The Boutique Search Firm
Heads Above the Rest - October 2023

The Newsletter of The Boutique Search Firm, a worldwide retained recruiting firm specializing in hospitality management.

Market update​​​

• Leisure and hospitality added 96,000 jobs in September, above the average monthly gain of 61,000 over the prior 12 months.
• Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 61,000 over the month and has returned to its pre-pandemic February 2020 level.
• Accommodation employment continued to trend up over the month (+16,000) but remains below its February 2020 level by 217,000, or 10.3 percent.
• The Boutique Search Firm awarded as one of the top Executive Search Firms in 2023 by Forbes coming in as #38 overall!
  • America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2023 (forbes.com)

 
Recent Appointments
 
­­North America​​

• James Messinger has been appointed as Corporate Director of Culinary at Pyramid Global Hospitality. He also held key culinary leadership roles with the Darden Restaurant Group, The Walt Disney Company plus owning/operating his concepts.
• Edwin Torres has been appointed as General Manager at OUTRIGGER Kaanapali Beach Resort in Lahaina. He will lead the beachfront resort with an eye to delivering exceptional service and authentic guest experiences.
• Rebecca Hubbard has been appointed as Managing Director at The Charleston Place. She is a seasoned hospitality professional with more than 20 years of experience in the hotel industry.
• Lukus Grace has been appointed as Managing Director at The Cooper in Charleston. He brings with him a vast range of experience from the most luxurious global hospitality brands.
• Matthew Slater has been appointed as General Manager at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Denver West/Federal Center in Golden. Before joining Spire, He was the general manager at Comfort Inn Plano-Dallas in Plano, TX.
• Tiffany Leadbetter Donato has been appointed as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Marcus Hotels & Resorts. She will oversee all transactional activities designed to fuel growth, including acquisitions, co-investments, and new third-party management contracts.
• Ashley James named Culinary Director at Dorchester Collection’s The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. He joins the hotel with a wealth of experience, with more than 30 years cooking in prestigious kitchens throughout the world.
• Josh Williams has been appointed as Senior Managing Director at HVS North America Brokerage & Advisory Division. He brings extensive, long-term industry relationships and nearly two decades of investment sales experience.
• David Snyder has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Culinary at Fontainebleau Development, LLC. He oversees all facets of Fontainebleau Development's culinary operations.
• Suzanne Saunders has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Design and Construction at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG). She served as senior vice president of construction for First Hospitality.
• Bob Kisker has been appointed as Vice President of Operations at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG). He worked for 16 years for the Dow Hotel Company as a General Manager.
• Wilson Turner has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG). He has significant experience in acquisitions, growth-oriented companies, compliance, organizational and leadership development and employee relations.
• Angela Cook has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG). She will oversee the total accounting function for the organization.
• Sue Sanders has been appointed as EVP and Chief Strategy and Administrative Officer at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG). In her new role, she works with company leaders to define strategies to extend and defend the company.
• Sven Wiedenhaupt has been appointed as General Manager at InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. He brings over 40 years of experience to the hotel, where he leads a culturally rich and highly-engaged team.
• Linda Vallner has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Dailypoint. She brings with her deep knowledge of our customer's technology and operational landscape, making her the perfect fit for continuing to drive the strategic path of dailypoints's success.
• Esther Ha has been appointed as Executive Chef at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville. Her responsibilities include building the food sourcing strategy, hiring and training culinary staff, and working with each property.
• Steven Dougherty has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville. He spent his early career at Hermann J Wiemer Vineyard and later served as an assistant winemaker at Cornell University.
• Elizabeth Mullins has been appointed as Managing Director at The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York. She is a respected leader who will oversee all hotel operations, as well as leadership of Flâneur Hospitality.
• Robert Austin has been appointed as Vice President of Finance at Terranea Resort. He has over three decades of experience in hospitality finance and accounting in the luxury hotel arena.
• Patrick Smith has been appointed as VP Information Technology at KSL Resorts. In his new role, he heads up KSL Resorts' information technology department.
• Renee Wriedt has been appointed as Area Director of Sales & Marketing at Sage Hospitality Group. She spent the last five years as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Embassy Suites Denver Downtown Convention Center.
• Dana Carver has been appointed as General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor. In her new role, she oversees the daily operations of the Burlington Harbor property, working closely with the team and Westport leadership.
• Xavier Moulin has been appointed as Managing Director at The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role.
• David Arciniega named as Executive Chef at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. He has been a member of the hotel's culinary team since he joined as Executive Sous Chef in 2022.
• Anai Patel has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Cloud5 Communications. Patel will play a central role in the company's ongoing market expansion and growth strategy.
• Tim Stacer has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Hilton Richmond Downtown. He returns to the property as director of sales & marketing from recently held roles as founding member at JEMS Hospitality Group.
• Tim Ribich has been appointed as General Manager at Hyatt Place Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown. He is a seasoned leader with a focus on driving company growth and revenue at hotels across the U.S.
• Kelly Giger has been promoted to General Manager at The Industrialist Hotel, Pittsburgh, Autograph Collection. She brings more than fifteen years of hospitality experience to her new role as general manager.
• James Manyika joined Airbnb, Inc. as Board Director. He is a graduate of both the University of Zimbabwe and the University of Oxford, from which he holds two master's degrees and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
• Rick Corcoran has been appointed as General Manager at Baccarat Hotel New York. He oversees the day-to-day operation of the flagship hotel which reimagined the elegance and perfection of the legendary French crystal maker into a luxury lifestyle hospitality brand.
• Eric Fullem has been appointed as Executive Chef at Plant Riverside District in Savannah. He brings 19 years of culinary experience to Plant Riverside District and is a respected chef with extensive experience.
• Scott Walsh has been appointed as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Asset, Design & Development at AKA Hotels + Hotel Residences. He will oversee the renovation and transformation plans for existing AKA properties.
• Bryan Waltz has been appointed as Global Sales Director at KSL Resorts. His career tops 25 years in the hospitality throughout the United States, including Hawaii, Canada and Mexico.
• John Carter has been appointed as Director of Sales, Central Coast Properties at KSL Resorts. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Louisiana State University and earned an advanced certification in hospitality from Cornell University.
• Karen Hudson has been appointed as Sales Director at KSL Resorts. She was previously an account executive for the Creative Group, one of the nation's top event and incentive agencies.
• Vince Parrotta has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Omni Hotels. With over 40 years of operations experience, he brings a wealth of expertise from his previous role as President.
• Mondee Holdings, Inc. announced the appointment of Jeff Clarke to its Board of Directors. He brings a wealth of experience in the technology sector, including a deep-rooted history in the travel industry.
• Rod Munro has been appointed as Managing Director of Operations at BWH Hotels, Australia and New Zealand. He will focus on expanding the brand's presence in the region and leading a new era of growth and success for BWH Hotels.
• Paul Boldy named as Managing Partner at RLA Global. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing all operations and strategic growth initiatives across RLA Global's offices worldwide.
• Rick Schatz has been appointed as General Manager at Tempo by Hilton Nashville Downtown. He brings nearly twenty-five years of experience managing and operating hotels across the U.S.
• Ronni Anderson has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Tempo by Hilton Nashville Downtown. Her experience ranges from boutique lifestyle properties to large convention facilities.
• Julian Daniel has been appointed as Vice President Operations, EMEA at WorldVue. He will play a pivotal, strategic role in the brand's current and future presence across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
• James Ancona has been appointed as General Manager at The Magnolia Denver, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. He was most recently the General Manager for the Hyatt House/Hyatt Place in Downtown Denver.
• Genevieve Belou has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Magnolia Denver, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. She will serve as the new Director of Sales for the Magnolia Denver and was most recently the Assistant Director of Sales for the property.
• Benjamin Martinek has been appointed as Culinary Director at Pendry Newport Beach. The club will feature three distinct culinary venues that will deliver exceptional dining experiences and thoughtfully curated beverage offerings.
• Sofia Vandaele has been appointed as Regional Director of Operations at InterContinental New York Barclay. In her new role, she will helm the luxury brand's strategic direction and brand awareness.
• Kiana Beimes has been promoted as General Manager at OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger in Honolulu. She was also Assistant Area Director for the same hotels and OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort and Front Office Manager at the Beachcomber.
• Ceci Hamao has been appointed as General Manager at OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu. She has been Resort Manager at the OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort since 2022.
• Anne‑Marie D’Angelo joined Hilton as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. She most recently served as chief legal and government affairs officer at Molson Coors Beverage Company.
• Rajiv Jha has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Fairmont Dallas. He most recently worked as Food & Beverage General Manager at Fairmont Grand Del Mar.
• Laura McIver has been appointed as General Manager at Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection in Napa. It is an award-winning luxury resort sprawling over 700-acres in Southern Napa Valley.
• Chelan Goonetilleke has been appointed as General Manager at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler. His career in the hospitality industry began in 2007, taking on the role of Senior Director of Marketing for Four Seasons Mauritius and Four Seasons Seychelles.
• Matthew McGuigan has been appointed as General Manager at Romer Waikiki at The Ambassador in New York. He joins Romer Waikiki from the Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra in downtown Honolulu, where he served as Hotel Manager for the past five years.
• Daniel Haughan has been appointed as General Manager at Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island. Previously, he worked as General Manager at Canopy by Hilton in San Antonio and Homewood Suites in Moab, Utah.
• Jim Hollister has been appointed as General Manager at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. In his role as General Manager, he will manage and oversee daily hotel operations, maintain standards for guest satisfaction.
• Yuni Hunter has been appointed as General Manager at AC Hotel Irvine. She brings a wealth of experience and industry expertise to the Irvine-based hotel.
• Jeremy Thomas has been appointed as Operations Manager at Hotel Simone in St. Simons. He will oversee day-to-day operations of the hotel, including advancing ongoing enhancement efforts that began earlier this year.
• Sean Ganhinhin has been appointed as General Manager at Prince Waikiki in Honolulu. In this new role, he will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the hotel's operations, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Lucas Curcio has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village. He joins the property from Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour where he held the title of executive chef.
• Jason Sundberg has been promoted to Director of Bars & Restaurants at The Gwen, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Michigan Avenue Chicago. He grew up outside of Boston, working in a number of upscale restaurants in the area before moving to Chicago.
• Shawn Nayyar has been appointed as General Manager at Hotel Crescent Court. He brings more than 30 years of diverse global hospitality and leadership experience to the hotel.
• Troy Batten has been promoted to Area Director of Food and Beverage at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in Teton Village. He began his career at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa as lead cook 14 years ago.
• Rani Gharbie has been appointed as Managing Director, Investment & Development for the Americas at citizenM in New York. He will spearhead citizenM's initiative to actively grow its Americas portfolio.
• Daniel Tabares has been appointed as General Manager at Le Meridien Houston Downtown. He will oversee the day-to-day functions of this Downtown Houston AAA Four-Diamond Hotel.
• Lauren Rawlins has been promoted to Director of Leisure Sales at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu. In her previous roles, she was Director of Sales & Marketing at Hyatt Centric Waikiki.
• Kimberly Forte has been promoted to Director of Group Sales at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu. She held previous sales positions as the Associate Director of Sales and Senior Sales Manager at The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa.
• Alice Land has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura. She will oversee all sales, marketing, and public relations efforts for the 685-room luxury destination.
• Stacy O'Reilly has been appointed as General Manager at Hyatt Place Portland-Old Port and the Docent's Collection. Before her current assignment, she showcased her leadership skills as the general manager at Embassy Suites Akron Canton and the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn, Maine.
• John D’Angelo has been appointed as General Manager at The Sebastian – Vail. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the property and ensuring it continues delivering a five-star experience to both Owners and guests.
• Carlo de Leon has been appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley. In his role, he will oversee the 671-room resort's five signature dining outlets.
• Anne Gompel has been appointed as Vice-President at Hotel & Leisure Advisors in Atlanta. She brings her international expertise as a multilingual hospitality consultant and certified general appraiser.
• Haleigh Hildebrand has been promoted to Vice President, Campaigns & Political Strategy at American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). She previously served as an assistant political director at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
• Ashley McNeil has been promoted to Vice President, Federal Affairs at American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). She will oversee AHLA's efforts to maintain and grow AHLA's strong connections to federal policymakers on behalf of hoteliers across the country.
• Stacy O’Reilly has been appointed as Area General Manager at Hyatt Place Portland-Old Port and the Docent’s Collection. She brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to her new role.
• Julienne Smith named as 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award Recipient at AHLA Foundation. Her leadership has paved the way for her own successes as well as the success of others.
• Brad Read has been appointed as Vice President of Finance at Hotel Equities Group, LLC. He brings with him a strong professional background in strategic finance and commercial leadership.
• Shannon Foster has been appointed as Vice President of Operations at Hotel Equities Group, LLC. Prior to joining Hotel Equities, she served as Area Vice President of Operations for HRI Lodging, overseeing the group's lifestyle division.
• Patrick Lacassagne has been appointed as General Manager at Viceroy Chicago. In his role, he will oversee the overall hotel strategy to maximize guest satisfaction, service standards, colleague satisfaction and financial performance.
• Geoff Pearson has been appointed as General Manager at OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa in Honolulu. In this role, he will assume the responsibility of overseeing the daily operations and management of the resort.
• Elena Peroulakis has been appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing at The Ben West Palm, Autograph Collection in West Palm Beach. With an illustrious career in the hospitality industry, she brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the esteemed property.

Europe​

• James Hodgetts has been appointed as Partner - Occupier Strategy & Solutions, Middle East and Africa at Knight Frank MENA. He joins Knight Frank, reinforcing the firm's commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions to clients in the region.
• Rogier Busser has been appointed as Dean and member of the Board of Directors at Hotelschool THE Hague. He will be responsible for education and research.
• Virginie Barboux joined Adagio as Senior Vice-President of Customers and Marketing. Adagio's mission is to support the Next Adagio strategic growth plan as it continues its development in France and internationally.
• Malin Selander has been appointed as Communications Director at Scandic. He has broad experience from senior leadership positions within communications at large Nordic companies including SAS, Tele2 Sweden and SATS Group.
• Jad Moukheiber has been appointed as Chief Legal Officer (CLO) at Kempinski Hotels S.A. In this role he will lead the overall legal function of the luxury hotel group overseeing all areas of Legal, Compliance, Risk Management and Corporate Governance.
• Linda Vallner has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Dailypoint. She brings with her deep knowledge of our customer's technology and operational landscape, making her the perfect fit for continuing to drive the strategic path of dailypoints's success.
• Lisa Slinkman has been appointed as General Manager at Cour des Vosges in Paris. She will lead the team at Cour des Vosges as General Manager.
• Andrew Mcpherson has been appointed as General Manager at The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Edinburgh. He will oversee the iconic Edinburgh hotel, boasting 167 rooms and 20 suites as well as a comprehensive spa and fitness centre and a diverse culinary offering.
• Dean Saunders joined Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort as General Manager. Born and raised on the East Coast, he returns to his roots, being appointed as General Manager.
• Gerard Arazo Riera has been appointed as Commercial Director at Kimpton Aysla Mallorca. He has extensive knowledge in the luxury and MICE segments, as well as in the Golf and Wellness industries.
• Peter Ho has been appointed as Chef de Cuisine at Mei Ume at Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square. He is no stranger to the rich diversity of Asian cuisine and draws on influences from his hometown, as well as Hong Kong and mainland China in his cooking.
• Annie Hu-Thornton has been appointed as General Manager at Mei Ume at Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square. She brings a wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to guest experiences in the restaurant.
• Herlé-Xavier Carn has been appointed as Senior Vice President Group Safety and Security at Accor. He brings with him more than 30 years of experience acquired at public and private institutions in France and abroad.
• Nicholas Davies has been appointed as General Manager at The Marylebone Hotel in London. He joins the Irish family-owned luxury hotel group with a wealth of experience from some of the world's most distinguished properties. 
• Julie White has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer, Europe & North Africa at Accor in London. Her responsibilities encapsulate areas like sales, distribution, marketing, customer relations, loyalty initiatives, and revenue management.

Asia

• Arnaud Girodon has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Datai Hotels and Resorts. He has long been an instrumental part of The Datai Langkawi and held the position of General Manager for almost 10 years 
• Graeme Freeman has been promoted to General Manager at JOALI BEING in Bodufushi Island. His career commenced with a pivotal role as part of the management team at Karma Group.
• Enver Arslan has been promoted to Area General Manager at JOALI in Raa Atoll. His professional journey began with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and his career path has taken him around the globe.
• Mazen Abilmona has been appointed as General Manager at Pullman Singapore Hill Street. He has built his 25-year career with properties across the Middle East, China, and Singapore.
• Alessandro Piso has been appointed as Chef at Romano’s at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar. He brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for Italian cuisine to delight palates of discerning guests with an enticing fusion of authentic Italian delicacies.
• Alper Kutnu has been appointed as Director of Revenue Strategy at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. He was most recently Director of Revenue Strategy at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort.
• Chen Si has been promoted to President at Mohegan INSPIRE. His duties will involve overseeing budget and business plans to ensure the company's vision is implemented at all levels and leading performance measurement and improvement efforts.
• Wade Howk has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Mohegan INSPIRE. His primary responsibilities will include leading, engaging, and developing direct reports to ensure smooth operations.
• Neha Rustagi has been appointed as Marketing & Communication Manager at Crowne Plaza Greater Noida. With over 7 years of experience in the field of PR & Marketing, she will be responsible for positioning the brand and upscaling the brand visibility.
• Ritu Rawat has been appointed as Associate Director of Sales at Nesuto Docklands. She is an effective, highly motivated sales professional with more than 13 years of sales, marketing, business development and account management experience.
• Pankaj Singh Panwar has been appointed as Executive Chef at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas. He will be responsible for spearheading the culinary operations, ensuring efficiency, supervising quality guest experiences and satisfaction.
• Simi Chattoraj has been appointed as Human Resource Manager at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas in Narendra Nagar. She will now step in as the new Human Resource Manager at Westin.
• Bhushan Gupte has been appointed as Rooms Division Manager at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas in Narendra Nagar. He brings with him an extremely comprehensive and rich experience of 14 years in Front Office Operations.
• David Janz has been appointed as General Manager Sales & Marketing at Daydream Island Resort and Living Reef. After moving back to Sydney, he joined IHG Hotels & Resorts at InterContinental Sydney.
• Tayla Scannell has been appointed as Marketing Manager at Daydream Island Resort and Living Reef. She will be responsible for overseeing all marketing activity for the property including digital marketing, social media, SEO and website management.
• Sarah Halliday has been appointed as Business Development Director, MICE at Daydream Island Resort and Living Reef. She is looking forward to putting the resort back on the map and creating a truly memorable experience for all guests.
• Joseph Reaiche has been appointed as Reservations Manager at Daydream Island Resort and Living Reef. He chose the role at Daydream Island because it provides the opportunity of working in a new environment while learning about the operations of an island-based resort.
• Domenico Cicchetti has been appointed as Head Chef at Caffe Mondo at Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou. He plans to introduce light Mediterranean dishes with a focus on fresh seafood.
• Vivek Bhanawat has been appointed as Director of Finance at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Commerce from the University of Rajasthan.
• Assim Sherif has been appointed as Hotel Manager at Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort & Convention Center. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team, with over fifteen years of exceptional service in the hospitality industry.
• Bruce Ryde has been promoted to Cluster General Manager at Pro-invest Group. He has been instrumental in the success of Australia's first Kimpton hotel since he joined Pro-invest Group to open Kimpton Margot Sydney in 2021.
• Shihalini Rajaratna has been appointed as Cluster Hotel Manager at Holiday Inn Express Melbourne. With a strong hotel operations background, she is an advocate for developing next generation hoteliers and female leaders in the hospitality industry.
• Klarisa Dzambo has been promoted to Hotel Manager at Holiday Inn Express Melbourne Southbank. She first started at the property in the pre-opening team as a Food & Beverage Supervisor.
• Gaurav Rege has been appointed as General Manager at Radisson Blu Palace Resort & Spa in Udaipur. He aims to ensure the brand's continued prominence through astute leadership and a pursuit of operational perfection.
• Mukund Karpe has been promoted to Director of Sales & Marketing at Hyatt Regency Pune. Over the past few months, his visionary approach has had a transformative impact on the hotel's presence in the Pune market.

­­
South America​

• Mark Ley has been appointed as Director of Marketing at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica in Guanacaste. In his role, he will lead the sales and marketing division as the property undergoes lifestyle renovations.
• Alejandro Larrondo has been appointed as General Manager at Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort. The beachfront resort features world-class culinary concepts and bars, family-friendly amenities, multiple pools, a refreshed spa and more.
• Cedric Nubul has been appointed as Area Manager and General Manager at Hilton Hotels Brazil. He most recently served as general manager of Hilton Singapore Orchard, the largest Hilton in the Asia Pacific.

­­Carribean​

• Peter McMahon has been appointed as General Manager at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau. He was most recently the Managing Director of Carmel Valley Ranch, leading the resort to record results during his three-year tenure.
• Tiffany Minnis has been appointed as General Manager of Private Villa Collection at Grace Bay Resorts. She will oversee all operations, ensuring the highest standards of service, quality, and guest satisfaction are maintained throughout the Private Villa Collection.
• Josh Herman has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Baha Mar. With more than 20 years of experience, he will lead all marketing efforts for the luxury resort brand.

Middle East​

• Phillip Realmo has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. In his new role, he will take charge of all food and beverage operations at the hotel.
• Emirati Asma AlJarjawi has been appointed as Talent & Culture Supervisor at Rosewood Abu Dhabi. She brings with her a passion for nurturing a culture of growth, development, and collaboration.
• Fawaz Moumina has been appointed as Country Manager & Senior Director of Operations at Hilton Hotels in Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. She will collaborate with Hilton's general managers and the ownership community in Saudi Arabia to enhance the operations and performance.
• Marwan Fadel has been appointed as Regional Director of HR at Hilton Hotels in Saudi Arabia and the Levant in Jeddah. He is also a distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD).
• Catalina Susan has been appointed as General Manager at Marriott Hotel Al Forsan in Abu Dhabi. Her exceptional performance led to successive promotions, culminating in her role as Director of Finance.
• Linda Vallner has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at dailypoint™. She brings with her deep knowledge of our customer's technology and operational landscape.
• Eric Pellen has been appointed as Executive Chef at Fairmont Amman. He brings his expertise to Fairmont Amman from his most recent role as a culinary consultant in the United Kingdom.
• Fabio Fioravanti has been appointed as Executive Sous Chef at Park Hyatt Doha. Prior to joining Park Hyatt Doha, he was head chef at Alain Ducasse's restaurant in the city.
• Vera Tsoncheva has been appointed as Director of Finance at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. Most recently, she served as the country director of finance for Qatar Hilton, overseeing a portfolio of 10 hotels.
• Andreas Jersabeck has been appointed as General Manager at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay. He brings a global perspective to his role as general manager of Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay.
• Joost H.P.E. Folkers has been appointed as Director of Operations at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay. He is working to conceptualize a seamless guest journey through the hotel's food and beverage venues, the four-story spa, wellness activities, and external experiences.
• Ewoud Roosjen has been appointed as Commercial Director at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay. During his time at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam established and maintained a global network of travel industry leaders.
• Thomas Jakobi has been appointed as Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay. His vision is to establish Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay as a culinary hotspot in Qatar.
• Giuseppe Soccio has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay. He brings over 17 years of industry experience and his known for his expertise in the Italy and GCC markets.
• Nazley Mohamed has been appointed as Spa Director at Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay. Her professional trajectory features notable tenures with world-renowned brands such as Mandarin Oriental, Anantara,etc.
• Gerrit Gräf has been appointed as General Manager at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. His journey began in 1996 as director of food & beverage at the Renaissance Cologne Hotel in Germany.
• Rasha Rusrus has been appointed as Human Resources Manager at Centro Mada Amman by Rotana. He is known to regulate the work environment, prepare solid action plans, to compete for fair salaries against the market and ensure quality control.
• Veronika Szabo has been appointed as Director of Marketing & Communications at One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai. She has spent the past 12 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts across Europe and the Middle East.
• Youssef Elmrassy has been promoted to Cluster Security Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Dubai Motor City. In his new role, he will oversee safety and security operations for both hotels.
• Dilara Atay has been appointed as Sales Director at Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras al Khaimah. He brings in a wealth of expertise, strategic vision, and dynamic leadership talents to her new role.
• Mattia Chiai has been appointed as Chef de Cuisine at Verso at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl in Dubai. He discovered his passion for gourmet cooking very early on, in his grandmother's kitchen.
• Filip Pavloski has been appointed as Food & Beverage Manager at Pemier Inn Dubai Barsha Heights. He brings in more than 12 years' experience, including nearly a decade in Dubai.
• Mazen Allam has been appointed as General Manager at Ritz-Carlton Riyadh. He brings a wealth of experience that underscores The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh's stature as a premium luxury destination in Saudi Arabia.
• Joanne Behrens has been appointed as Senior Vice President of Architecture and Spatial Design at Jumeirah Group. She has held senior positions with renowned luxury brands, including most recently Rosewood Hotel Group.
• Andrea Conte has been appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Amman. In the new role, he will assume full responsibility for overseeing all the restaurants and lounges at the property.

Africa​

• Shady Abdelaziz has been appointed as Director of Sales & Marketing at Four Seasons Hotel Tunis in La Marsa. Born in historic Aswan, he took an interest in hospitality and earned a Bachelor's degree in hotel management from the University of Alexandria.
• Hanno Barkhoff has been appointed as General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra. He returned to Germany in 2016, heading two of Kempinski's flagship European hotels in Berlin and Munich as hotel manager over the past seven years.