Recognized as “One to Watch” by Bloomberg Businessweek’s Bloomberg 50 and awarded Independent Hotelier of the World by Hotels magazine, James McBride is a global hotelier who has led some of the world’s leading hotels during his thirty-five-year career. Known for his limitless creativity, clever marketing techniques, and exceptional hotel experiences, he has raised the bar in the hospitality industry.
His foundation was spending 14 years with The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, from management trainee in Boston to General Manager working globally. Then, starting in 2002, he was selected to run one of the most preeminent properties in the World by becoming General Manager of The Grosvenor House of London’s Park Lane. In 2003, he was appointed by Rosewood Hotels as Managing Director of The Carlyle in New York and the Regional Directorship of all Rosewood Caribbean Resorts. After his Rosewood tenure, James led the growth of YTL Hotels, headquartered in Singapore, as its President from 2009 to 2012.
In 2012, he transitioned to hotel entrepreneurship when he partnered with famed brand builder, long-time friend, and investor Christopher Burch to acquire Nihiwatu, a coveted surf destination in Indonesia then, now known as the iconic brand NIHI Sumba.
For the past twelve years, James has not only ensured that NIHI® Sumba has consistently received top industry awards like Best Hotel in the World by Travel & Leisure for two consecutive years, but he is also enthusiastically working on the expansion of the brand to realize further opportunities grounded in NIHI’s vision, the Edge Of Wildness™, including two new properties, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and Rote Island, Indonesia.
Educated in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of Johannesburg and Harvard Business School PMD. He is a native of South Africa and resides in Bali and Lisbon.