Human Resources

🍴 Sam Lomas, former River Cottage 'Rising Star' and Roux Scholarship finalist, is set to open Briar restaurant in early September at Number One Bruton in Somerset, a venue previously housing Osip. Briar will offer a daily changing menu focused on hyper-local produce, seasonal ingredients, and foraged offerings, including dishes like Westcombe gougeres and Berkshire pork chop with cider sauce. Osip, founded by Merlin Labron-Johnson, plans to relocate to Hardway in a renovated 16th-century inn.

🍴 Kyle Lynch named head chef at Ormer Mayfair by Sofian, located within Flemings Mayfair, in 2021. Previously at Adare Manor’s Michelin-starred Oak Room and Michelin-starred Ichigo Ichie, he now oversees the British five- and seven-course tasting menus at the newly-starred restaurant. Ormer Mayfair by Sofian earned its first Michelin star earlier this year.

💸 Anny Zhang appointed CEO of JLL China, effective September, based in Shanghai. Joined JLL in 2007, promoted to managing director for East China in 2021 and China Leasing business head in 2023. Roger Baker transitions from CFO to Chief Investment Officer and Advisor at First Hospitality after 40 years in real estate, 16 with the company. Matt Schuster new CFO, previously with Club Quarters Hotels for over 5 years. Paul Sacco joins PM Hotel Group as Chief Growth and Development Officer, bringing 30+ years of hospitality experience; previously with Mint House and Driftwood Capital. Phil Cordell of Hilton to retire as Global Category Head of Lifestyle and New Brands after 40 years, transitioning to advisor role in July; Kevin Osterhaus to succeed him. Marci Jacobs becomes VP of Sales and Revenue Generation at McNeil Hotel Company, with 25+ years in the industry. Stacy Royalty promoted to Regional VP of Operations at McKibbon Hospitality. Walter Peseski named Senior VP, Asset Management at Garfield Public/Private LLC. The St. Regis Chicago hires Erik Grazetti as Director of Sales and Marketing. Hotel Equities promotes Jack Meakin to VP of Business Development, Alexis Stevens to Director of Talent Development, and Brody Aarhaus to Regional Director of Business Development. Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. appoints Tiffany Rioux as Director of Sales and Marketing, Nisha Patel

🍳 Chef Chloe Coscarelli, formerly of By Chloe, is opening a new vegan restaurant, CHLOE, in New York City at 185 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village. By Chloe began in 2014, but after a 2017 legal dispute with ESquared Hospitality and CEO James Haber, Coscarelli was forced out. By Chloe filed for bankruptcy in December 2020, was acquired and renamed Beatnic in 2021, and sold again to Inday in December 2023. CHLOE offers vegan classics and operates Tuesday-Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.

🍕 Joey Simons appointed as first CEO of Estiatorio Milos, a fine-dining Greek seafood restaurant in New York City. Previously CEO of Montclair Hospitality Group and COO at SBE in Los Angeles. Milos, established in Montréal in 1979 by Costas Spiliadis, boasts nine locations with plans for four more in Los Angeles, Singapore, Toronto, and West Palm Beach within the year. Milos also runs a wine bar, a hotel in Athens, and a yacht fleet in the Greek islands. Founder Spiliadis remains deeply involved in the business.

💰 CHICAGO, Illinois—Roger Baker transitions from CFO to CIO and advisor at First Hospitality, after 40 years in real estate and 16 years on the executive team. Matt Schuster succeeds as CFO in April, previously holding leadership roles at Club Quarters Hotels for over five years. Baker will focus on capital formation transactions and management, while Schuster leads financial services and long-term strategic execution.

🏦 Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants opened Kimpton BEM Budapest, a 127-room boutique hotel, in Budapest's Buda side near the Castle District. Meliá Hotels International introduced Meliá Pattaya City (234 rooms) and Paradisus Jomtien Resort (698 rooms) in Thailand, expanding its local portfolio to six. Smith Hill Capital and Bain Capital provided a $72 million refinancing for the 208-room Hotel Viking in Newport, R.I. Crescent Hotels & Resorts will manage Virginia's first JW Marriott at Reston Station, opening in 2025 with 243 rooms and 94 luxury condos.

🍹 Lima Shoreditch, set to open in late September, will take over Quercus restaurant in a Shoreditch hotel. It follows the original Lima restaurant in Fitzrovia, launched in 2012 as Europe's first Michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant. Executive Chef Roberto Sihuay will introduce new Peruvian dishes with Japanese and Chinese influences. The venue will feature a Peru-inspired décor, private dining rooms (PDRs), and an outdoor terrace. Lima Floral in Covent Garden, after a 2021 rebrand, is now Lima Cantana.

📈 After 40 years at Hilton, Phil Cordell retires, transitioning to an advisor role in July. He started as a bellman in high school and became the general manager of the second Hampton Hotel in 1983. Cordell led the growth of Hampton by Hilton, which expanded to over 2,300 hotels in 29 countries. He also played a key role in developing Hilton brands like Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, and Homewood Suites. Cordell launched new brands like Home2 Suites, Tru, Motto, Tempo, and Spark, with Spark being Hilton's fastest announcement-to-market brand.