Human Resources

🏨 Joanne Taylor-Stagg, an award-winning hotelier, has been appointed as the new general manager at Pennyhill Park hotel, part of the Exclusive Collection. 🏨 Previously, she held senior roles at top London hotels and spent over a decade with Marriott International. Taylor-Stagg will manage a team of 240, reporting to David Connell. She was recognized as Manager of the Year at the 2021 Catey Awards and serves as a non-executive director with PoB Hotels and the Victory Services Club.

📚 Sloan Dean, former CEO of Remington Hospitality, shares his decision to resign after 8 transformative years to pursue entrepreneurship. He is now enhancing his skills through MIT AI courses. Dean highlights his belief in calculated risks and clarifies that becoming CEO was not his ultimate goal. Resources and further insights from Sloan Dean are available on platforms like LinkedIn and various podcasts. Subscribe to Hospitality Daily for more updates and insights.

👨‍💻 Michael Chorey joined Presto in 2025 to develop Presto IQ, a pioneering AI-native data offering for the QSR industry. Based in the U.S., Chorey aims to enhance Presto's drive-thru Voice AI platform, leveraging his experience from Wendy's FreshAi. Presto IQ will enable real-time personalization for customers, crew, and operators. Krishna Gupta, Presto's co-founder, highlighted Chorey's significant contribution to their leadership team, which collectively has over 100 years of restaurant experience.

🏨 Aly El-Bassuni was appointed as senior vice president of the managed hotels division at Choice Hotels International in North Bethesda, Maryland. With over 30 years in hospitality, his prior roles include president at Aimbridge Hospitality and senior positions at Wyndham and Radisson. El-Bassuni will focus on strategy, operations, and growth for Choice Hotels’ managed properties. His leadership will drive performance and enhance guest experiences, building on the company's strong foundation.

🤖 Michael Chorey, founder of Wendy's FreshAi, joins Presto to head Presto IQ, a pioneering AI-native data initiative for the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. Chorey aims to expand Presto's drive-thru Voice AI platform and enhance personalization for customers, crew, and operators. With over ten years in Voice AI, Chorey contributes to Presto's 100+ years of combined restaurant expertise, aiming to revolutionize industry personalization and operational efficiency.

📄 Remington Hospitality appointed Cory Chambers as chief commercial officer. HHM Hotels hired Jeremiah Galvin as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Choice Hotels promoted Aly El-Bassuni to senior vice president of managed hotels. Stonebridge promoted Jamie Pomeroy to senior vice president of business development. Lighthouse appointed Mercedes Blanco as vice president of enterprise growth. Various hospitality leaders, including Richard Romane, Hiren Prabhakar, and Steve Janicek, received managerial appointments at prestigious locations.

📊 PPDS announced on August 12, 2025, in Amsterdam, that Ron Cottaar is promoted to Head of Global Marketing and Jae O Choi Park to EMEA Commercial Head. Ron, with PPDS for seven years, will drive global marketing. Jae, part of PPDS since 2022, now oversees European sales. These changes support PPDS's growth strategy initiated in 2021, aiming to enhance global operations and deliver innovative display solutions. Ron reports to VP PL Wang at TPV Technology.

📅 August 2025, Los Angeles: Fairmont Century Plaza appoints Hiren Prabhakar as general manager. With 30+ years of experience, Prabhakar's career includes roles at Oberoi Hotels, Burj Al Arab, and general manager positions in Poland, Moscow, and Saudi Arabia. The property, transformed with a $2.5 billion renovation in 2021, now boasts 63 luxury residences, a 14,000-square-foot spa, and over 24,000 square feet of event space. Prabhakar aims to blend innovation with heritage.

🏨 Nickolas Thomas appointed as general manager of The Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans, bringing 20+ years of hotel operations and guest service experience. Previously director of rooms at Hyatt Centric French Quarter, Thomas has held leadership roles at Sleep Inn Slidell, Hyatt Place Convention Center, and Windsor Court Hotel. Located in the Garden District, the hotel is famed as the birthplace of the New Orleans Saints and frequented by legends like Tennessee Williams and Frank Sinatra.

💼 Jamie Pomeroy has been promoted to senior vice president of business development at Stonebridge. Since joining in May 2023, Pomeroy has contributed to the company's growth and will now assist Kevin Dingle, the chief development officer, in expanding Stonebridge's third-party management. With nearly ten years of industry experience, Pomeroy is recognized for his strategic development and partnership skills. CEO Rob Smith praised Pomeroy's leadership as a key factor in the company's competitive edge.