Human Resources

🍴 Ben Murphy, head chef since 2017 at Launceston Place, a D&D London restaurant in Kensington, West London, is set to depart on October 31, 2024, without specifying his next move. His career started at Koffmann’s at The Berkeley in 2010, followed by roles in France and other prestigious London restaurants. In 2022, Murphy was named National Chef of the Year. Launceston Place opened in 1986 and D&D London acquired it in 2017. Murphy’s successor is not yet announced.

🍴 Allegra, a restaurant located in East London, will close after five successful years. General Manager Ashley Shaw cites 'inextricable changes' in London's culinary scene as the reason. The announcement follows the departure of Patrick Powell, who launched Allegra in 2019 and achieved a listing in the UK's Top 100 Restaurants. Allegra's final service is scheduled for Saturday, 31 August. The Stratford hotel will soon announce a new dining concept to replace Allegra.

📢 Christopher Tatum appointed divisional president of Aimbridge Hospitality's Full Service division. Sam Basu named area general manager of Marriott's Puerto Rico properties and GM of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. Kimpton Sawyer Hotel's new executive chef, Sam Shafer, previously banquet manager. Newport Harbor Island Resort's executive chef Jaysen Elrod to manage culinary operations. Kal Harris takes over as director of food and beverage at Hotel Haya. Kevin Denman becomes general manager of Panzano at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver. Moxy Asheville's Wildwood Still hires Austin Tisdale as executive chef and Christina Baer as food and beverage director. Springboard Hospitality promotes Chance Reno, Desiree Gardea, Karla Roque, and Tim Erkelens-Probst to GMs of West Hollywood properties. InterContinental Cleveland welcomes Omar Jones as Cluster executive chef and Thomas Francescangeli as executive pastry chef.

🏩 Christopher Tatum named divisional president of Aimbridge Hospitality's Full Service division, overseeing its U.S., Canada, and Caribbean portfolio. Marriott International appoints Federico Greppi as COO for the Caribbean and Latin America, and Sam Basu as area general manager of Puerto Rico, including GM of the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. Claudio Coriasco joins R Collection Hotels as GM in Italy. Christina Pedersen becomes vice president of sales and marketing at Dreamscape Hospitality. Derek Lescrinier set to manage Pendry Natirar, opening fall 2024.

📈 ATPI appoints Angelina Bunting as head of commercial strategy in the UAE, bolstering its energy sector presence. With nearly 30 years in travel, Bunting's previous role was senior director at Navan, a Reed & Mackay company, for over two years. Her expertise is expected to integrate global strategy with Middle East operations and foster strong supplier partnerships. ATPI has a significant Middle East presence, with offices across the GCC including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, plus services in Kurdistan and Federal Iraq.

🏨 Scott Strickland appointed as Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' chief commercial officer in April. Managed $275 million in company investments over five years. Wyndham migrated 5,000+ hotels to Sabre Hospitality's SynXis Property Hub PMS, completing 550 hotel transitions in a month, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Wyndham Connect, powered by Canary technologies, offers AI-driven messaging and upselling solutions. Franchisees report $1,200-$1,400 monthly revenue from early check-ins/late check-outs. Digital tipping averages $9.20 per tip. Wyndham also focuses on EV charging stations and OTA commission payment reconciliation, saving franchisees $600-$6,000 monthly.

🏢 Denver, Colorado—Sage Hospitality Group adds Hotel Teatro to its portfolio, managed by RLJ Lodging Trust, featuring dining outlets The Nickel and The Study. Known for a historic façade dating back to 1911, and its proximity to the Denver Center for Performing Arts, Hotel Teatro joins Sage’s collection, including The Crawford Hotel and others. The luxury lifestyle hotel houses 110 guestrooms, an art collection, Frette linens, California-style tubs, a house car, and diverse meeting spaces including a wine cellar.

📈 Pauline Houston appointed as global managing director of Reed & Mackay Events, supporting a growth strategy signaled by the recent hiring of James Kent and Emma Chamberlain. Houston brings experience from ITM, Women in Travel, GBTA, American Express, and CWT. CEO Julie Oliver highlights the firm's commitment to integrating travel and event management, emphasizing the importance of meetings and events for collaboration and talent retention.

🏨 Orascom Hotels Management in the MENA region announced four senior appointments following Stuart Leven's CEO role since September 2023. New hires include Sanjay Sharma as Chief Technology Officer, Paula Frey as Chief Revenue Officer, Shafayat Miah as Chief e-Commerce Officer, and Renee Wagner as Director of ESG & Quality Management. Sharma, a Top 10 Middle East CIO, Frey, former Group Director at Corinthia Hotels, Miah, ex-Meta with 20+ years in digital, and Wagner focusing on ESG are to drive innovation, profits, and workplace desirability.