Human Resources

📈 Garreth Walsh, appointed as area general manager for Kimpton Hotels in central England, will lead Kimpton Fitzroy London and support Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and Manchester Deansgate Hotel. Walsh, with IHG since October 2019, brings a 15-year experience from The Doyle Collection, managing The Marylebone and Kensington Hotels. His hospitality career started at Jurys Doyle Hotel Group, where he held management roles, including deputy GM at Jurys Inn Islington.

📈 Aimbridge Hospitality appoints Alex Fiz as president of its LATAM and All-Inclusive Divisions, effective March 2. Leandro Castillo will retire but will serve in an advisory role. Alex brings 34 years of experience from Marriott International, where he led strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The All-Inclusive Division started in 2025 and focuses on significant growth opportunities in Latin America. Aimbridge Hospitality serves major global brands and independent properties across Mexico and Latin America.

🏨 Minor Hotels announced Winston Gong as General Manager for Avani Kota Kinabalu, set to open in Q2 2026. Winston, experienced in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, previously led Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc Starbay. The 352-key hotel features 22 suites, diverse dining, and meeting facilities. Located in Luyang, it is 13 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, aiming to cater to leisure and corporate guests with seamless connectivity.

📈 Aimbridge Hospitality appoints Alex Fiz as president of its Latin America and all-inclusive divisions starting March 2, 2026. He replaces Leandro Castillo, who retires on February 28, 2026, but will stay in an advisory role. Fiz, with 34 years at Marriott, will focus on international growth, capitalizing on leisure segments in the Caribbean and Latin America. Aimbridge emphasizes disciplined execution for expanding its portfolio in these regions.

📈 Nathan Reynolds has been named Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at RMS, a global hospitality platform, leveraging his experience from MYOB Enterprise and RL Datix. Louise Lysaght joins as Chief Customer Experience Officer (CXO) from Employment Hero, after five years at HotDoc. CEO Adam Seskis highlights their roles in scaling revenue and enhancing customer journeys as RMS expands globally across hotels, motels, and more.

📈 UK, 2026: Focus Travel Partnership appoints Francesco Deluca, Omega World Travel's EMEA regional director, to its Board. Deluca, boasting over 30 years of global corporate travel management experience, joins as a Non-Executive Director. The move aims to diversify expertise and reinforce innovation as Focus enters a growth phase. Focus chair, Adrian Parkes, anticipates Deluca's industry insights will enhance strategy. Deluca expresses enthusiasm for supporting Focus's community-driven model and mid-sized TMC leadership.

💻 Peter Buerger is appointed CEO of Kayak by Booking Holdings, replacing co-founder Steve Hafner after 22 years. Hafner transitions to Executive Chairman, focusing on AI innovation for the group. Buerger, who joined Kayak in 2016 as CFO and became COO in 2021, previously led international expansion and business travel platform growth. Under Hafner, Kayak launched and achieved industry-leading results post-2013 acquisition by Booking Holdings. Hafner will ensure strategic stability and focus on AI development.

📈 Hans Ritten is the new general manager at Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, CA. With over 30 years of experience, Ritten previously opened The HALL Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas, in 2024 as its general manager. He has also managed several hotels in Chicago and worked with Marriott International and Interstate Hotels & Resorts. His expertise spans sales, financial management, F&B, and hotel operations.

🏨 Antonella Puglisi was appointed as the new general manager of Mezzatorre Hotel and Thermal Spa in Ischia by Pellicano Hotels Group. With over 10 years in luxury hospitality, she previously managed Sicilian wine estate Conte Tasca d’Almerita and held leadership roles at Tavanipupu Private Island Resort in the Solomon Islands and Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia. Marie-Louise Sciò praised Puglisi’s international experience and operational rigor.

🏨 Jeff Bzdawka became CEO of Hapi, succeeding founder Luis Segredo, who shifts to chief strategy officer. Bzdawka joined as president in October 2024, bringing over 30 years of industry experience. Hapi, founded in 2017, supports over 15,000 hotels, enabling real-time data use. Bzdawka's aim is to scale and deliver value. Hapi’s clients include major brands like IHG and Wyndham.