Fredrik Jonsson, BEAUFORT Director and Mereha Partner, has over 20 years’ experience with sovereign backed asset owners, blue chip development companies, international hotel operators and independent hotels that has given him the ability to truly have a global understanding of all angles of the hospitality lifecycle and tourism industry in general.
As a Senior Vice President and Head of Asset Management Hospitality at Investment Corporation of Dubai – Dubai’s Sovereign Wealth Fund – he established and lead the hospitality asset management function with oversight over 2,200 keys with combined value of US$ 2.5bn, including Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Mandarin Oriental New York, and W Washington DC. In addition, he had oversight of the strategic implementation and development of 10 pipeline hotels with approximately 2,500 keys in Dubai, including the iconic Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences where he held the position as Group General Manager overseeing all aspects of the project including governance, finance, development, sales and marketing and legal.
Prior to joining Investment Corporation of Dubai he held the position of Director of Operations – Asset Management at Qatari Diar, a 100% subsidiary to QIA – Qatar’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. Qatari Diar’s portfolio, at the time, included 49 projects under development and operation in 29 countries around the world with a combined value of over US$35 billion.
Whilst at Qatari Diar he was responsible for managing the company’s asset management activities across all asset classes including managing its hospitality division. His corporate responsibilities included member of investment, risk and change management committees and furthermore he represented the company’s interest as board and committee member of multiple companies including Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI), La Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes. At Qatari Diar Fredrik was leading and participating in government to government initiatives in the field of tourism and master planned developments across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Before moving to Qatar Fredrik was based in Dubai occupying the role of General Manager Development-Hospitality at Majid Al Futtaim Properties overseeing land acquisitions and development activities for its hospitality division across GCC and the Levant.
Fredrik also gained operational experience with Melia Hotels International where he was based out of Spain and responsible for the groups development activities across Europe Middle East and North Africa.
He has structured and negotiated numerous hotel management, lease, franchise and license agreements with most major hotel brands, directly negotiated and led teams to conclude asset and land acquisitions and has led development teams for both mixed used and stand-alone hospitality assets.
He is an Advisory Board Member of Hotel Asset Management Association (HAMA) Middle Eastern Chapter and an Advisory Board Member and frequent speaker on the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) and other industry events for the hospitality sector.
He holds an MBA with Instituto the Empresa in Spain, a degree from Swiss School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Switzerland as well as Certificates in hotel investment, asset management and revenue management from Cornell University in the US.
He is fluent in English, Spanish, German and Swedish.
