Human Resources

💸 Story Hospitality has appointed Ameer Rehman as vice president of finance amid expansion in the UAE, Seychelles, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. Rehman, a PwC-trained chartered accountant, brings over 20 years of financial leadership in hospitality across the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the EMEA region. Previously, he was senior VP at Cool Inc and spent a decade with Hilton. His appointment is part of Story Hospitality’s focus on financial discipline, innovation, and sustainability.

📈 Net Affinity, a hotel tech company operating in the UK and Ireland, will undergo a leadership change as Lauri Koop, CEO of Dutch-backed Hotel Tech Group (HTG), takes over in 2024. William Cotter, founder in 2000, steps down after 25 years. HTG's acquisition of Net Affinity earlier in 2023 aims for growth and innovation. Serving 400+ hotels, Koop, with 20+ years in SaaS, will enhance integration and expand by 2026, focusing on client hotel performance.

🚢 AmaWaterways has enhanced its Travel Agent Portal, offering 24/7 booking access for agents. Agents can instantly secure bookings by paying deposits via credit card. A fixed £75 regional airport supplement now applies to all UK airports, except the Channel Islands. Agents can also opt for cruise-only bookings by omitting flights. Confirmations and flight arrangements are communicated within 48 hours post-booking. Andrea Stafford, Sales Director UK & Europe, highlights the simplified booking process and increased flexibility.

📖 Aethos appoints Katherine Godsmark as group director of people and culture with over 15 years of experience in hospitality and operations. She previously led global people strategy at the Gap Partnership. Her role comes as Aethos expands internationally, including a new site in Shoreditch, London. CEO Lily Wecker supports Godsmark’s strategic vision, emphasizing global growth and team development. The company is strengthening its leadership for further expansion.

🍽 Bret Thorn, a senior food & beverage editor, has been with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. In 2006, he won the Jesse H. Neal Award. Thorn, a Tufts University alumnus, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and worked in Beijing during the 1989 Tiananmen protests. He was president of IFEC in 2005 and inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Thorn authored entries for the Oxford Encyclopedia in 2012 and 2015.

🍳 Neil Aitken, a chef with 14 years of Michelin kitchen experience, is the new head chef at The Forge, Hotel Indigo Chester, as of 2025. The Forge, renowned for its two AA Rosettes in 2023, specializes in British ingredients cooked over wood and charcoal. It is operated by Castlebridge Hospitality, a group formed in 2018, with 20 years of hotel management expertise. The restaurant offers diverse menus, collaborating with supplier Aubrey Allen.

🏨 John Willcock, a third-generation hotelier, was appointed as the new general manager of The NICI in Bournemouth. Having held senior roles at Hotel du Vin, Accor, Harbour Hotels, and Macdonald Hotels, Willcock brings extensive experience as he returns to the Dorset coast and the Nicolas James Group. The NICI, launched in 2022, aims to expand its brand with Willcock's leadership. Managing Director Lukasz Dwornik praised Willcock's regional expertise.