Human Resources

🏨 Munir Salem has been appointed as the general manager of Hyatt's Dream Downtown hotel in New York City, located between Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. With over 25 years of experience, Salem's career includes leadership roles in the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S., notably at Hyatt Regency and Andaz Xiamen in China. Most recently, he was the hotel manager at Thompson Central Park New York. Salem aims to enhance the guest experience while maintaining the hotel's unique character.

📈 Accor appoints Leire Leoz as chief franchise officer for its Premium, Midscale, and Economy division, effective February 2nd. Leoz will optimize franchise operations and report to Jean-Jacques Morin, group deputy CEO. Her responsibilities include enhancing franchised hotel success and refining processes. Leoz previously served as VP, owner & partner relations for EMEA at Marriott International, with roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels Group.

🏨 In January 2026, Peregrine Hospitality in Denver appointed Heather Stege as Chief Operating Officer. Stege's experience includes leadership roles at KBP Inspired, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Paper Source, McKinsey & Company, and A.T. Kearney. New appointments include Anthony Gaeta as Senior VP of Technology, Christina Gregg as Senior VP of HR, and Jeff Gross as Senior VP of Asset Management. Gaeta, Gregg, and Gross have 20+, 25+, and 20+ years of experience, respectively.

💻 Ayotunde Gibbs was appointed as executive vice president of technology at Remington Hospitality, Dallas, Texas. With over 20 years of IT experience, she previously served at Dave & Buster’s Inc. and GameStop, Inc. Gibbs aims to implement a comprehensive IT strategy for operational performance and growth. She holds an Executive MBA from Texas Christian University and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Texas Tech University, and is involved with the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Society for Information Management.

🍴 Sean Cooper joins Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal as general manager in January 2026. He carries over a decade of experience, including roles at The Fat Duck and The Clove Club. Cooper will oversee operations and guest experience at the Two-Michelin-starred, 34-seat restaurant, ensuring service excellence in contemporary French cuisine. His previous accomplishments include the 2019 opening of Siren at The Goring with Nathan Outlaw and managing Muse by Tom Aikens.

🏨 Hyatt Regency London Olympia, opening this spring, appoints a five-member leadership team led by Georges Moura, with 20 years at Hyatt. Located in London's Olympia regeneration district, the hotel features 204 rooms. Key appointments include Yanal Tarazi for sales, Roberto Alcaide for HR, Edyta Osiej for finance, and Mesrihel Dell’ovo for engineering. The team, boasting extensive hospitality experience, aims to position the hotel as a premier destination in West London.

🥘 Marco Terenghi, a talented chef, becomes Executive Chef of L’Assaggio in Paris, January 2026. Located in Castille Paris, L’Assaggio is renowned for refined Italian cuisine, previously led by Michelin-starred Ugo Alciati since 2016. Terenghi, with Michelin experience, emphasizes seasonality and Italian heritage. Signature dishes like Vitello Tonnato continue, alongside new creations like Linguine with lobster bisque. His role heralds a blend of tradition and innovation in this celebrated Parisian restaurant.

📰 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.