Human Resources

🏨 Gareth Davies will become the general manager of Ellenborough Park in the Cotswolds starting 6 January 2026. With over 15 years in luxury hospitality, having led at Rhinefield House, Davies will oversee operations just in time for the hotel's 15th anniversary in 2026. Ellenborough Park, a member of PoB Hotels, recently underwent refurbishments, with significant updates in 2023. The hotel offers accommodation, dining, and spa facilities.

📚 Janel Clark joins HOSPA as head of professional development in 2025, leading its education programs. HOSPA offers 19 courses with a 95% success rate and over two-thirds achieving Distinction. Clark aims to align courses with the hospitality workforce's changing needs, particularly for younger professionals. In 2025, 576 assignments and six business projects were marked. A new revenue management program for meeting and event spaces is set to launch.

🏨 The St. Regis London will open its first London property in mid-2026, transforming the Westbury Mayfair into a 195-room hotel, including 66 suites. Led by general manager Marco Novella, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality, the hotel aims to be a UK flagship. Located at Conduit and New Bond Streets, it features an all-day restaurant, jazz bar, and private dining. Richmond International designs the new façade and additional floors to enhance the iconic brand.

🏨 Kelly Shrives-Wrist will lead Hilton London Metropole as its new general manager, overseeing 1,100 guestrooms after a multimillion-pound refurbishment. She has 27 years in hospitality, including 20 at Hilton, and will manage over 300 staff. The hotel is undergoing further investment in its West Wing, refurbishing 363 bedrooms. Owned by Henderson Park, it aligns with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy, emphasizing sustainability and operational excellence.

💰 L'oscar London, a five-star boutique hotel in Holborn, London, secured a senior debt facility to refinance its operations. The financing, arranged by RCP Finance and provided by Alpha Property Lending, was completed in 10 weeks. Owned by Aevis Victoria since 2022, the hotel features 39 rooms and suites designed by Jacques Garcia. It attracts guests from leisure, cultural, legal, and financial sectors. The facility's amount remains undisclosed.

💼 Global Asset Solutions has appointed Duncan Kinnear as hotel asset manager, enhancing their team in December 2025. Duncan, with over eight years of hospitality experience, has worked with Hamilton Pyramid Europe, Savills Spain, and the Iberostar Group. He holds a Master's in Engineering from the University of Leeds and a Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management certificate from Cornell. This appointment follows the recent additions of Adnan Shamim in the Middle East and Leanne Reddie in Singapore.

🏖️ Awaze, one of Europe's largest holiday rental providers, appoints Carlie Wittred as Brand Growth Director to enhance brand presence. Wittred, formerly at Gousto, aims to unify PR, partnerships, and marketing for brands like Hoseasons and Cottages.com. Awaze reports record guest numbers in August and a 14% rise in Black Friday bookings year-on-year. Occupancy grew 4% in Q3, supported by investments in technology and marketing. Richard Banks believes Carlie will sharpen market positioning.

🏨 Pivot, Davidson Hospitality Group's lifestyle division, will manage Hotel Lincoln, JdV by Hyatt, in Chicago's Old Town, featuring 182 rooms, 5,000 sq ft of event space, and four dining options, including J. Parker Rooftop Bar. Overlooking Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan, it offers access to local attractions. This collaboration with Jordache Enterprises enhances the hotel's offerings and expands Davidson’s presence in Chicago. The hotel remains part of Chicago’s vibrant cultural and recreational scene.

🏨 Dave Montrose, First Hospitality's new COO, brings 30+ years of expertise. He will oversee operations, commercial strategy, and senior leadership. Previously, Montrose held roles at Highgate Hotels, White Lodging, Brush Creek Ranch, and InnVentures, managing 85+ hotels. First Hospitality, a 40-year-old company, operates throughout the U.S. Montrose’s experience with full-service, independent, and luxury hotels in Austin, Nashville, and Indianapolis is pivotal as the company scales its portfolio.

📈 William Gibbs, appointed Senior Advisor for strategy and growth at roomangel Foundation, will lead the global expansion of hive, an AI platform for hotels. With a background in hospitality management, he aims to optimize hotel data usage for better decision-making. Previously, Gibbs was a board member at Sir Richard Sutton and held roles at The Hotel Collection and Westmont Hospitality Group. Hive, already analyzing billions of data points daily, aims to transform hotel asset management.