Human Resources

📈 Philippe Bijaoui, Accor's chief development officer for Europe and North Africa, discusses Handwritten hotels' investment strategies. Filmed at Hotel Maison Hamelin Paris, the interview highlights opportunities for the brand amid rising costs and competition.

🌍 Carolyn Turnbull's career spans roles at Aman (2005-2015), CEO of Tourism Western Australia, and now CEO of Nammos Hotels and Resorts. In 2015, Aman had 26 properties globally, up from 18. Nammos, with a $71 million turnover in Dubai, plans to open 10-12 luxury hotels in a decade. The first hotel in Mykonos has 26 keys, and Amaala will feature 110 keys by December 2023. The Maldives site, with 48 keys, opens in 2027. Carolyn aims for a $1 billion market value for Nammos.

📅 Dolphin Dynamics has expanded its booking capture tool for independent travel agents to include easyJet holidays packages. The tool enhances efficiency and data accuracy, reducing manual entry errors. It automatically integrates supplier details and captures deposit and balance due dates. Scott McCabe from Oasis Travel finds it enhances workflow, while Natasha Marson from easyJet holidays highlights time savings and error reduction. Chuck Richardson of Dolphin Dynamics mentions previous integrations with Jet2holidays, Expedia TAAP, and TUI.

📈 IOI Properties Group (IOIPG) appointed Ms. Tan Lee Fong as Assistant General Manager of Hospitality Management to boost its hospitality sector. With 16 years' experience, she aims to enhance value and efficiency. Under her leadership, IOIPG’s portfolio includes nine hotels with over 3,000 rooms in Malaysia, Singapore, and China. IOIPG saw a 70% revenue growth in FY2025. Recent achievements include VIRC’s Gold for Best Team of the Year at Singapore's Loyalty & Engagement Awards 2025.

🏨 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.