Knippenberg has been with Kerten Hospitality for eight years. The company’s hospitality portfolio includes The House Hotel, The House Residence, Cloud7 Hotels, and Cloud7 Residence, among others. The company has grown from one brand in one country seven years ago to more than 50 projects across 12 countries and a portfolio of 12 lifestyle brands. In 2022, the company opened Cloud7 Residence AlUla in Saudi Arabia. In the same year, the company expanded its pipeline in the Middle East by 20%, adding eight key signings in the region. Knippenberg has 25 years of hotelier experience and previously worked with Hilton for over a decade.