Yonas, an Ethiopian national, holds a BA in Business Administration from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. Yonas started his career in the hospitality industry as a management trainee with Hilton in 2001 and held different managerial positions including F&B Coordinator, Revenue Manager, Front Office Manager and Training Manager. With his partner, he has opened the first hospitality consultancy firm, Calibra Hospitality Consultancy and Business PLC, which has assisted many Ethiopian Investors to open world class hotels such as Capital Hotel & Spa, Golden Tulip Addis, and Ramada Addis. His consultancy firm has helped again local hotel developers to work closely with global hospitality brands such us Intercontinental Hotel Group, Best Western International, Louvre Hotels Group, Hyatt International, Accor Hotels Group, Wyndham Hotels Group through the execution of management contracts and franchise agreements. His consultancy firm is providing advisory services for local developers starting from site selection & analysis, market study, concept development & architectural design review, feasibility study, hotel operator search, hotel franchise search, executive management search and Asset Management. Currently, his firm is engaged in consulting high profile hospitality projects including Ethiopian Airlines Five Star Hotel project. In recognition to his exceptional business acumen, Yonas has won the 2014 prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship Award (which was initiated by President Barack Obama) and has received advanced entrepreneurial development programs and exposure at top U.S. universities together with other African fellows.