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):
Auberge
names CCO. Bethesda,
Maryland-based Auberge Collection has appointed Jessica Martino Enan as chief
commercial officer. In this new role, she will lead the company’s global
commercial organization, spearheading strategy across marketing, sales, revenue
management, digital and distribution. She brings more than two decades of
experience building and transforming luxury brands and most recently served as
executive vice president/global chief digital and client service officer at
Gucci. Previously, she held senior leadership roles with Louis Vuitton, LVMH
and Vogue.
Auro
names EVP. Jay
Burnett has rejoined Greenville, South Carolina-based Auro Hotels as executive
vice president, investments and development. Burnett brings nearly 35 years of
experience in the hospitality industry, having begun his career at the front
desk of a Hampton Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia. In his new role with Auro
Hotels, he will lead the company’s real estate team, overseeing hotel and land
acquisitions, project execution, feasibility, due diligence, asset management
and divestitures. Before joining Auro, he served as chief investment officer at
GF Hotels & Resorts and previously held a hotel asset management role with
AMC Delancey Group. Earlier in his career, he spent six years at Marriott
International in various corporate roles.
Choice
names new VP. Choice
Hotels International has appointed Kaaren Hamilton as vice president of global
sales. She brings more than two decades of experience in hospitality sales, B2B
marketing, and enterprise relationship management, having held senior
leadership roles at Hyatt Hotels, Sonesta International Hotels, and Radisson
Hotel Group (formerly Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group), where she led global sales
teams. Most recently, she
served as assistant vice president of commercial at Hyatt, overseeing
the commercial performance of the franchise division.
JLL India
names new exec. JLL has appointed Gaurav
Sharma as head of hotels and hospitality group for India and senior director,
hotel capital markets, Asia. Sharma will lead the company’s hospitality
practice across the Indian market and will be based in Delhi. He brings nearly
20 years of distinguished experience in real estate and hospitality investment,
and most recently served as vice president - real estate, head asset management
and M&A at The Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. He also worked at SAMHI Hotels Ltd.
Peregrine
names new CCO. Denver-based Peregrine Hospitality has named Kristen Richter as chief
commercial officer. Richter joins Peregrine Hospitality from Accor, where she
served as chief commercial officer for the Fairmont and Raffles brands,
overseeing commercial strategy across sales, revenue, digital, loyalty, and
distribution. Her career also includes senior roles at Sonder, Radisson Hotel
Group and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Stonebridge
names VP. Christian Chen has joined Denver-based Stonebridge as vice
president of feasibility. In this role, Chen will lead the firm’s feasibility
and underwriting initiatives, providing analytical and strategic insights to
support Stonebridge’s continued growth across its portfolio. Chen brings over a
decade of hospitality, real estate, and financial analysis experience to
Stonebridge, having most recently served as vice president of feasibility and underwriting at Remington Hospitality. During his tenure, he led a team
responsible for underwriting hotel acquisitions, refinances, and capital
investment projects, while collaborating across departments to align financial
strategy with operational execution. Previously, Chen held senior roles at
Aimbridge Hospitality.
Wyndham CFO leaving. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts CFO and head of
Strategy Michele Allen is departing the company to pursue a new career
opportunity outside of the hotel industry. Kurt Albert, currently treasurer and
head of Financial Partnerships & Planning, has been appointed Interim CFO,
effective immediately. Allen will serve in an advisory role at Wyndham through
the end of 2025. In conjunction with this announcement, Wyndham reaffirmed its
full-year 2025 outlook provided in its third-quarter 2025 earnings materials.