Human Resources

📅 Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Celine Du as chief commercial and marketing officer in November 2025. With over 30 years of experience in luxury hotel brands like Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-La, Du will lead PPHG’s commercial strategy during its global expansion. Her focus includes corporate strategy, channel management, loyalty, and global partnerships across Pan Pacific, PARKROYAL COLLECTION, and PARKROYAL brands, following their rebranding. Her leadership will be crucial for talent management and enhancing customer engagement worldwide.

📑 Virgin Hotels Collection is implementing a 12-month interim governance model to transition leadership. This approach maintains operational continuity while recalibrating its top management structure, rather than appointing a permanent successor.

💸 Craig Jones, with 25 years of hospitality finance experience, joins Focus Hotels Management as finance director in 2025. Based in the UK, Focus Hotels faces challenges like rising national living wages and increased utility costs. Jones will prioritize expense control and operational efficiencies. CEO Devin Grosse emphasizes Jones’s role in strengthening financial foundations amidst the company’s growth phase. Recent developments include opening a Polo Club Hotel in Warwickshire on 9 May 2025.

🏨 Andy Goss joins Clermont Hotel Group (CHG) as head of food and beverage. With over 25 years in hospitality and 16 in senior roles, he will oversee F&B across 14 London hotels. CHG's partnership with Gordon Ramsay Restaurants supports their investment in diverse dining options, enhancing the guest experience. Goss previously managed 20+ brands at UK travel hubs for HMSHost International. His appointment aligns with CHG's strategy to innovate F&B spaces for business and leisure travelers.

🏖️ PM Hotel Group, as of 2025, manages the 48-room Avila Village Inn in Avila Beach, California. This boutique inn, now part of the Modus Hotels collection, recently refreshed its rooms and suites, offering options like fireplaces, balconies, and private hot tubs. Guests can enjoy pet-friendly rooms and access to the Bob Jones Trail. Located near San Luis Obispo County's vineyards and beaches, the inn enhances the Central Coast experience.

📚 Ramon Reyes, managing director of the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park, transformed his career from a doorman to an executive over two decades. After working in various U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Washington D.C., and New Orleans, he returned to Atlanta nine years ago. He emphasizes mentorship and career growth within the hospitality industry, encouraging employees to express their ambitions and invest in personal development for future opportunities. Reyes is committed to fostering talent and elevating the industry.

🏨 UK: Mark Clinton will manage Mollie’s Manchester, opening on 8th December. Located in the Old Granada TV Studios, it offers 128 rooms, with 23 exclusive for Soho House members. Amenities include a gym, a 110-seat diner, coworking spaces, and Mollie’s Studio IV featuring live music and a VIP bar. It’s the brand's first city-centre hotel, expanding from previous locations in Oxfordshire and Bristol. Clinton brings 20 years of hospitality experience.

🏖️ In 2023, The Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick is undergoing a multi-million dollar transformation led by GM Cole Sheridan. Set to complete by mid-2027, the project revitalizes its 233 guestrooms and introduces Usva by-the-Sea spa, opening in Spring 2026. With a history since 1889, the resort spans over 220 acres, featuring a top-rated golf course. The redesign by mackaywong fuses heritage with modern elegance, enhancing the resort's year-round appeal.

📄 Audley Travel announces a leadership change for 2026. Camille Beaufils will become the new Chief Customer Officer on January 19, 2026, replacing outgoing Chief Marketing Officer Daniel Robb, who will leave on January 30 after six years. Beaufils is joining from Fever-Tree, where she was global marketing director, bringing over 20 years of experience in brand strategy. CEO Nick Longman emphasizes Beaufils's role in enhancing Audley Travel's global marketing and growth.

🏨 Barry Sternlicht, co-founder of Starwood Capital Group, created Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 1995, known for W Hotels and the Heavenly Bed. He later sold the company to Marriott and is now with Starwood Hotels 2.0. Luca Virgilio, GM of The Dorchester in London, led a major renovation while keeping the hotel operational. Both are recognized by HOTELS Magazine's 2025 "Hoteliers of the World" for their leadership and innovation in hospitality.