BWH NAMES NEW BOARD CHAIRPERSON
BWH Hotels has announced that its board of directors has elected Steve Wahrlich as board chairperson for 2025. Wahrlich, who previously served as the board’s vice chairperson, brings decades of hospitality experience and over 40 years of BWH Hotels ownership to his new role.
“Steve has been a valued and trusted hotelier for many years. His deep understanding of BWH Hotels, combined with his extensive industry experience, makes him the ideal leader to help direct our board and broader organization. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our strategic vision, strengthening our market position, and creating lasting value for our hoteliers and guests,” said Larry Cuculic, president and CEO of BWH Hotels.
Wahrlich has owned and operated BWH Hotels properties for more than 40 years. His portfolio includes the Best Western Plus Clocktower Inn, a Best Western Hotels & Resorts property in Billings, Montana, since 1966.
The board of directors also elected Viral Patel as vice-chairperson and Rajesh Patel as secretary-treasurer.
PENDRY WEST HOLLYWOOD
Pendry West Hollywood has appointed Mgeni Mpolo as director of sales and marketing. With a career spanning more than two decades, Mpolo will oversee all aspects of sales and marketing, while elevating brand awareness and driving revenue goals across guestrooms, banquets and catering.
In his most recent role as managing director at The Brilliant Advice Company in Zanzibar, Mpolo led the company’s market entry while developing guest experiences that drove profitability. Prior to this, he held leadership positions at W San Francisco and The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco.
“Mgeni’s impressive background, coupled with his proven leadership and commitment to guest satisfaction, makes him the ideal candidate to spearhead our sales and marketing efforts,” said Anne Marie Doyle, general manager of Pendry West Hollywood. “We are excited to welcome him to our team and look forward to the innovative strategies and contributions he will undoubtedly bring to the hotel.”
JANICE TAN RETURNS TO VAKKARU MALDIVES
Janice Tan has returned Vakkaru Maldives and joined as vice president of commercial for Europe, Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavian countries. Bringing more than two decades of experience in commercial leadership roles in the luxury hospitality segment, Tan has previously served as director of sales and marketing between 2020 and 2023 at Vakkaru.
She began her career at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and most of her career has been at the Maldives. Previously, she has served as the group cluster director of public relations for the Anantara Resort group; director of sales and marketing for Velaa Private Island, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo; regional director for sales and marketing for COMO Hotels and Resorts; and commercial director for Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.
MORE MOVES
Stonebridge Companies, LLC, the Denver-based privately-owned hotel management company has named Marco Selva as senior vice president of business development & operations, luxury & lifestyle. He will focus on expanding Stonebridge’s luxury, lifestyle, and resort portfolio in the Southeastern U.S., Caribbean and Latin America.
Selva will open a Miami office and leverage his extensive expertise to target high-end projects across the region. His appointment is part of the company’s efforts to strengthen its presence in these dynamic markets. Before joining Stonebridge, he held senior roles in business development, operations and strategy at hospitality firms, including SH Hotels & Resorts, Highgate, Ennismore and luxury brands such as St Regis and Ritz Carlton.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has welcomed Sandrine Boutin as director of sales and marketing for the property. She will lead the commercial team, including sales, marketing and reservations; while helming the strategy and direction of sales and marketing to ensure the resort is represented in all key markets.
Boutin brings 24 years of experience in travel, hospitality and ultra-luxury to her new role. Previously, she has held leadership roles with brands such as Soneva, The St. Regis Bali and Aman.
Pandox (AB) has appointed Mikael Hultqvist as new SVP property management, with overall responsibility for property management and property development. He will join Pandox’s group management team and start his position from June 2025.
Hultqvist has extensive and solid experience from senior roles within the construction and real estate sectors. Most recently, he held the position of CEO at Serneke Sverige and prior to that, he spent 14 years at Peab in various management positions.
Steigenberger Hotels has announced the following appointments:
- Friedrich von Schönfeldt has been named the new general manager at the Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof.
- Florian Woithe, who co-led the Frankfurter Hof as hotel manager, has been promoted to general manager at the Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg.
- The Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Handelshof Leipzig, which was previously managed by von Schönfeldt, will now be led by hotel director Charlotte Holtmann, who most recently worked at the Ana Intercontinental Manza Beach Resort in Japan’s Okinawa.
“Friedrich von Schönfeldt and Florian Woithe have demonstrated excellent leadership qualities in their previous positions and have always achieved outstanding results. With their many years of experience in the upscale and luxury hotel industry and with the Steigenberger brand, they will set new accents in their hotels. At the same time, we are delighted to have gained over the experienced hotelier Charlotte Holtmann for the Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Handelshof in Leipzig,” said Oliver Bonke, CEO, H World International.
NEW GMs
Capella Hotel Group has announced executive announcements, as part of the company’s global expansion, encompassing four destinations. The new appointments include:
- Anthony Gill – General manager, Patina Maldives. With over two decades of experience, Gill will guide the hotel into a new chapter of transformative luxury destination. He has experience in rebranding luxury properties, including the Four Seasons Resort Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam and brings expertise from managing Four Seasons properties in China and Thailand.
- Dennis Laubenstein – General manager, Capella Taipei. A Capella veteran, Laubenstein has more than 10 years of experience at Capella Singapore, Capella Tufu Bay. Most recently, he served as the general anager of Capella Hanoi.
- Antonio Saponara – General manager, Capella Bangkok. He joins the Bangkok hotel from his previous tenure as general manager of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. He has also worked at Bulgari Hotels & Resorts in Moscow and Beijing, as well as at the Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai.
- Hildegard Anzenberger – General manager, Capella Hanoi. She joins Capella from The Langham in Hefei, China, bringing her international luxury hospitality experience, including a deep understanding of Southeast Asia.
Hotel Drover, an Autograph Collection hotel in the Fort Worth Stockyards has named Aaron Ide as general manager. With more than 25 years of experience and a track record in luxury hotel operations, Ide earlier served as general manager at Thompson Dallas.
With Ide’s appointment, Hotel Drover has promoted Kristin Assad to the position of COO at Exchange Hotels Management.
