Human Resources

🏨 Sujith Kattezhath Gopinathan is now the GM at Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel, with prior experience in Derbyshire and Blackpool. Michelle Hickey is GM at Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel, and Saira Cieloszyk at Holiday Inn Southend. Nora Urbancova returns as GM at Hotel Indigo Manchester. Jacqueline Turpin is GM at The Harlow Hotel by Accor. Frederik Deman becomes GM at Holiday Inn Express and Suites Ghent, after roles worldwide. Six new GMs appointed across the UK and Europe by Aimbridge Hospitality EMEA.

🏨 St Regis London will open in mid-2026 in Mayfair, marking the brand’s London debut. The hotel will have 195 rooms, including 64 suites. Marco Novella, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality, was appointed as general manager in 2024. Designed by Richmond International, the redevelopment includes two new floors and revamped public areas. Amenities feature a signature restaurant, a jazz bar, two spa suites, and butler service. This expands Marriott’s luxury presence in London.

🏨 Hand Picked Hotels appointed James Norman and Jean-Paul Wyburn as general managers of Nutfield Priory Hotel and Spa in Surrey and Bailbrook House Hotel in Bath. This is part of their strategy to enhance leadership across 21 UK and Channel Islands hotels. Nutfield Priory, a 60-room AA 4 Red Star hotel, and Bailbrook House, a grade II listed property, will benefit from their extensive experience, aiming to provide luxurious guest experiences.

💸 Sharla Singh was appointed CFO of Awaze in 2025 after serving as Interim CFO since May 2025. Singh joined Awaze in December 2023. Awaze, which includes Hoseasons, cottages.com, and Novasol, hosted over one million guests in August 2025 across 20 countries. The company reports increased repeat bookings and guest satisfaction in 2025 due to tech, service, and marketing investments. CEO Matthew Price emphasizes Singh’s strong platform experience to support Awaze’s growth and owner engagement.

💻 IBS Software appoints Abha Dogra as Chief Product Officer to lead its global product organization and integrate AI-first strategies. With over 20 years of experience, Dogra previously held senior roles at CAE and other major firms. Amit Jain joins as SVP and Global Head of Engineering, overseeing a 1,000-strong team across India, the US, UK, and Canada. These leadership changes, initiated in late 2024, aim to enhance product innovation and impact in travel technology.

🏨 Enrique Glückmann was appointed general manager of Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf St. Barth. With over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience, Glückmann's career includes roles at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Etihad Airways, Hotel Arts in Barcelona, and resorts in Seychelles and Morocco. The hotel, located above Gustavia in Saint Barthélemy, originally opened in the 1980s and was redesigned in 2020, featuring 21 suites and a five-bedroom villa.

🏠 Buzzworks appointed Maurissa Fergusson as property director in October 2025, with 25 years' experience in real estate, having worked at Scotmid. She will manage property development for Buzzworks' 22 venues in East, West, and Central Scotland, supporting their expansion into rooms and accommodation. Buzzworks' brands include Scotts, House, and Lido. Managing Director Kenny Blair highlighted her expertise in balancing operational efficiency and guest experience as key to their growth.

📈 Stéphanie Cabassu has been appointed as Secretary General at D-EDGE, a newly established role to enhance corporate governance. This strategic move is designed to bolster the company's growth.