Bio

Hospitality brings people together and makes strangers feel at home – that is the essence of service. Jerry Inzerillo is one of the hospitality industry's most influential figures, having notched up more than five decades' experience championing the sector and its people. From CEO of Forbes Travel Guide to CEO of Morgans Hotel Group to now leading the transformation of the world's most iconic tourism destination, Diriyah, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Inzerillo hails from a family of five generations of bakers. His career in hospitality was born out of necessity, starting as a busboy at the age of 13 and climbing the ranks through various roles to become a titan of the industry. In June 2018, he was appointed by HRH The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to be the first CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. The authority will turn the historic city of Diriyah into one of the world's great gathering places. With the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif at its heart, it is set to become Saudi Arabia's most iconic lifestyle and tourism destination. Upon completion, the USD 50 billion development will add 27 billion Saudi Riyals to Saudi Arabia's GDP and provide 55,000 job opportunities. The development will be home to 100,000 people and will aim to attract 27 million visitors annually. In 2021 he was voted for the Corporate Hotelier of the World by HOTELS magazine in their prestigious annual awards. The title of 'Hotelier of the World' recognizes individuals and their careers based on criteria, including how the nominees have defined service standards, operational excellence and performance; creativity in management; and what they have done for the greater good of the global hotel business. Inzerillo has long been involved with philanthropy and is the proud recipient of a host of awards and distinctions, including the Alexander Shulgin CEO of the Year in Tourism award and the Tourism for Peace Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (WANGO), in recognition of his unique contributions to world peace through travel and tourism. In his personal life, Jerry Inzerillo is married to former CNN anchor Prudence Solomon. Their daughter, Helena Zakade Inzerillo, was named by her Godfather, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nelson Mandela. Inzerillo resides in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and New York City.