Tom Roelens has been appointed to the role of chief operating officer of Wynn Al Marjan Island, the newest resort in the Wynn collection.

Currently under construction in the Ras Al-Khaimah, the most northerly of the United Arab Emirates, the development is the first beachfront resort in the Wynn portfolio and is being built on an island of almost 62 hectares jutting into the Arabian Gulf.

Wynn Resorts is developing the project in partnership with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding.

It is anticipated to be the first integrated gaming resort in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region.

Roelens brings extensive experience in integrated resort and ultra-luxury hotel operations, sales and marketing, design and construction, project management and development, and master planning of multi-billion-dollar construction projects.

He joins Wynn Resorts from Kerzner International where he had been responsible for the opening of Atlantis, the Royal Dubai in the role of managing director.

He also held the senior vice president role at Atlantis Dubai - which consists of Atlantis, the Palm; Atlantis, the Royal; and Aquaventure World - following an impressive 20-year career at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.

During his tenure as managing director at Atlantis Resorts & Residences, the Atlantis brand experienced record-breaking financial, guest service and colleague satisfaction results across the portfolio.

The ultra-luxury Atlantis, the Royal was named the World’s Leading New Resort at the World Travel Awards under his leadership, while the property also received the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award in the very first year of operation and was named among the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels.

Roelens ensured record financial performance year after year and directed many resort enhancements transforming the Atlantis Dubai properties into a gastronomical hub with star-studded celebrity chef restaurants, expanding Aquaventure into the largest aquatic theme park in the world and implementing the award-winning sustainability project, Atlantis Atlas Project. 

He started his career in fine-dining Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgium and France, with hospitality training at the Hotel School Ter Groene Poorte in Bruges, an A1 Degree with honours in hotel management in Belgium, before obtaining a postgraduate degree in public relations and media management at Ghent University.

Roelens continued his education at Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration, in Ithaca NY, with certificates in hospitality financial management, strategic management, hotel real estate investments and asset management.

He embarked on an international career in hospitality with SAS, Hilton International and InterContinental Hotels prior to joining the Nusa Dua Beach Resort & Spa in Bali and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts worldwide.
Roelens opened Four Seasons Resorts in the Maldives and Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He headed up the extensive transformation and reimagination of both Four Seasons Resorts in Lana’i, Hawaii, and led operations at Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach in California, as well as the Regent Jakarta, Indonesia.

Roelens currently is serving a second term on the Standards Advisory Committee of Forbes Travel Guide, representing the Middle East and Africa region. 

He is proud to be on the Industry Advisory Board of the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and volunteered as an Adjunct Professor at Taylor’s University in Malaysia.

He has contributed to Hotels Magazine, as a columnist, as well as leadership and management publications with Rahim Kanani and Dr Lily Lin.

Roelens also has served on the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Hawaii Chapter Board and has been engaged in Chambers of Commerce in Hawaii, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

Wynn Al Marjan Island is currently being finalised by Wynn Design and Development, employing more than 90 talented architects, designer and creative visionaries.

The company is overseeing all facets of the project’s design and development, with Wynn Resorts unique in that it maintains its own full-service design and architectural team.

Wynn Design and Development has created all of Wynn’s bespoke gaming resorts.

“Historically, the area around Ras Al Khaimah was a beacon for navigation and important trade on the Arabian Gulf.

“Early travelers through the gulf relied upon this tented settlement as a trade landmark between the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea,” said Todd Lenahan, president and chief creative officer of Wynn Design and Development.

“We designed the 300-meter-tall resort tower with Ras Al Khaimah’s historic role as a great navigational sentinel in mind. We hope this becomes a new landmark, a new beacon, for travelers to Ras A Khaimah from across the globe.”

Overlooking its own white sand beach with views of both the Arabian Gulf and the natural beauty of Ras Al Khaimah rising to the Hajar Mountains, Wynn Al Marjan Island will offer guests the full complement of luxury amenities and experiences.

It will feature 1,542 rooms and well-appointed suites, including 22 opulent and private Villa Estates situated on the newly designed marina adjacent to the resort.

There will also be an extensive poolscape adjacent to the beach with multiple swimming and wading pools, water features, private cabanas, and tropical landscaping covering 3.6 hectares.

The curated collection of 22 dining, lounge and bar experiences will each be presented in their own uniquely designed space, many with views of the beach and poolscape.

The theatre will feature bespoke production shows.

The resort will also include a 15,000-square-meter shopping esplanade filled with the top luxury boutiques, a five-star spa and a salon.

The 7,500-square-meter meetings and events centre has been designed to accommodate meetings, conventions, and special celebrations such as weddings.

There will also be ample outdoor event terraces and lawns.

Wynn Al Marjan Island began construction in early 2023 with construction led by UAE-based main contractor ALEC Engineering and Contracting.

Currently, the structure is about 40 meters tall.

The full tower height, more than 300 meters tall, is expected to be topped off in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The resort will open to the public in early 2027.

Ras Al Khaimah is one of the fastest growing tourism markets in the MENA region, conveniently located near the Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.

Comprised of four islands, Al Marjan Island delights visitors with nearly five miles of sparkling beaches and 24 kilometres of waterfront, in addition to world-class hotels and residential developments.

More Information

Wynn Resorts owns and operates Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Boston Harbor, Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace, Cotai.

Find out more on the official website.