Category lead
Michael Ellis
Principal, FEBC Hospitality; Senior Culinary Adviser, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Michael Ellis is an internationally respected culinary and hospitality executive, best known for his tenure from 2011 through 2018 as Global Director of the Michelin Guides, and for shaping food and beverage strategy at some of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands.
In late 2018, Michael moved to Dubai to join the Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts group as the Chief Culinary Officer, overseeing the food and beverage activities of the groups 27 properties in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. In 2023, Michael joined the Mandarin Oriental Hotel group as Senior Culinary Advisor, working with the group CEO and the executive team to elevate the Mandarin Oriental’s global culinary offering.
Earlier in his career, Michael held senior hospitality and commercial roles, including Head of the Cruise Ship Division at Club Med, and Brand Manager for wine portfolios at Diageo. He also held executive commercial positions with the Michelin Group (motorcycle tire division), Ball Corporation, a Fortune 500 packaging company, and Mead Corporation, a global food and beverage packaging supplier.
Michael trained as a young man at the École Hôtelière Ferrandi in Paris and began his hospitality career as a commis in the Michelin starred Bistro 121 in Paris, before moving on to front-of-house roles at Fairmont and Rosewood Hotels, grounding his strategic leadership in hands-on operational experience.
Michael has a B.A. from Oberlin College, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins SAIS and an MBA from INSEAD, and speaks English, French, Spanish and Italian.
The first edition of the TOURISE awards was a truly ground-breaking initiative, and I was thrilled and honored to have taken part. The opportunity to work with distinguished international hospitality thought leaders was both enriching, as well as an unforgettable experience.
The world of tourism and hospitality has grown exponentially in recent years, and the travelling public have a real need for a credible, expert-led and wholly independent body to help them identify the world's most compelling destinations. The TOURISE awards respond to this need with great authority and gravitas and will continue to play a key role in driving the tourism ecosystem