Human Resources

📈 Allison Reid joins Ferguson Partners as Managing Director and Global Head of Hospitality and Leisure in New York. With 30 years of hospitality experience, she will lead the executive search and talent management in hospitality, gaming, and cruise sectors. Previously, she held leadership roles at Aimbridge Hospitality and Starwood Hotels. This move is part of Ferguson's expansion strategy in real assets. Reid is a member of the AHLA Investment Roundtable.

📍 YOTEL, a UK-based hospitality brand, promotes Rohan Thakkar to chief development and strategy officer, expanding his role to include enterprise leadership. Mark Henderson becomes SVP design and construction, managing capital expenditure and renovations. Olivia Donnan is named SVP brand, culture, and growth. The company aims to expand to 100 hotels by 2031. CEO Phil Andreopoulos initiated these changes to harness internal talent and drive YOTEL’s growth strategy.

🏨 Yotel aims for 100 hotels worldwide by 2031. Currently, it operates 23 hotels in 16 cities and airports, planning 11 more openings in two years in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, Athens, and Belfast. Rohan Thakkar is now chief development and strategy officer, Mark Henderson is senior VP of design and construction, and Olivia Donnan is senior VP of brand, culture, and growth. CEO Phil Andreopoulos confirmed these leadership promotions to support Yotel's global expansion.

📈 David Bailey appointed as Global Commercial Director by Open Destinations to drive international growth. Previously with Discuss.io, he led EMEA and APAC sales, enhancing AI-powered solutions for brands like Unilever and Ford. At Open Destinations, Bailey will spearhead commercial strategy and revenue growth, aligning sales and marketing with business goals. CEO John Davies emphasizes Bailey's international and tech scaling expertise. Bailey aims to support customer ambitions and bolster the company's expansion efforts.

🏠 Sheraton Phoenix Downtown has appointed Daryl Rhead as its new general manager. Rhead's career, starting in 2004 with Marriott International in San Francisco, spans 20 years. He has held roles such as vice president – global asset management and area director of finance. Most recently, he was vice president — owner franchise services. Rhead has also taught at The George Washington University and the University of Maryland. His expertise promises to elevate guest experiences at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown.

💼 London, 9 January 2026 - Journey, a leader in hotel retailing, appoints Andrew Metcalfe as Group CTPO to drive growth and enhance their Performance Platform. Metcalfe, a former CTO at Access Hospitality, brings extensive experience in hospitality technology. Journey serves over 750 hotels, integrating an Experience Management System for improved scalability and revenue. CEO Simon Bullingham highlights Metcalfe's pivotal role in transforming hotel revenue strategies beyond room sales, focusing on retailing guest experiences.

📈 Marriott International announced leadership changes effective March 28, 2026. Satya Anand will become group president for the U.S., Canada, and CALA, while Neal Jones will lead EMEA and Federico "Fede" Greppi will oversee CALA. Anand has expanded EMEA to over 1,300 properties since 2020. Brown and King will retire after a combined 70 years of service by June 2026. Marriott's CALA now operates in 37 countries with over 500 properties.