Here’s
a roundup of the top hotel executive moves of the past week.
Here is a
compilation of the most important executive moves of the past week in the hotel
investment world alphabetically (by company):
New Accor
executive. Accor has
confirmed the upcoming appointment of Coline Pont as its new director of
sustainable development, effective July 1. This transition follows the
departure of Brune Poirson, who held the role for the past four years and
played a key role in shaping the group’s sustainability roadmap. Pont brings
over 15 years of experience in business transformation and sustainable
operations and previously held leadership roles at Accor, most recently serving
as purchasing director at AXA.
Aimbridge
promotes VP. Plano,
Texas-based Aimbridge Hospitality has promoted Michael Murray to vice president
of operations for Evolution Hospitality, the company’s lifestyle operating
division. Since joining Aimbridge in 2016, Murray has advanced from GM to
campus GM and, most recently, has served as GM of Hotel PASEO, an Autograph
Collection by Marriott.
Baillie
Lodges names new CEO. Sydney-based Baillie Lodges has named Michael Crawford as CEO, effective May
19. Michael Moret-Lalli, who previously led Baillie Lodges as executive
chairman, is stepping down to focus on the company’s business development and
growth efforts as head of global M&A and development. Crawford joins from
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co., where he has served as
chairman of the board, president and CEO since 2018. He also worked at Four
Seasons Hotels and Resorts and the Walt Disney Co.
Ensemble
names new director. Long Beach, California-based Ensemble Investments’ hospitality division has
appointed Daisy Pinedo as director of transient luxury sales. Pinedo will
develop luxury sales initiatives and will forge relationships with industry
partners and travel advisors. With more than 15 years of luxury hospitality
experience, Pinedo began her career at Altour in Brentwood, California, as a
corporate travel agent before transitioning to the hotel side.
EOS names
new CCO. New York
City-based management company EOS Hospitality has appointed Ernest Lee as chief
commercial officer. With more than 20 years of experience in commercial
strategy, hospitality and real estate investment, Lee joins EOS Hospitality
from citizenM, where he served as chief commercial officer. He also worked at
Cushman & Wakefield.
Gencom
names new SVP. Miami-based Gencom has appointed Margaux Mielcarek as senior vice president of
development for Bermuda and the Caribbean. Before joining Gencom, Mielcarek led multifamily and mixed-use
development projects totaling over 1,200 rental units in the Miami area.
Previously, she was a hotel investment advisor at JLL’s Hotel & Hospitality
Group. She also worked at Club Med.
New exec
at Kempinski. Munich, Germany-based Kempinski Hotels has named Hoda Tahoun as its new chief
talent officer. With a career spanning over 27 years in talent
management and human resources, Tahoun previously
worked at Russell Reynolds Associates, serving as the global leader of the
leisure and hospitality practice.
Meliá
promotes two on board. Meliá has named Montserrat Trapé Viladomat as first vice president of
its board. She has served as an independent director since 2022 and currently
chairs the audit and compliance committee, with nearly 40 years of experience
in law, particularly in international taxation and transfer pricing. Cristina Aldámiz-Echevarría González de Durana will take on the role of second
vice president for the board. Aldámiz-Echevarría has been with ACS since 2002,
where she currently holds the position of director of operations, investments,
and sustainability.
McNeill
names new director. Germantown, Tennessee-based McNeill Hotel Co. has appointed Chris Kontos as
regional director of operations. Kontos has more than 25 years of experience in
the hospitality industry. Immediately before joining MHC, he spent 10 years
with Hotel Management Group as regional director of operations for the Midwest
and Carolina markets. Previously worked for CFI in various roles.
New exec
at Omni. Dallas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts has appointed Adam Hayashi as its chief
revenue officer. Prior to joining Omni, Hayashi served as the global vice president of
revenue management, distribution and BI at Accor, supporting more than 120
hotels across the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Raffles Hotels &
Resorts brands. He has also held various other leadership positions at Accor.
She also worked for a boutique executive search firm and at SHUAA Capital.
New VP at
Remington. Dallas-based Remington Hospitality has named Charlene Nigaglioni-Gang as its
new vice president of sales, Caribbean & Latin America (CALA). With
a career spanning NH Hotel Group, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts,
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Sonder Holdings and, most recently, Raffles
Hotels & Resorts, Nigaglioni-Gang brings experience in revenue
strategy, account development, and global sales leadership.
Reside
names new CEO. Lee
Curtis has transitioned from CEO of Woodinville, Washington-based flexible and
extended-stay housing company Reside to a board director. Succeeding Curtis as
CEO is Gavin Morgan. As part of this transition, Curtis will continue to
contribute to the company as a board director. In addition, he will take on the
role of entrepreneur in residence at WestBridge Capital, Reside’s parent group.
Morgan is a veteran executive with more than 30 years of global experience in
real estate and investment management. He is currently a managing director at
Westbridge Capital, which acquired Reside in 2017.
Ruby
promotes new exec. Fabian Zellinger has been promoted to chief growth & innovation officer at
Munich, Germany-based Ruby Hotels GmbH. Zellinger has been with the Ruby
Group for over six years and is a long-standing executive board member. In this role, he
takes over leadership of all growth-related and technical departments,
including the responsibilities previously held by Isabell Fuss, who is leaving
the company to pursue new opportunities.
Stonebridge
promotes 18. Denver-based hotel management company Stonebridge has promoted 18 employees
across the organization to strengthen its commitment to driving results and
delivering operational excellence for its ownership partners. These strategic
promotions span key departments, including operations, accounting, technology,
legal, risk management, revenue strategy and commercial services.