Human Resources

📈 Accor appointed Leire Leoz as chief franchise officer for its Premium, Midscale, and Economy division, effective February 2, 2026. 🎉 She will report to deputy CEO Jean-Jacques Morin and join the executive committee to boost franchise operations. Leoz, with over 20 years in franchise management, previously worked at Marriott. Accor operates over 5,700 hotels globally and plans to expand through franchising, with a development pipeline exceeding 250,000 rooms.

📈 L+R's transformation on July 31, 2023, in London: a £10bn+ real estate firm, unifying their platform into four verticals: Hotels, CRE, Private Credit, Ventures. Launching Iconic Hotels & Resorts, merging Iconic Luxury Hotels and L&R Hotels, with 14 properties across the UK, US, and Europe. New 7,000 sq ft HQ in London, 100 experts. Atlas Hotels, with 60 hotels and 7,555 rooms, continues independently in Leicester. Shan Kanagasingham appointed COO of Iconic Hotels.

🏨 Sebastian Hinsch returns to Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills as general manager, after having served as hotel manager nearly a decade ago. With over 20 years in global hospitality, Hinsch recently managed Four Seasons Hotel Seattle for nearly five years. He'll oversee the 285-room urban resort and its amenities. His Four Seasons career began in 2001 at The Pierre Hotel in New York, moving through various roles globally, including managing a $120 million renovation at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.

🏠 Carolin Paarmann is the new general manager of a&o London Docklands Riverside, which opened in late November. Located in Southwark, London, the hostel will undergo modernization in 2026, featuring 500 rooms and 2,100 beds. Expecting 180,000 overnight stays in 2026, Paarmann brings extensive experience from roles in Germany, the UK, and Australia. Having been in London since 2015, she aims to establish a&o in the competitive London market.

💵 Late September 2009, a Canadian regional controller, David Lund, considered a job trade with his friend, the regional controller in another city, to relocate to the U.S. for his family. By early November, Lund attended a crucial budget review in the U.S. to secure the job. Despite the challenging meeting with three asset managers, including a skeptical lead, his experience and negotiation skills won the position in San Francisco.

✈ Amsterdam-based Hubby eSIM has appointed Kasper Rasmussen as Chief Commercial Officer. Bringing over 20 years of experience, Rasmussen joins from AuthentIQ Intelligence. In 2025, Hubby eSIM significantly grew travel brand partnerships with DERTour and Flight Centre. CEO Thijs van der Wijk highlighted 2026 as a year to scale new products and enhance partnerships. The company aims to make connectivity a vital part of travel, helping brands and travelers stay connected.

💻 Travel Counsellors, UK’s leading travel tech platform, appoints Jeremy Smith as AI Innovation Partner in February 2026. Smith, founder and CEO of Neural Voice, aims to enhance AI in the company, evolving TC Co-Pilot, improving workflows, and personalizing customer experiences. This appointment supports Travel Counsellors’ ongoing tech investment in 2026. CEO Steve Byrne highlights the commitment to innovation, while Smith emphasizes AI’s role in augmenting human expertise. His mother, a Travel Counsellor for over ten years, connects him personally to the business.

🚀 Brett Burgess, former Sabre executive, is appointed as the new CEO of ATPCO, based in Denver. This follows his recent departure from Jeppesen ForeFlight, where he led a global business line. The ATPCO board supports Burgess for his expertise in air distribution and enterprise software. His priorities include modernizing airline retailing and balancing innovation with operational reliability. Burgess emphasizes the importance of value creation in airline pricing and operations.

📍 A&O Hostels appointed Carolin Paarmann as general manager for its first London site, A&O London Docklands Riverside, in Southwark. The hostel, situated in a 17th-century building, opened in late November, offering 500 rooms and 2,100 beds. A modernization investment of £17.3m (€20m) is planned for 2026. Paarmann, based in London since 2015, anticipates a 65% occupancy rate in early 2026 with 180,000 overnight stays expected. The site features a riverside bar and electric ferry service.

🗺️ Colorado Springs faced declining hotel occupancy due to decreased government travel in 2025, affected by U.S. Space Command's move and a government shutdown. A government per-diem decrease of $10 in summer and $5 elsewhere hurt rates. Yet, tourism grew by 2.7% in 2024 with a 5.2% spending rise. New developments include the $36 million airport expansion and $41 million Hosmer Visitor Center. Despite challenges, long-term prospects remain positive with continued tourism and economic investments.