Human Resources

🍴 Matthew Hurry and Stefano Tortelli have joined The Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch as head chefs, enhancing the culinary team. Hurry, with previous roles at The Angel Inn and The Grove Hotel, oversees the food operations, including Lírica. Tortelli leads Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen after a tenure at Bulldozer Group. The hotel, which rebranded in September 2023, continues investing in dining, appointing new directors and managers to strengthen its offerings, including a leadership change in March 2026 at Hell's Kitchen.

📍 Independent Manchester hotel, The Alan, has expanded its leadership team as of August 2026. Claire McGinnis, with over 10 years in hotel management, is now general manager, while Elizabeth Morris, experienced in travel and hospitality, is the new sales manager. McGinnis will manage operations and team growth, and Morris will drive business by strengthening city relationships. The appointments follow a major renovation aimed at boosting growth and visibility.

📍 Brian Johnson is the new area managing director for Loews Hotels' Arlington collection. With 24+ years at Loews, he will manage Live! by Loews – Arlington, Loews Arlington Hotel, and Convention Center, and oversee pre-opening for Americana by Loews. The Arlington properties include 1,188 rooms and 300,000 sq. ft of event space. Americana will increase this to 1,695 rooms and 385,000 sq. ft. The hotels are near AT&T Stadium and other attractions.

💸 Global net rooms for Choice Hotels grew 2.6% in Q2 2026, driven by a 3.6% rise in extended stay, midscale, and upscale brands. U.S. room openings increased 27%, adding 6,400 rooms. RevPAR growth hit 1.3% in the U.S., 2.1% internationally. The U.S. conversion rooms pipeline expanded 24% to 24,100 rooms. Net income fell by 21% to $64 million, with total revenue rising 3.5% to $441 million. Franchise fees grew 6% to $188 million.

🍳 Duncan McKay becomes the permanent executive chef at Dunkeld House Hotel, Perthshire, part of Crerar Hotels. With 20 years' experience, McKay previously worked with Manorview Hotels, Trump Turnberry, Buzzworks Holdings, and Bannatyne Hotel Group. In August 2023, Dunkeld House Hotel unveiled an £800k refurbishment. Acquired by Crerar Hotels in December 2023, the hotel aims to elevate its culinary status, catering to upscale dining and events under McKay’s leadership.

🏖 Barnsley Resort in North Georgia has appointed Mark Spadoni as managing director, leveraging his 30+ years of hospitality experience. Significant renovations were completed by the end of 2025 under South Street Partners, including redesigned cottage suites, a new restaurant, six pickleball courts, a Biergarten, a family pool with a lazy river, and an 18-hole putting course. Spadoni previously managed The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa in Virginia and several Westin hotels across the U.S.

📍 Cameron Baxter returns as Operations Manager at Grantley Hall, North Yorkshire, after a six-month absence. Previously head of food and beverage, he moved to Rockhall in March. Grantley Hall, which opened in 2019, features 47 rooms, Michelin-starred dining, and an award-winning spa. Nuno César de Sá FIH, the general manager, expressed excitement about Baxter's reintegration to enhance operational standards, following Rockhall's recent multi-million-pound renovation set for reopening this autumn.

🏨 Whitbread appoints Stuart Hookins as estates director for the UK and Ireland, succeeding Simon Hobbs, who retires on 1 September 2026 after nearly 20 years. Hookins will manage over 845 Premier Inn hotels and 86,000 bedrooms. By FY 31, Whitbread aims to recycle £1.5 billion in property assets, backing the expansion of Premier Inn. Hookins' experience at Royal Mail and The Co-op Group will aid Whitbread's strategic property growth.

🌍 OutRival, based in Miami, launches a Travel vertical appointing Jeff Herzfeld, who has 20+ years of industry experience, as Head of Travel. The company, known for its Digital Workers, aims to handle millions of leads for cruise lines, hotels, and travel agencies. Since early April, it expanded into insurance and plans to scale customer interactions using AI. Its platform has managed over 11 million conversations and 36 million data-entry tasks, promising deployment in two weeks.