Barnes joined Rotana and assumed his role as CEO in February 2024. In 2024, Rotana operated in 24 countries and 46 cities with 20,786 keys. It welcomes over six million guests and nine million food and beverage guests annually and has 42 new hotel ventures in development. Rotana entered into a strategic alliance with Global Hotel Alliance in March 2025, integrating its properties into the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program with access to nearly 950 hotels worldwide. Barnes previously held roles at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts for 25 years across the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Dubai.