Human Resources

🏛 In Washington, Green Key Global announced its first board and appointed Heather McCrory as chair, a veteran with 40 years in hospitality. The board, formed by AHLA and HAC in April, includes sustainability professionals from Highgate, Hotel Association of Canada, AHLA, Marriott Hotels, Choice Hotels Canada, and Ecolab. Green Key's certification program has seen year-over-year growth since April, with new 2024 participants like Marriott International, Choice Hotels, and Four Seasons. The board aims to expand hotel sustainability certification across North America.

🏨 Italian hotel chain Starhotels opens a new global sales office in the UK, targeting growth in the UK and Northern Europe. With 30 properties, the expansion follows recruitment in the Middle East and India, adding to representatives in the US, Latin America, Russia, and CIS. Antonio Ducceschi, chief commercial officer, highlights the UK's growth potential. Romano Campione is appointed to head this strategic move, aiming to broaden the customer base.

🏡 The Ascott Ltd, owned by CapitaLand Investment, is rebranding The Unlimited Collection to enhance its upscale hotels' global position. Launched in 2020 in Singapore, the Collection has expanded to 11 properties across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, with over 900 units operational and planned. In 2023, eight new hotels joined, including the first resort, the 100-room Anmira Resort & Spa Hoi An in Vietnam. By 2025, over 200 units across three hotels are expected in Malaysia and Indonesia. Two U.K. properties are slated: Mount Royal Hotel Edinburgh and The Grand Hotel Leicester, opening by Q2 2025. The 136-room Temple Bar Hotel Dublin will rebrand by year-end, and the 90-room Hotel Marrakech will open in 2026. Ascott's strategy focuses on local culture for an authentic guest experience.

📖 Joanna Fantozzi, with over seven years in the industry, is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since August 2021. Holding a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey and a master’s from CUNY, she joined Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018. Fantozzi has written for The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice, and has previously worked for Insider and The Daily Meal. Her expertise spans restaurant news, operator solutions, and political/cultural issues.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, writes on food trends and F&B coverage. Host of "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast and columnist for The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008. Magna cum laude from Tufts University, studied French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. Won 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014, and authored entries in Oxford food reference works (2012, 2015). Lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

📌 RateHawk.com, a booking platform for travel professionals, has hired Iain Raeper as Area Manager for Scotland, expanding its UK and Ireland team. With over 20 years of experience, Raeper brings expertise from roles at If Only, EFR Travel, and ONEE Luxury Travel. He will focus on customer acquisition and key accounts in Scotland. RateHawk, used by over 80,000 partners globally and 3,000 in the UK, features a web platform and mobile app for remote business management.

🏥 TBO.com appointed Gerardo Del Río as President of international business, leveraging his 20+ years in hospitality, travel, and consulting. With experience across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific and past roles at Melia Hotels, Hotelbeds, and DidaTravel, Del Río's multicultural insights are expected to drive TBO's global market expansion and strengthen its leadership in travel and tourism. Del Río aims to foster innovation and build partnerships to enhance TBO's global footprint.

🍴 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.