Tatiana Valenzuela

📈 Hyatt Hotels appointed Vikas Chawla as president for India & Southwest Asia, enhancing its growth in the region. Chawla, with 30 years of global experience, will focus on strategy and expansion. Hyatt's India pipeline includes nearly 5,000 rooms from 2025 deals. The first Destination by Hyatt in Asia Pacific, Hari Bagh Jaipur, will open in 2026, marking Hyatt's third Jaipur hotel. Current footprint: 55 hotels across nine brands. Future expansions target Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Hyderabad.

📈 Patrick Fisher, in 2024, will lead Hotel ZaZa across Dallas, Houston, and Austin post-acquisition by Rockbridge Holdings. He will focus on hotel operations, brand strategy, and growth. Formerly, Fisher was COO at Ian Schrager Company, overseeing properties in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. His past roles include SVP at Fontainebleau Development and positions at The Ritz-Carlton and MGM Resorts. Fisher aims to enhance Hotel ZaZa's guest experience and unique brand identity.

📈 Federico Greppi has been appointed president of Marriott in the Caribbean and Latin America, succeeding Brian King. Greppi, previously COO for CALA, takes charge to drive growth and unlock new opportunities. South America, with over 100 properties, accounted for 40% of newly signed deals in 2025. Marriott’s CALA portfolio includes 550+ properties across 26 Marriott Bonvoy brands. Greppi aims to enhance guest experiences, expand brand presence, and advance sustainability goals.

📈 Julienne Smith has been appointed by Hyatt as head of Americas growth to oversee brand expansion across North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. With over 20 years of experience, Smith previously served as chief development officer at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Her role will focus on expanding Hyatt’s Luxury, Lifestyle, Classics, and Essentials brands, leveraging strategic development and owner relationships to drive long-term growth. Smith previously worked at Hyatt for nearly 14 years.