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):
Accor
names regional executives. Accor has named Raki Phillips as regional president for the premium,
midscale & economy (PME) division across the Middle East & Africa &
Turkey, effective November. Phillips will oversee hotel operations performance
across a network of over 250 hotels in 27 countries, bringing more than 20
years of global experience and being widely regarded as one of the most
influential tourism leaders in the Middle East. Most recently, he held the role
of CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and was also a
former Fairmont Raffles Hotels International executive and also worked at
Ritz-Carlton and Universal Studios Orlando.
New CEO
for Club Med. Stéphane Maquaire has been appointed president and CEO of Club Med Holding,
effective immediately. The move is the latest for the Paris-based company,
following Henri Giscard d’Estaing’s announcement that he was ousted from his
position as board chairman by the company’s owners, Shanghai-based Fosun
Tourism Group. D’Estaing said last week he was abruptly replaced in a move that
went against a previously agreed-upon procedure that Club Med “should be listed
on the stock market and its center for decision making must remain in France,”
he told staff in the letter, dated July 16. He had been chairman of the company
since 2002. Maquaire joins Club Med from Carrefour, where he served as
executive director for Carrefour Brazil and Latin America. Club Med also announced
several other changes to its board with the addition of Philippe Heim and
Takuya Yamada. Heim has held leadership roles at Société Générale, including
CFO and deputy CEO, and later served as chairman of the board of La Banque
Postale. Yamada is chairman of Tokyo-based IDERA Capital, the asset manager of
Club Med’s two resorts in Japan and has collaborated closely with Club Med in
recent years.
Davidson
names 2 new execs. Atlanta-based Davidson Hospitality Group has named Nick Gregory executive vice
president of operations for Pivot, its lifestyle operating vertical, while Paul
Eckert has been promoted to executive vice president of operations and business
intelligence. Gregory most recently served as senior vice president of
strategic operations for the company.
Dreamscape
names new feasibility exec. Dallas-based Dreamscape Hospitality has named Connor Bussing as director
of feasibility. In his new role, Bussing will lead feasibility analysis and
market research initiatives. Bussing brings a wealth of experience in
hospitality and financial analysis to Dreamscape. He previously served in
various feasibility roles at Aimbridge Hospitality.
Highway
West Vacations promotion. Irvine, California-based Highway West Vacations has named Trevor Bridge
as regional vice president, bringing more than 20 years of leadership
experience in resort management. Bridge will lead operational and
administrative support for Highway West Vacation’s California portfolio.
“Coach” Cerrone retiring. Hotel Equities announced that its Founder Fred Cerrone has decided to retire effective November 22, 2025, concluding a 58-year career in the hospitality industry. As founder and chairman emeritus, he remains an enduring influence and guiding presence for the firm. Cerrone, affectionately known as “Coach” by his team and industry peers, has led Hotel Equities from a single-property operation into a platform with a robust portfolio spanning the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA). As part of the planned transition and following the latest news of its merger with Springboard Hospitality, Brad Rahinsky, former President and CEO of Hotel Equities, has assumed the title of co-chairman. Springboard’s former President Ben Rafter was appointed Hotel Equities’ CEO earlier this month.
New CEO
for Nammos. Greece-based luxury brand Nammos Hotels & Resorts has appointed Carolyn
Turnbull as CEO, effective immediately. Upcoming openings include Nammos Resort
AMAALA within Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global
project, Nammos Resort Maldives, and Nammos Resort Abu Dhabi. Additional
destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are also in the pipeline.
The global expansion of Nammos is backed by ADMO Lifestyle Holding, a strategic
joint venture between Monterock International and Alpha Dhabi Holding.
New
F&B exec for Pyramid. Boston and The Woodlands, Texas-based Pyramid Global Hospitality has
named Anthony Torres as vice president of food and beverage. Torres will drive
the vision of Pyramid’s food and beverage program at more than 250 hotels and
resorts worldwide. For decades, Torres has been a brand and operations leader
across luxury and lifestyle hotels and resorts, with expertise at both the
property and corporate levels. He arrives at Pyramid from IHG Resorts &
Hotels, where he led food and beverage operations for Kimpton,
InterContinental, Regent, Hotel Indigo and Vignette.
New COO at Remington. Remington Hospitality has appointed Jason Kreul as chief operating
officer, effective August 5, 2025. He will oversee all aspects of hotel
operations, engineering, food & beverage, and commercial strategy for both
third-party managed and assets under management. He will report directly to
Chief Executive Officer Ben Perelmuter and play a key role in accelerating
Remington’s strategic growth across North America, the Caribbean, and Latin
America. Kreul most recently served as chief operating officer at First
Hospitality. He also held the role of president at Highgate, as well as
senior-level positions with White Lodging and Winegardner & Hammons.