Future Leader Award in Partnership with Sommet Education to recognize emerging talent in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector
- Sommet Education
- With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 driving a significant transformation in the country’s hospitality and tourism industries, this award aligns with the Kingdom's broader objectives to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will shape its future.
- This year’s Future Leader Award winner is Lama AlQawasmi, Co-Founder & COO of Hospitality Talents, Vice President of Hospitality at Moqam Urban Development Co.
Riyadh, May 13, 2025: Sommet Education, is a global leader in higher education for the hospitality and service industries providing world-class education through its prestigious institutions, including Les Roches, École Ducasse, and Glion Institute of Higher Education. Earlier today, on stage at the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia (FHS) taking place at the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah in Riyadh this week, the winner of the 2025 FHS Future Leader Awards was announced.
This year’s Future Leader Award winner is Lama AlQawasmi, Co-Founder & COO of Hospitality talents, Vice President of Hospitality at Moqam Urban Development Co. Lama AlQawasmi stands as a remarkable example of young woman leadership in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality industry.
The Future Leader Award is an initiative from FHS organizer The Bench, powered by the Sommet Education Foundation, the non-for-profit organization of Sommet Education aiming at fostering inclusivity in the Hospitality Education.
The Future Leader Award was open to individuals aged 18 to 35 who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and impact in the hospitality field. The jury included leaders from renowned hospitality and education institutions such as Carlos Díez de la Lastra, Chief Executive Officer of Les Roches, Anouck Weiss, Chief Communication Officer of Sommet Education, Co-founder & Executive Vice President of Sommet Education Foundation; Luis Nicolas Barrios, Regional Manager of Innovation Education and Investment at UN Tourism, and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench.
Saudi Arabia’s hospitality industry is undergoing a dynamic shift, and we believe the Future Leader Award is an important step in recognizing the young leaders who are driving that change. Through this award, we are proud to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by fostering talent and offering opportunities for growth and development to the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Lama has led strategic initiatives across multiple organizations—including founding a consultancy division, championing sustainability and innovation, and mentoring young professionals in the sector. She has already held influential roles at Moqam Urban Development, and the Elaf Group, where she’s driven operational excellence and talent development. Lama’s focus on collaboration, education, and social impact makes her not just a rising star—but a guiding light for the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Thank you so much I’m truly honoured to receive this award. This award isn’t just about me, it’s about the belief that talent exists everywhere and opportunities do as well. My mission is to fill this gap through hospitality, through education, and through purpose.
Lama AlQawasmi embodies the empowering, people-centric leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, and deep passion for hospitality that we strive to nurture at Sommet Education. She represents exactly the kind of leader the hospitality world needs - driven by purpose, committed to others, and unafraid to shape the future.
As part of Lama’s prize, she will get access to an exclusive scholarship opportunity within Sommet Education’s portfolio of Master’s, Executive Master’s or part-time education at Glion Institute of Higher Education or Les Roches Global Hospitality in the UK, Switzerland, and Spain as well as access to Sommet Education's alumni networks, internships, and job placement opportunities.
About Sommet Education
Sommet Education is the global leader in hospitality, luxury and culinary arts education and training, uniting five prestigious institutions – Glion Institute of Higher Education, Les Roches Global Hospitality, École Ducasse, Invictus Education and Indian School of Hospitality - that shape the future of the industry and nurture the next generation of talent.
With over 400 programs spanning technical training, undergraduate, graduate degrees, executive and business solutions, we support 20,000 students and learners from over 100 nationalities across 10 countries and over 20 campuses as well as through cutting-edge online learning platforms.
Backed by a global network of 60,000 alumni and an industry-driven curriculum, Sommet Education prepares the future leaders who will set new standards of excellence in hospitality and beyond. To further support this mission, the Sommet Education Foundation was created to expand access to quality hospitality education fostering an inclusive and diverse industry.
