrusted with a major hotel opening was a defining moment. It demanded vision, resilience, and flawless execution under pressure. That experience sharpened my leadership instincts and reinforced the importance of preparation, adaptability, and collaboration.
What would you consider the biggest challenge in your career so far?
Continuously elevating expectations in an environment where excellence is already assumed. True luxury today requires constant reinvention and creativity, ensuring that experiences remain relevant, emotionally engaging, and distinctive in a highly competitive landscape.
What is the greatest lesson your career has taught you?
That genuine luxury begins with human connection. Design, innovation, and trends may evolve, but authenticity remains irreplaceable. Guests may forget details, but they never forget how they were made to feel.
What personal leadership philosophy has guided you over the years?
To lead with clarity, empower through trust, and inspire by example. I believe leadership is about creating an environment where people feel valued, confident, and encouraged to express excellence naturally.
What values do you consider essential in customer service?
Grace, anticipation, and consistency. Exceptional service is intuitive and effortless, shaped by the ability to understand unspoken needs and respond with elegance and sincerity.
What qualities do you look for in your team members, and how do you motivate them?
I look for emotional intelligence, curiosity, and an authentic passion for service. Motivation comes from fostering a culture where excellence is recognized, learning is continuous, and individuals feel inspired to grow both professionally and personally.
What is the key to offering excellent and consistent service?
Intentional training, empowered decision-making, and a strong shared service culture. When teams are trusted and aligned, consistency becomes natural rather than procedural.
How would you define a good guest experience?
A good guest experience feels effortless, harmonious, and deeply personal, one where every interaction flows naturally and leaves a lasting emotional impression.
What truly sets a luxury hotel apart today?
Its soul. While design and amenities create the setting, it is the people, the warmth, intuition, and storytelling, that bring the hotel to life and create true distinction.
What detail should never be missing in a 5-star experience?
A sincere sense of welcome. Often, it is the smallest gestures, delivered with authenticity, that define the entire stay and remain most vividly in memory.
If you were a guest, what would you like most about the hotel?
A sense of sanctuary, where elegance feels effortless, comfort is uncompromised, and service is intuitive. A place that feels refined yet genuinely welcoming.
How do you envision the hospitality industry in 3 years?
More personalized, immersive, and emotionally driven. The focus will shift further toward meaningful experiences, storytelling, and authentic connections rather than traditional displays of opulence.
What do you think the tourist of the coming years will be like?
Curious, conscious, and experience-oriented. Future travelers will seek authenticity, sustainability, and deeper connections with the culture and community of each destination.
When you go on vacation, what place do you like to escape to?
Somewhere serene, either by the sea or in the mountains, places where nature restores balance, the horizon feels expansive, and time seems to slow.
Do you have any secret hobby?
Food and travel, particularly where the two intersect. Exploring cultures through cuisine is endlessly inspiring and deeply influences how I think about storytelling, emotion, and experience within luxury hospitality.
The Luxury Trends Magazine (Luxury magazine – Revista de lujo) © Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay
