James W. McBride

Co-Founder & CEO of NIHI Hotels, the brand behind NIHI Sumba — voted #1 hotel in the world by Travel + Leisure — and the forthcoming NIHI Rote. Over a career spanning continents, James has pioneered luxury hospitality, guerrilla marketing, and purpose-driven brand building, including opening the world’s first branded residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington DC, and creating a Harvard Business School bestselling case study. He has built NIHI into a globally recognized brand combining world-class experiences with deep philanthropic impact.

Areas of Expertise 

•  The Death of Traditional Luxury
• Why the Hardest Places Create the Strongest Brands
• What Al Can’t Replace
• From South Africa to the World’s #1 Hotel
• The Power of Showing Up