Walia has 27 years of industry experience and joined Marriott International in 2005. He has been responsible for the Middle East operations since 2021, which today includes 230 operational hotels and resorts with 60,000 keys. In January 2024, the group opened the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, the first private island property within the Red Sea project. Other recent openings include The St. Regis Riyadh, Aloft Muscat, Marriott Executive Apartments in Kuwait, Courtyard by Marriott Jubail in Saudi Arabia, and the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. In 2023, the group announced 17 new hotel projects in Saudi Arabia and three in Ras Al-Khaimah in the U.A.E.