Hotel executive moves: B&B, Hyatt, Hilton, Trinity Investments

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

New CEO of AHLA Foundation. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has named Kevin Carey as the AHLA Foundation’s president and CEO. Carey will continue to serve as COO of AHLA and succeed Anna Blue at the AHLA Foundation, who announced her departure in February. Before joining AHLA, Carey spent over 25 years with American Express, leading key global business groups. Kevin also serves as a member of the industry advisory board for the Penn State School of Hospitality Management.

New executives at B&B Hotels. Paris-based B&B Hotels is separating the president and general manager roles previously held by Fabrice Collet. Céline Vercollier has been appointed as the new group CEO. As CFO of B&B since 2017 alongside Fabrice Collet, Vercollieras played a key role in the development and growth of B&B Hotels over the past eight years. Collet, now executive chairman, was appointed as general manager of B&B HOTELS in 2016 and then as group CEO in 2019 after serving as CFO since 2012. Damien Martin has also joined B&B as CFO. Martin brings 25 years of financial experience to B&B, with expertise in high-growth contexts within international markets.

Hilton nominates Meyer to board. The Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. board announced that former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been nominated for its board. If elected at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in May, she will succeed Judith McHale, who is retiring from the board. Mayer has been CEO of Sunshine Products since 2018 and previously CEO, president and a member of the board of directors of Yahoo! from 2012 to 2017.

Hyatt shuffles EMEA executives. Hyatt Hotels Corp. has appointed consultant and luxury brand executive Marc Jacheet as group president of its Europe, Africa and Middle East region as part of a broader reshuffling of senior management roles. On July 1, Jacheet will succeed Javier Águila, who will become president of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection and will succeed Jim Chu as chief growth officer. Chu will become Hyatt’s head of owner relations, effective July 1. Jacheet most recently served as a senior advisor for Promus Capital and Boston Consulting Group and previously served as CEO of De Beers Brands for the diamond firm The De Beers Group. He’s also served as president of EMEA for Tiffany & Co. and also has worked for luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon.

IHG names APAC exec. Bryan Chan has been appointed vice president of development for South East Asia and Korea at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Having joined IHG more than 10 years ago, Chan has assumed roles of increased leadership and responsibility in the development function over the years, moving from manager to senior director and working across many markets, including Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam.

New officer for Kempinski. Geneva-based Kempinski Hotels has named Karin Raguin the new chief human resources officer for Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. With a career spanning over 20 years in human resources in the luxury goods and fashion industry, Raguin previously senior vice president of human resources for LVMH in China. Previously, she worked for Christian Dior Couture.

Lodging Dynamics names exec. Provo, Utah-based Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group has named Wendy Hoekwater as acting chief marketing officer. In addition to her role at Lodging Dynamics, Hoekwater is the founder and CEO of Net Growth Marketing LLC. She has also held senior leadership roles at Apple Leisure Group, Choice Hotels International, Great Wolf Resorts, Marriott International and WoodSpring Hotels. She was most recently vice president of marketing and reservation sales at Surf or Sound Realty.

New exec at Palladium. Madrid-based Palladium Hotel Group has named Ana Morillo as corporate managing director of the High Energy and All-Inclusive Brands Business Unit. Morillo began her career in consulting, gaining six years of experience before joining a multinational hotel company, where she held various leadership positions, ultimately becoming global senior vice president of commercial strategy. She later returned to consulting as a senior director.

Remington names execs. Dallas-based Remington Hospitality has named Greg Nurse as executive vice president of operations and David Hiatt as vice president of operations. Nurse has extensive experience operating brands globally and domestically, including working with private equity firms and independent owners. With over 30 years in the industry, Hiatt has been in leadership roles at Western States Lodging and Management and Schulte Hospitality.

Urban Resorts names senior execs. Singapore-based Urban Resort Concepts (URC) has appointed several senior executives to its corporate team. Nicholas Liang has been named vice president of operations. With over 22 years of luxury hospitality experience across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Liang's background includes pivotal roles at Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz-Carlton and Rosewood and most recently was a GM with Four Seasons. Michael Faulkner has been named vice president of brand and commercial. Faulkner held senior commercial leadership roles with brands such as Swire Hotels, Park Hyatt and Crown Resorts. Andreas Zimmermann has been named vice president of development. Zimmermann was formerly corporate director of development for Rosewood Hotel Group and has led the development of luxury hospitality projects across Asia Pacific.

New SVP for Stonebridge. Denver-based Stonebridge Companies has named Chad Goodnough as senior vice president of sales strategy & innovation. With over 25 years of experience in sales leadership, Goodnough joins Stonebridge from HRI Hospitality, where he served as senior vice president of sales and marketing. He has also held senior leadership roles at Remington Hospitality, Aimbridge Hospitality, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

New executive for Trinity. Honolulu-based Trinity Investments has promoted Craig Lovett to managing director of development. Lovett joined Trinity in 2017 as vice president of development and was promoted to senior vice president of development in 2022.