Human Resources

📰 Simone Puorto was appointed as Board Advisor to Takyon at the Global Revenue Forum in London, 2026. Takyon aims to redefine hospitality distribution with AI products like dAirect Connect, which makes hotel websites AI-compatible. Puorto, a top 100 Digital Thought Leader, will guide Takyon's strategy as 40% of travelers now use AI for planning. This shift emphasizes AI readiness over traditional SEO, ensuring hotels remain visible in AI-driven recommendations.

📈 Alexandra Withers has been appointed as chief commercial officer for Accor’s Fairmont and Raffles Hotels & Resorts. With over 15 years' experience, she joins from Highgate Hotels, where she was EVP, Head of Marketing since 2024. Withers has successfully launched over 25 luxury properties worldwide. She takes over from Kristen Richter, who left Accor in November to join Peregrine Hospitality.

🏨 Philippe Kronberg appointed General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, effective 12 January 2026. He will also support operations of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Paris, Lutetia, and Conservatorium, Amsterdam, functioning from 14 January. With over 30 years in luxury hospitality, Kronberg's previous role was Resort General Manager at Shangri-La, Muscat. He holds a Diploma from Les Roches and an Executive MBA from AGSM. Fluent in English, French, and German, he is a former paratrooper.

📈 Evolution Hospitality assumed management of the Balfour Miami Beach in the SoFi neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida. This 82-room boutique hotel, part of Wyndham Hotels' Registry Collection, sits on Ocean Drive, near the beach. FullG CRE Investments chose Evolution Hospitality for their success with luxury lifestyle hotels. The Balfour, established in 1940, features Laurel Miami restaurant and SoFi Coffee café. Evolution aims to enhance the hotel’s value and guest experiences.

🏨 Chris Cooper, a 15-year luxury hospitality veteran, becomes general manager of Gilpin Hotel and Lake House after Thomas Ferrante's departure. Previously at The Grand, York, Cooper was 'Leader of the Year 2025' and led the hotel to win VisitEngland’s 'Large Hotel of the Year 2024'. He will manage operations, including the Michelin-starred Source and Gilpin Spice. The owners emphasize Cooper's alignment with their family-run values and thank Ferrante for his impactful leadership.

💻 Diego Di Paolo, appointed as Head of Sales at Adalte during Fitur Madrid, aims to accelerate international growth through strategic relationships. His extensive experience spans Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Adalte is evolving its Community.Travel platform into a multi-level marketplace to enhance collaboration with tour operators. The platform supports precise matching of supply and demand and includes modules for product upload and third-party service consolidation. The company aims to boost global partnerships in travel tech.

🏠 Kevin Pickard becomes general manager of L’Auberge de Sedona, Arizona, in 2023, after serving as dual general manager at The Lindy Renaissance Charleston and Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta. With over 25 years in hospitality, he aims to enhance the guest experience following the resort's $30 million expansion, which added 70 rooms and new amenities. Previously, Pickard held senior roles at Marriott International. The resort is owned by DiamondRock Hospitality and managed by Aimbridge Hospitality.

🏠 Red Roof has appointed Tim Lipka as senior VP of operations. Lipka, with over 10 years in brand leadership, was VP at G6 Hospitality and has 25+ years in operations roles. He'll be based in Columbus, Ohio. Shanna Wright, promoted to senior VP of commercial strategy, will lead marketing and distribution. Both appointments highlight Red Roof’s leadership strength, aiming for business growth.

💻 Robert Matsuoka was appointed CTO of Duetto in San Francisco, California. With over 25 years of experience, including roles at Citymaps and Tripadvisor, Matsuoka will lead Duetto’s technology transformation. He aims to enhance hotel revenue optimization, demand forecasting, and yield management through AI and machine learning. Matsuoka plans to accelerate client onboarding, expand integrations, and develop new pricing models, while implementing AI-assisted development to boost product delivery speed.