Elias J. Hayek

• Vice-President, Legal – Europe, Africa and Middle East Division, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., 2000-2017

• Saudi Public Fund Subsidiary – Advised in relation to the development, subdivision, and stratification of the giga project master community US $1.4 Billion development in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, including drafting governing documents and related sales agreements.°
• U.S. S&P 500 Listed Brand Owner – Advised on branding, licensing, management, and residential agreements in connection with the purpose-built US $2 billion offshore development on The Island, in Dubai, for the operation of three luxury hotels, 1,500 rooms, and the associated branded residential villa and apartments, entertainment venues, recreational facilities, third-party beach club leasing and operating agreements, and c. 35 food and beverage (F&B) licensing agreements.°
• UAE Government Entity – Advised on its joint venture agreement for foreign direct investment with a leading U.S.-based integrated gaming resort company for the US $5 billion development to establish the region’s first integrated hotel and gaming resort in the UAE.°
• UAE Government Entity – Advised in relation to the drafting and finalizing of all rules and regulations for the operation of integrated gaming resorts in the Emirate.°
• Spanish Private Equity Fund – Advised in connection with acquisition and financing agreements for the acquisition of a hotel and golf resort in the south of Spain.°
• Maldivian Resort Owner – Advised on the 100% share sale of its Maldives island and resort to Thai hospitality and lifestyle conglomerate, and its Abu Dhabi financial partner.°
• Leading U.S. Lifestyle and Health Brand Company – Represented in the negotiation and finalizing of multiple hotel and branded residential agreements in the United States, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Italy. Drafting all internal form agreements and SOPs and advising on all third party licensing and management agreements for F&B and operations support.°
• Saudi Public Fund Subsidiary – Advised on negotiating and finalizing all hotel and branded residential licensing and operations agreements for 15 hotels and branded residence projects in SuperBlock 4 of its US $1.4 billion development in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.°
• Saudi Public Fund Subsidiary – Advised in the establishment of the Fund’s first fully integrated Saudi brand owner and operator, including drafting all form SOPs, standard management, licensing, and residential agreements; negotiating management and residential agreements for the management of four hotel and residential projects under the new brands in Saudi Arabia; and advising on all third party operating agreements for the operation of the brand company.°
• Spanish Private Equity Fund – Advised in connection with its lease agreements for the lease of an upscale 400-room hotel in Madrid, Spain.°
• Czech Leading Family Office – Advised this family office and wealth manager with respect to its investment and development and associated long-term third-party agreement with international luxury brand owner and operator to manage a five-star Hotel in Prague 1, following a full-scale tender process with all of the top hotel brands.°
• Czech Real Estate Developer – Advised on an agreement with leading U.S.-based international hotel brand owner and operator to develop, license, and operate two brand hotels in the in Pardubice and Olomouc in the Czech Republic.°
• Egyptian Joint Stock Listed Company – Advised on the shareholding agreements in relation to the ownership of a leading five-star hotel on the Nile, in Cairo; thereafter advised on the negotiation of hotel licensing and management agreements for the long-term management of the hotel under a luxury brand.°
• Spanish Private Equity Fund – Advised in connection with the development, branding, management, and residential agreements for a 500-room beachfront luxury branded hotel and residences project with an international luxury brand in Barcelona, Spain.°
• U.S.- and UK-Based Hotel Brand Company – Advised this privately held hotel brand owner and operator with 2000 hotels under operation in the United States, UK, and Europe on corporate structuring, intellectual property protection, corporate third-party agreements, technology licensing agreements, and development related issues for properties across the United States and the UK.°
• Spanish Private Equity Fund – Advised in connection with its acquisition of a white label operating company, and advising in relation to the lease, management, and operating agreements for the acquired operating company following completion of the acquisition.°
• German Based Real Estate Developer – Represented in connection with the development and management agreements for a mixed-use hotel and student housing project in Budapest.°
• French Real Estate Developer and Brand Owner – Advised in connection with the acquisition of a hotel and resort in California, USA.°
• Saudi Listed Real Estate Company – Acted in relation to the joint venture agreements for hotel development and operation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.°
• Egyptian Based Developer – Advised on the hotel and branded residential licensing and operating agreements for a luxury hotel and residential development on the Red Sea.°
• Singapore Based Luxury Hotel Group – Represented in negotiation of multiple hotel and branded residential agreements for three hotels and residential projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar.°
• International White Label Operator – Advised in connection with the joint venture agreements for the establishment of a white label operating company with activities across EMEA.°
• UK Based Owner / Developer – Advised a leading UK-based private investment company with multiple international hotel investments in connection with its development and hotel and residential agreements for three luxury properties under the international luxury brand in the UK, Monaco, and Barbados.°
• Saudi Real Estate Developer – Advised on the development, licensing, and operation agreements in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for one of the world’s largest upscale hotels comprising 1900 rooms.°
• UAE Leading Real Estate Developer – Represented the UAE’s largest residential and mixed-use developer in residential and condo hotel developments in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, and establishing mixed-use framework agreements, condominium governing documents, leaseback arrangements, and other framework structure documentation.°
• Slovakian Developer – Represented in connection with the hotel licensing and management agreements for a new build hotel development in Bratislava.°
• UAE Developer / Owner – Advised one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the UAE on the negotiation of development and branding agreements for a portfolio of four hotels in Dubai along the Sheikh Zayed Road under luxury and upscale brands.°
• UK Private Office – Advised in connection with the development and licensing agreements for a luxury hotel conversion of a historical building in Nice, France.°
• UAE Developer / Owner – Advised a leading UAE-based real estate and hotel investment company on the agreements for a portfolio of three hotels in the luxury and midmarket sectors for brand hotel and residential complex, and two hotels for upscale and upper upscale brands under agreements with a second international brand owner/operator.°
• Saudi Public Fund Subsidiary – Advised a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its US $8 billion development of a mixed-use destination to include core city development, circa 15 hotels, branded residential developments, an entertainment park, a racetrack, and a waterpark.°
• Qatari Sovereign Subsidiary – Advised on the development of its multibillion-dollar signature mixed-use community comprising 35 square kilometers of prime coastal property.°
• Saudi Investment Group – Represented in relation to branding and operations agreements for a 350-room hotel development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.°
• Private Equity Fund – Acted in relation to the development and management agreements for a luxury five-star hotel and branded residential development in Croatia.°
• Saudi Private Holding Trust Company – Advised in the branding, licensing, management, and residential agreements for a large-scale luxury hotel and residential project in the Holy City of Makkah, in Saudi Arabia.°
• Saudi Listed Real Estate Developer and Brand Owner – Advised this subsidiary of Saudi Stock Exchange-listed real estate company on the review and negotiation of a Request for Proposal (RFP) and definitive hospitality agreements with the big four international hotel operators with respect to a five-star hotel and branded residence project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.°
• Saudi Developer – Represented in relation to hotel development and branding agreements for an upscale hotel in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.°
• European Hotel Group – Advised and establishing form model operating agreements, residential agreements, technical services agreements, brand licensing, and centralized services agreements.°
• Saudi Family Office – Represented in relation to portfolio asset management and branding agreements for portfolio of four hotels across Saudi Arabia.°
• U.S.-Based Leading Benchmarking Provider – Drafted subscriber agreement template and provide ongoing advice for this hotel profit and loss benchmark service, which is now being utilized with hotel brands and management companies internationally.°
• European Hotel Brand Owner and Operator – Advised on the procurement of a reservation and property management software system together with hosting and maintenance services.°
• U.S. Hotel Group – Advised on third-party liability issues following a data breach caused by the client’s reservation systems operator in the United States.°
• Leading Privately Held Saudi Conglomerate – Represented in negotiating and finalizing multiple hotel and residential agreements across Saudi Arabia and Egypt for this US $8 billion plus Saudi-based entity.°
• Owner – Acted for the owner of a publicly listed Saudi joint stock company on the RFP for brand selection and negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), hotel management agreements, and branded residences agreement for upper upscale branded hotel and villas in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.°
• Ras Al Khaimah Developer – Advised the owner, a Ras Al Khaimah government subsidiary and the largest real estate owner in the Emirate, on conducting an operator selection RFP with multiple brands, negotiation of the MOUs and, ultimately, a hotel management agreements suite for three hotels and a residential complex within Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.°
• Saudi Conglomerate – Advised a leading conglomerate in Saudi Arabia on the conduct of an RFP for hotel management and branding agreements and negotiation and finalization with luxury lifestyle company for a circa 350-unit branded hotel and residential apartments in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.°
• Saudi Based Family Investment Group – Represented in relation to hotel and residential branding agreements in connection with the Galeria development in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.°

• Croatia-based Private Equity Subsidiary – Represented claimant in connection with a brand/operator aborted mixed-use hotel and residential development in Croatia with agreements governed by English law and dispute resolution proceedings venued in London under LCIA rules.°
• U.S. S&P 500 Brand Owner and Operator – Represented respondent in the successful defense of claims in connection with an aborted development project in Doha, Qatar, and damage claims with agreements governed by English law, with dispute venued in London under ICC rules.°
• UAE-Based Development Company – Represented in successful pursuit of claims for material performance failures and other events of default in connection with a UAE-based hotel against an international, five-star operator, resulting in mid-proceedings settlement and compensation to the client.°
• U.S. S&P 500 Brand Owner and Operator – Represented in trademark infringement claims in connection with offending registrations in the UAE.°
• Saudi-Based Developer – Represented the claimant in successful termination of its operator for COVID-19-related force majeure and operator defaults of agreements governed by Saudi law with dispute resolution venued in the DIFC-LCIA. The matter resulted in a settlement with material compensation, termination, and brand conversion to franchise.°
• Spanish Real Estate Investor and Developer – Represented in proceedings for the successful termination of hotel operating and licensing agreements against a U.S.-based brand company with agreements governed under English law and dispute resolution venued in London under LCIA rules.°
• UK Institutional Real Estate Investor – Representing respondent in connection with the termination of management and license agreements for a luxury hotel operating in Barbados, with agreements governed by New York law and proceedings venued in New York before the American Arbitration Association.°
• Thailand-Based Real Estate Owner – Represented in claims against an international brand/operator for breach of exclusivity and contract repudiation claims, with agreements governed under laws of Delaware with dispute resolution venued in Singapore under SIAC rules.°
• UAE-Based Real Estate Developer – Represented in a successful termination for performance failures and other events of default, with agreements governed by UAE law and dispute resolution venued in DIFC under its rules. The matter was settled with termination conceded and no payment of termination fees by client.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Hayek prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig Limited.

• Recipient, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Global Board, “Lifetime Achievement Award,” 2017
• Listed, Lexology Index
  • Recommended, Hospitality, 2025
• Listed, Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology Index)
  • Thought Leader, Hospitality and Leisure Law, 2021-2024

• Member, International Bar Association (IBA), 2017-Present
  • Member, Leisure Industries Section, 2019-Present
    • Chair, 2022-2024
    • Co-Chair, 2020-2022
    • Vice Chair, 2018-2020
  • Member, Corporate Counsel Forum, 2014-2017
    • Vice-Chair, 2015-2017
  • Officer, Arab Regional Forum Legal Practice Division, 2015-2017
• Member, Association of Corporate Counsel Middle East Chapter, 2010-2017
  • Chair and President, 2010-2017