Taleb Rifai

Taleb Rifai is an esteemed professional in the field of tourism and crisis management with extensive experience in both public and private sectors. Currently serving as a Travel Advisory Board Member at Finn Partners and Secretary General of the World Tourism Forum Institute, Rifai also holds the position of Co-Chairman at the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. Previous roles include Co-Chairman of resilience councils in London and Tourism Board Advisor for Airbnb. Rifai has significantly contributed to the World Tourism Organization as Secretary General and served as Assistant Director General at the International Labour Organization. Early in the career, Rifai held multiple ministerial roles in the Jordanian government, including Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. Educational credentials include a PhD in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master's degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering from Cairo University.