Manish Ahluwalia is a seasoned hospitality and “Destination-Development”executive with more than 35yrs of global leadership experience across luxury, lifestyle, and large-scale mixed-use hospitality projects.
With over 22 years at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), he has built a reputation for operational excellence, brand stewardship, and the successful delivery of complex, high-profile assets across Australia, the Middle East, China, and Africa.
In his role as Chief Operating Officer, Development – The Heart of Europe, Manish plays a central leadership role in shaping one of the Middle East’s most ambitious and visionary luxury developments. Located within Dubai’s World Islands, The Heart of Europe is a landmark, multi-island destination inspired by iconic European lifestyles and architectural heritage. The development brings together themed resort islands, waterfront hotels, private residences, boutique retail, curated entertainment, and immersive cultural experiences positioning Dubai as a global leader in experiential island living.
Prior to his current appointment, Manish served as Cluster General Manager at The Heart of Europe, overseeing flagship lifestyle resorts including voco Dubai Monaco and voco Dubai Nice. In these roles, he led pre-opening strategies, operational ramp-up, and brand positioning for destination-defining assets, ensuring alignment between design intent, guest experience, and long-term commercial performance.
Manish is widely recognized for delivering differentiated guest experiences, particularly through innovative food and beverage concepts, experiential programming, and resort-driven luxury positioning. His leadership style blends rigorous commercial discipline with a people-first philosophy, enabling him to build high-performing teams capable of executing complex developments at scale.
With deep expertise spanning pre-openings, repositioning, and flagship hospitality projects, Manish Ahluwalia continues to play a pivotal role in transforming The Heart of Europe into a globally benchmarked luxury destination—one that redefines island hospitality, lifestyle living, and experiential tourism in Dubai.