Human Resources

📅 Mark Lewis will step down as Chief Executive of Hospitality Action in March 2027 after serving for nine years. Since joining in 2017, he has expanded the charity's Employee Assistance Programme and launched a welfare benefits advice service, unlocking over £1 million in unclaimed benefits. In 2025, Hospitality Action awarded over £1.05 million in grants. Hospitality Action, founded in 1837, continues to support UK hospitality workers in crisis, marking its 190th anniversary next year.

💸 Valuedynamx, part of Collinson, appoints Emma Kisby as CEO in 2025, with a focus on expanding international presence and enhancing tech and data capabilities. Backed by significant investment from Collinson Group, the platform processed over £1 billion in transactions and reached 400 million consumers, involving 50,000 partners and offering 400,000 rewards across 180+ countries. Kisby aims to leverage AI and transactional data to drive growth in commerce and customer engagement.

🏨 Aimbridge Hospitality now manages 10 hotels owned by Prospect Ridge and Fulcrum Hospitality, spanning Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt brands across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Texas, and West Virginia. Many hotels, near major universities like Auburn and the University of Florida, have undergone renovations, with more improvements planned. This partnership enhances Aimbridge's presence in key markets and highlights their operational prowess, according to Eric Jacobs, chief global growth officer.

🏨 Ercolano, a seasoned luxury hotel manager with 20 years' experience, is appointed the pre-opening general manager of The WestDill Mayfair Hotel in London, part of Minor Hotels’ Colbert Collection. He will lead operations and strategy for the hotel set to open in late 2026. Minor Hotels launched the Colbert brand in March 2026, partnering with Singapore's Royal Group for their European debut. The new hotel operates under a franchise model, maintaining individuality while leveraging Minor's commercial systems.

🏨 Mark Lewis, CEO of Hospitality Action, will step down in March after eight years. In 2025, the charity provided over £1.5 million in support, with £1.05 million in cash grants aiding 825 households. More than £0.5 million came from unclaimed benefits. The Employee Assistance program supports over 200,000 workers across nearly 500 businesses. Founded in 1837, the charity has a rich history supporting hospitality workers, evolving from the London Coffee and Eating House Keepers’ Association.

💸 India, 28 September 2026: RateGain Travel Technologies Limited appoints Chetan Garg as CFO. Based in Noida, Chetan brings nearly 20 years of experience from Optum and Whirlpool. RateGain, founded in 2004, serves 14,000+ customers in 160+ countries. It partners with 33 of the Top 40 Hotel Chains and 25 Global Fortune 500 companies. It processes vast electronic transactions, aiding revenue growth for the travel and hospitality sectors.

📈 In Miami, Reeco appointed Lauren Lontine as Vice President of Sales, focusing on their AI-driven procure-to-pay platform for the hospitality sector. With experience from Otelier and a Harvard background, she will enhance sales and customer success amidst Reeco's growth phase. The platform optimizes hotel procurement, reducing manual tasks and boosting financial outcomes. Henrik Shimony, Reeco's CEO, emphasized Lontine's role in expanding their business. More at www.reeco.com.

📅 St. Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster initiates a £1.7m refurbishment of its meeting facilities, The East Wing, unveiling mid-November. The redesign features 10 rooms, including a podcast studio and screening room, by Trevillion Interiors. The renovation pays homage to the hotel's WWII British intelligence history. Previously, a full renovation took place in 2012. In September 2025, Tom Walsh replaced Stuart Leckie as the sales director, maintaining commercial continuity. St Ermin’s ranked first in the UK on Tripadvisor in 2025.