Joe Naaman

Joe Naaman

Hey, I'm Joe, an executive, advisor, entrepreneur, and traveler with over 16 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. I'm passionate about leading destinations and organizations into new territories while respecting local values, culture, brand, and the environment.

As the Managing Director at Skift Advisory, I have the privilege of working with intelligent, and dedicated teams to collaborate with global leaders – from Abu Dhabi to Anchorage. Together, we strive to generate innovative ideas, create sustainable strategies, and build the organizations necessary to implement them with success.

Prior to my role at Skift Advisory, I was a key member of the Diplomacy & International Development team at Booz Allen Hamilton, where I worked on re-building post-conflict and post-crisis economies, and where I played an instrumental role in expanding the company's reach into the Middle East and Asia.

I'm a published author, have taught undergraduate-level coursework at NYU Abu Dhabi, and frequently speak at major industry forums such as World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, City/Nation/Place, and the PATA Summit.

I've worked in over 50 countries and lived in the US, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, France, China, and Egypt, giving me a keen sense of how to work with diverse perspectives, cultures, and challenges, and I'm fluent in Arabic and French and conversant in Spanish. I earned a Master in Business Administration in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University in 2008, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University in 2003.

When I’m not working, you can usually find me running a trail, standing in tree pose in a yoga studio, or doing laps at the pool. My favorite vacations are on a beach with clear waters surrounded by loved ones and mountains of lush wilderness.


I'm passionate about leading destinations and organizations into new territories while respecting local values, culture, brand, and the environment