Speaker Profile

Christian Gradnitzer

Senior Director of F&B Operations EMEA, Hilton

Based in Hilton’s MEA Regional Office in Dubai, Christian Gradnitzer is responsible for F&B operations and strategic future F&B development for Hilton in EME.

Gradnitzer has a wealth of experience in Food & Beverage.  He started his career as Chef Apprentice in his native Austria then moved on to Switzerland, gaining experience which prepared him for roles in London at The Dorchester Hotel and at Cunard Cruise Lines. He then joined the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, quickly progressing from Chef de Cuisine to Executive Sous Chef, where he supervised the operations of 175 chefs and 60 stewards.  

In 2006, Gradnitzer took on an Executive Chef role at Jumeirah Essex House in New York, before returning to Dubai to serve as Executive Chef at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. He then became Resort Executive Chef for Madinat Jumeirah, managing restaurants across three hotels, catering requests and the Conference and Incentive culinary team. 

In 2012 he was named Group Culinary Director for Jumeirah Group, where he established a dedicated Restaurant Group, managed operations and oversaw development of new F&B venues. In 2015, Gradnitzer moved to Istanbul to join D.ream Group, a global restaurant, entertainment and management group where held the position of Group Culinary Director. In 2017, Gradnitzer joined Hilton as Senior Director, F&B Operations, EMEA.