Hotel executive moves: Choice Hotels EMEA, Aimbridge, Dreamscape

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

Aimbridge EMEA adds two VPs. Two members of Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA’s UK operations team have been promoted to vice president level. Douglas Winfield and Steve Coulam have been named VP – operations for two of Aimbridge’s UK regions. Winfield joined Aimbridge as a GM in 2018 and led the teams at Holiday Inn Stevenage and Hotel Indigo Glasgow before becoming director of operations & quality in 2021. Coulam joined the company in 2014, and then after working as a Cluster GM for a group of IHG-branded hotels, he returned to Aimbridge in 2022 as director of operations & quality.

Centara names new EVP. Bangkok, Thailand-based Centara Hotels & Resorts has named Ron Cusiter as EVP – commercial. Cusiter joins Centara following his most recent role as VP - global sales & the Americas with Kempinski Hotels. He has also worked for COMO, Hyatt, and Rosewood hotel groups. 

Choice names new CEO for EMEA. Longtime Choice Hotels International executive David Beers has been named CEO of Choice Hotels EMEA. Beers began his career with Choice 25 years ago in Canada and was most recently head of international operations for the company. His appointment follows the departure of former CEO Jonathan Mills earlier this year. 

Dreamscape adds two VPs. Dallas-based Dreamscape Hospitality has named Ron Phifer as VP of business development. Phifer has over 20 years of business development, sales and marketing experience and was the VP of business development at Aimbridge Hospitality. Dreamscape also named Austin Bucholtz as VP of operational strategy & transitions.  Bucholtz has extensive experience in the hospitality industry and most recently served as the director of transitions at Aimbridge.

New COO at Sunset Hotels. Dubai-based Sunset Hospitality Group has appointed Philipp Knuepfer as its new COO of Sunset Hotels & Resorts, who will be based in Singapore. Knuepfer has over 20 years of experience and joins the company from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, where he served as area VP and general manager.

34th Floor Hospitality names COO. Las Vegas-based 34th Floor Hospitality has expanded its executive teams by hiring Alex Taylor as COO and partner. Taylor has over 20 years of experience in hotel restaurant groups and was most recently COO of Phoenix-based Upward Projects Restaurant Group. He previously worked at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Wynn, Due Forni and a boutique consulting firm.