Human Resources

📅 Ryan Haynes will lead the National Hotel Marketing Conference after HOSPA's acquisition. With 20 years in hospitality marketing and PR, he will shape the 2027 conference's direction. The event is set for 27 May 2027 at Hilton at St George’s Park. HOSPA aims to evolve the conference to meet marketing professionals' needs. Jane Pendlebury, HOSPA's CEO, highlights the acquisition as a chance to enhance community support and collaboration.

💻 Tim Sullivan has been appointed as Chief Growth Officer at Bonafide, an AI Alignment platform, to lead growth strategies in sales, marketing, and strategic partnerships. Sullivan, with 30 years of technology leadership, has been on Bonafide’s Advisory Board since 2024. He previously led transformations at Kognitiv and Cendyn. Bonafide aims to enhance AI's understanding of brand contexts as agentic commerce evolves. Sullivan’s role is pivotal for Bonafide’s commercial scaling.

💸 Kempinski Group appoints Andrea Vanni as CFO on October 2026, leveraging his 25+ years in luxury real estate. Vanni, a board member of Kempinski A.G. for over 3 years, previously held senior roles at J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank. Kempinski operates 74 properties in 33 countries, with 20+ projects in development. The strategy focuses on enhancing existing assets and expanding through acquisitions and management contracts to maximize returns.

🏨 Kevin Briggs has been appointed as the general manager of AC Hotel Beverly Hills. With over 20 years of experience in luxury hotel operations, Briggs has been part of Azul Hospitality Group since 2019, previously managing The Glenmark in Glendale. His background includes significant roles at OLS Hotels & Resorts and positions at Hotel Palomar and Le Montrose Suite Hotel. Briggs aims to enhance guest experiences and community connections at his new position in Beverly Hills.

📈 OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group appointed Brian Regula as CFO, leveraging his 20+ years in finance from Pyramid Global Hospitality. Bonafide named Tim Sullivan as Chief Growth Officer, bringing 30 years of tech leadership. Hyatt Hotels appointed Amar Lalvani as its first Chief Creative Officer. Starwood Hotels announced Tom Chalmers as SVP of Design & Architecture. Remington Hospitality appointed Melissa Arana as SVP of Revenue Strategy. Various other hospitality appointments were made across industry leaders.

🏨 Amar Lalvani, Hyatt Hotels Corp's first chief creative officer, expands his role while continuing as president and creative director of the Lifestyle Group. Appointed in 2024 after Hyatt acquired Standard International, Lalvani brings over 25 years of hospitality experience, including leading W Hotels' global development. Reporting to CEO Mark Hoplamazian, he aims to enhance brand identity, design, and guest experiences across Hyatt's global portfolio, emphasizing creativity and distinctive brands for growth and value.

📈 Amar Lalvani has been appointed as Hyatt Hotels Corporation's first chief creative officer, effective immediately, in Chicago. Lalvani, also president and creative director of Hyatt's Lifestyle Group, has been with Hyatt since 2024 after its acquisition of Standard International. He will work on brand design, experience, and culture across Hyatt’s global portfolio. Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's CEO, emphasized Lalvani's role in making brand decisions clearer, enhancing guest and owner value.

📈 Spire Hospitality, based in Irving, Texas, has launched a Strategic Asset Performance division to enhance hotel and portfolio performance through financial strategy, business intelligence, and AI. Shozib Khan, with over 25 years of hospitality experience, has been promoted to Senior Vice President to lead this division. His role includes overseeing IT, brand resources, and AI strategy. The division aims to integrate financial intelligence with hotel operations to identify and act on opportunities swiftly.

🏨 Wildhive Eshott Hall, located in Northumberland, appoints Ewan Taylor as general manager in anticipation of its December launch. Taylor, boasting nearly 20 years in luxury hospitality across South East Asia, previously managed Oriental Residence Bangkok. He will lead pre-opening efforts, including recruitment and training. Recognized among Cambodia's top five hotel general managers in 2024, Taylor's expertise aligns with Wildhive Collection's values and growth ambitions, enhancing their boutique hotel reputation in England.

📈 Spire Hospitality, based in Irving, Texas, has unveiled its Strategic Asset Performance division to enhance hotel and portfolio performance. Shozib Khan, with 25+ years of experience, is promoted to Senior Vice President to lead this initiative. The division integrates financial strategy, technology, AI, and business intelligence to improve asset value. This strategic shift emphasizes predictive financial planning and direct execution, aiming to foresee opportunities and improve hotel performance across Spire's portfolio, including brands like Marriott and Hilton.