Lennard Otto is the Managing Director of Global Leisure and Entertainment a leading leisure and entertainment consultancy company focused on developing the industry across the globe, Mr. Otto is also is the Managing Director of LEOS as specialized operation management company focusing on unique attractions and experiences.

 

Prior to that Mr. Otto was the CEO of IMG Worlds of Adventure the world’s largest indoor theme park and oversaw the strategic vision, direction and operational leadership of the business. Mr. Otto has over Fifteen years of experience in managing large hospitality and entertainment-based facilities including resorts, outdoor and indoor waterparks, beachfront developments, theme parks, ski slopes and adventure facilities. Lennard Otto also holds three separate board of director roles across Europe, Mena and Asia and advise multiple companies across the region.

 

Prior to joining IMG Worlds, Mr. Otto held several senior management roles across major ‎leisure destinations throughout South Africa and the Middle East these include Wadi Adventure, John Buck International, Majid Al Futtaim, Atlantis and ‎The Jumeirah Group. Mr. Otto is a committee member of the Al Ain Tourism Authority, Task Force Member of the UAE Ministry of Economy and serves as spokesperson for several global conferences and events.

 

Mr. Otto currently holds a higher education diploma from Port Natal, Republic of South Africa, and is presently pursuing his master’s degree in Business Administration from Liverpool University.

A seasoned executive with over 25 years global experience in business strategy, board advisory, asset management, hotel and integrated real estate developments, re-branding and positioning hospitality projects, strategic partnerships, sales and marketing, and hotel operations.

 

Rishi was the Senior Vice President of International Development for MGM Resorts International, from 2009 to 2020. He led global non-gaming hotel and destination developments across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa. In addition, he established the regional operational capability in the MENA region.

 

He developed and implemented MGM's vision to create, through contracts and strategic joint ventures, a portfolio of luxury hotel and complex real estate projects including entertainment, wellness, and residential components. This included spearheading the concept, design development, valuation, and partner negotiations, of a US$ 2 billion hotel and entertainment destination.

 

Prior to MGM Resorts, he headed asset management, strategic planning, and marketing for The Imperial, New Delhi. He directed the repositioning & management turnaround of a historic property to an iconic luxury hotel. His experience includes operations, sales, and marketing positions with The Oberoi Group and ITC Hotels. Rishi received his degree in hotel management from IHM New Delhi, followed by post-graduate training in hotel management in India. In 2017, he completed the Leadership Program for Senior Executives in general management, strategy and leadership from INSEAD Business School. He graduates from Cornell University's Hotel Real Estate Investment & Asset Management program in Dec 2020.

Self-motivated professional with 30 years’ senior management experience in various roles in the Power and Renewable Energy Industry such as commissioning, engineering, testing, operations, business development, sales, project development, project financing, service, and consulting, including 26 years’ experience in the Middle East.

 

Mr. Claudio Used to working in an international and multicultural environment, skilled in bringing together companies and individuals of diverse backgrounds and capabilities for the successful completion of general and project specific objectives.

Qasim Mansoor is an accomplished design and real estate development executive and Founder of RE Imagine. (Real Estate Remagined). Mr Mansoor Founded RE Imagine to opportunistically Co- Invest in crafting built environments which has impeccable Architecture, Placemaking, and Quality Lifestyles.

 

Recently, Mr Mansoor has been Advisor for Design and Developments for Ellington Properties and Real Estate Advisor to PIF for their Giga Projects like NEOM.Prior to founding RE Imagine, Mr. Mansoor worked for two of the largest real estate developers in UAE, Emaar Properties and Aldar Properties and more.

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Mr. Mansoor worked with several renowned Architecture firms including Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) and Hellmuth Obata Kassabaum (HOK). Qasim Mansoor continues to serve as External Senior Advisor to McKinsey and Company for their Real Estate practice in the region and globally.

 

Mr. Mansoor received BA (Honors) in Architecture from University of Lefke, Turkey, MSc in Urban Planning and Development from University College London (UCL), UK, M.Arch in Practice and Construction Technology from University of Illinois, USA. Mr Mansoor is completing Advance Development Management Program (ADMP) at Harvard Graduate School of Design, Boston, USA.

Nihal Jaffer is a results-driven professional with extensive experience in Project Management across various industries. 

 

He has a proven track record of achieving qualitative and quantitative benefits while maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels. 

 

Nihal has held positions as Project Director at Global Leisure and Entertainment, Lead Project Manager at Sanderson Group, Freelance Project Manager at Think OTS, Lead Project Manager at Thinkwell Group, and Project Manager and Client Consultant at JLL (Jones Long LaSalle) in Dubai, UAE. 

 

His skills include managing project deliveries globally, overseeing project management functions, managing project controls teams, preparing project reports, monitoring staff performance, and supervising project teams. Nihal's expertise also extends to financial control, managing budgets, deployment schedules, resource planning, and negotiating with contractors and subcontractors. Overall, Nihal Jaffer is a results-driven professional with a broad range of skills in project management, team leadership, stakeholder management, and financial control. 

 

He is committed to delivering projects on time and on budget while maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

 

Qualifications

—Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management – ITT Technical Institute, Chicago

—Associate’s Degree in Engineering – ITT Technical Institute, Chicago

—Architectural Engineering - Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago

 

Experience 

—2020 - Current, Project Director, Global Leisure and Entertainment

—2017 – 2021, Project Manager, Dubai EXPO 2020

—2019 – 2021, Projects Manager, Sanderson Group

—2017 – 2018, Projects Manager, Thinkwell Group

—2016 – 2017, Project Manager, JLL Consultancy

Verni Kurum is an accomplished Architect and Global Leisure and Entertainment Design Manager with a rich background spanning over 19 years in managing full scope design and construction projects. Her expertise encompasses a broad range of developments, including residential towers, commercial developments, hospitality resorts, thematic parks, and recreation facilities across diverse multicultural environments in the Middle East, USA, Europe, and Asia. With a proven track record in delivering projects from inception to completion, Verni's leadership ensures the seamless integration of client and stakeholder requirements with sustainable, high-quality outcomes.

 

Core Competencies

Architecture & Design

Theme Parks & Recreation

Theming Design

Green Building Design and Sustainability

Interior Design

Construction and Civil/Fit-out Works

BID Contracts Preparation and Evaluation

Project Management

Facilities Management

Contract Documentation

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Environmental Graphics Design

 

Professional Experience

Elephant Global Theming Design LLC, Dubai, UAE (Feb 2023 - Present): As Design Manager, Verni oversees theming design for exteriors and interiors, coordinating with design engineers, drafting teams, illustrators, and graphic designers to meet and exceed project requirements.

Sanderson International Theme LLC, Dubai, UAE (Nov 2020 - Feb 2023): As Project Architect, Verni was pivotal in thematic conceptual design, ensuring collaboration and coordination across technical teams and clients.

Fujairah National Construction Co. LLC, Dubai, UAE (Aug 2016 - Dec 2020): Leading a team of architectural engineers, Verni excelled in project management, from conceptual design to government authority approvals.

 

Certifications

Architectural License (2007)

Occupational Safety and Health (2014)

Cherry S. Vergara is a licensed and Registered Architect with eight years of comprehensive experience in architectural design, spanning residential, commercial, and thematic leisure projects. Known for her exceptional hand sketching and design conceptualization skills, Cherry excels as a BIM Architect, proficient in developing architectural, structural, façade, and theming Revit models. Her expertise in BIM processes, project coordination, and technical support stands out in her ability to manage model maintenance, quality assurance, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

 

Professional Experience

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Dubai, UAE (Aug 2022 – Present): BIM Architect and Package BIM Lead, working on significant projects like THE RIG Project in KSA, focusing on architectural models, BIM coordination, and quality assurance.

Sim Leisure Gulf Contracting LLC, Dubai, UAE (Mar 2022 – Jul 2022): BIM Architect for Riyadh Exit 15 Water Park and Snow Park, responsible for creating thematic elements and ensuring interdisciplinary coordination.

Aspen Creations LLC, Dubai, UAE (Aug 2020 – Feb 2022): BIM Architect and 3D & Graphic Designer, contributed to the thematic design and construction of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, overseeing art direction and BIM model development.

Sanderson Group, Dubai, UAE (Mar 2020 – Jul 2020): Architect, provided thematic conceptual designs for projects like Qatar Global Village and Bahrain Aquarium, focusing on hand sketches and 3D modeling.

 

Skills

Proficient in Revit Architecture, BIM 360, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Navisworks, Revizto, SketchUp, 3DsMax, Enscape, Rhinoceros, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign).

Expert in architecture/concept design, BIM/BIM coordination, themed parks residential and landscape, hand sketching, design conceptualization, graphics, and 3D design.

 

Registrations/Certifications

Registered and Licensed Architect, Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (2017)

Registered Master Plumber, Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (2017)