Samih Sawiris on entrepreneurship in the hotel market

Samih Sawiris (born in 1957) is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Development Holding AG (ODH). Stemming from an entrepreneurial family, he has brought new ideas to the hotel market by developing the concept of fully integrated touristic towns. Samih Sawiris, who has a very international background, has been the key figure for ODHs international expansion. Due to Samih Sawiris project of developing a luxury resort in Andermatt, Switzerland, ODH was granted an exemption by the Swiss government to own land a permission never issued before to non-residents. He graduated from the Technical University of Berlin in 1980. In contrast to his luxury resorts, Samih Sawiris continues to be involved in developing low income housing projects in Egypt.