Hotel executive moves: Aimbridge, Hunter, SVC, Verge Management

Here is a compilation of the most important executive moves of the past week in the hotel investment world alphabetically (by company):

a&o Hostels name CIO. Julien Mattei has been appointed the new chief investment officer of the Berlin-based chain a&o Hostels. Previously serving as investment director at The Social Hub and in investment management at Norges Bank Investment Management, Mattei has 15 years of experience in real estate investment and development across Europe.

Accor adds VP for Middle East. Accor has appointed Islam Samad as vice president development, Middle East, to lead the group's regional expansion strategy for its premium, midscale, and economy division. Samad brings 23 years of industry experience and will be based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Previously leading the launch of over 100 new properties, Samad has negotiated high-profile deals across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

AIC names new director. Coral Gables, Florida-based AIC Hotel Group has appointed Donna Smith as the new director of luxury sales, USA & Canada. With more than two decades of experience in luxury sales, Smith has worked at Palmaïa – The House of AïA, the Aruba Tourism Authority and Island Destinations. 

Aimbridge board appointments. Third-party management giant Aimbridge Hospitality has refreshed and expanded its board following previously announced balance sheet restructuring. The four new managers – Glenn Alba, co-founder and managing member of TMGOC Ventures; Rich Gomel, partner and chief investment officer of Two Sigma Real Estate; Carrie McIntyre, partner and the CEO at VIRIDIS Fund Solutions; and Emanuel (Manny) Pearlman, chair and CEO of Liberation Investment Group – join current Board members Chairman Steve Joyce and CEO Craig Smith.

Hunter Hotel Advisors names VP. Atlanta-based Hunter Hotel Advisors has appointed Riana Stadlen as vice president. Before joining Hunter, she worked at Three Wall Capital, a New York-based hotel investment firm where she focused on acquisitions and asset management. During her tenure, the firm completed over 70 extended-stay hotel acquisitions across brands including Extended Stay America, Candlewood Suites, Residence Inn, Home2 Suites and Homewood Suites and several full-service hotel transactions. Her career began with JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group.

Nikki Beach names new CFO. Miami Beach, Florida-based Nikki Beach Hospitality Group has appointed Richard Johnson as CFO. Johnson spent nearly 30 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he led the Silicon Valley Tax Practice. His expertise spans tax policy, mergers and acquisitions, and international structuring.

New Peninsula CEO. Benjamin Vuchot has officially taken over as executive director and CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd., operators of The Peninsula Hotels. He was most recently CEO of DFS Group Ltd., a luxury retailer for travelers. Vuchot, with 30 years of luxury experience with the likes of Richemont and LVMH, succeeds Clement King Man Kwok.

New VP at 6PM Hospitality. Zeeland, Michigan-based 6PM Hospitality Partners has hired David Hale as the company’s vice president of business development. Hale has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Before joining 6PM Hospitality, he held similar leadership roles at PM Hotel Group, Paramount Hotel Group and Spire Hospitality. He also worked at Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Promus Hotels and Hilton.

New leadership at SVC. Service Properties Trust, the parent company of Sonesta International Hotels Corp., has named Chris Bilotto as managing trustee, president and CEO, effective March 10, 2025. Bilotto is an executive vice president of The RMR Group, overseeing its acquisition platform, asset management for all hotel and senior living properties, as well as property development and redevelopment throughout the United States. Bilotto succeeds John Murray as managing trustee and Todd Hargreaves as president and chief investment officer, both of whom resigned from their positions with SVC, effective March 9, 2025.

2L Collection names new director. Paris-based 2L Collection has appointed Adrien Kobeh as its new director of sales. Kobeh joins 2L Collection from Pullman Paris Hotels, where he served as senior director of sales. Before that he worked InterContinental Hotels Group and UEFA. 

Verge Management names new CEO. Houston-based Verge Management has named David Gould as its new CEO. He will oversee the company’s current portfolio of 15 hotels while laying the foundation for an internal management company. Gould brings extensive experience to this position. At Moody National Companies, he oversaw a portfolio of 70 hotels and later established Moody National Hospitality Management and transitioned the company to in-house management. He was most recently president of operations at Superhost Hospitality.