Moon World Resorts has announced the appointment of James & Cranwell, a London and Dubai based luxury hospitality advisory and executive search firm, as its strategic advisor for F&B, retail, hotel strategy, and partnerships across MOON Smart City developments worldwide. This long-term engagement is set to provide specialist strategic and commercial guidance, supporting the evolution of MOON's luxury hospitality offering, F&B and retail strategy, hotel partnerships, and wider collaborations.
James & Cranwell will also serve as MOON's exclusive executive search partner for senior leadership appointments, leveraging its advisory expertise, global network, and access to world-class executive talent. This partnership aims to support MOON's groundbreaking "Category of One" developments, which are planned to rise in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Africa.
For over a decade, James & Cranwell have been elevating luxury through exceptional talent and timeless connections, working exclusively within the highest tiers of hospitality, lifestyle, fashion, and leisure. With a reach spanning the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, the firm brings a dedicated team of specialists offering expert advisory, representation, executive search, and network-driven matchmaking. Their exclusive client list includes some of the most celebrated names in five-star hospitality and dining, including Casa Cipriani, Maybourne, Six Senses, The h.wood Group, One&Only, Starr Restaurants, and Rosewood.
James & Cranwell will lead executive search for MOON's senior leadership and operational teams, advise on F&B strategy, concept development, and partner selection, leveraging its global network and long-standing relationships with internationally acclaimed ultra-luxury hotels, restaurant groups, operators, and chefs. Simultaneously, they will craft collaborations with lifestyle and entertainment leaders, high-end fashion houses, and exclusive members clubs across all worldwide MOON Regional Licenses.
Each MOON development is conceived as a Building of Global Significance, anchored by the world's largest true sphere and situated within a 556-acre masterplan integrating hospitality, entertainment, longevity + wellbeing, education + environment, technology, attractions, luxury Residences, and AAA commercial real estate. Positioning a project of this scale requires the same precision, discretion, and deep luxury sector expertise as defined by James & Cranwell's approach, creating a natural alignment with Moon World Resorts' vision.
Sandra G. Matthews, Co-Founder and President of Moon World Resorts, stated, "James & Cranwell offer MOON access to a network built over a decade at the highest tiers of luxury hospitality, food & beverage, and lifestyle. From identifying leadership talent to defining MOON's culture, to shaping the complex F&B program and partnerships, their discretion, precision, and deep global relationships will position MOON as the definitive integrated leader it will become." Daniel Follett, Partner at James & Cranwell, added, "MOON represents an extraordinary world-first vision, pushing the boundaries of imagination and what's possible within global hospitality. Our role is to bring specialist market insight, operational perspective, and access to world-class partnerships and leadership talent to help translate such vision into an exceptional luxury destination, conceived at an unprecedented scale."
This strategic partnership highlights the importance of expert guidance in realizing the ambitious vision of MOON, which aims to redefine hospitality and entertainment at the intersection of innovation and the human experience. As the most anticipated and iconic Smart City Masterplan development on Earth, MOON is perfectly positioned in a unique "Category of One," and this collaboration ensures it has the strategic counsel and talent acquisition capabilities to achieve its goals.
