Human Resources

📍 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, the market leader in hotel retailing and the hospitality industry’s first unified Performance Platform, has appointed Andrew Metcalfe as Group Chief Technology & Product Officer…

📈 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.

📈 Georg Beyschlag is named CFO of Lighthouse, succeeding founder Matthias Geeroms, who becomes head of corporate development. Beyschlag, former CFO of TeamViewer, brings IPO experience, having scaled TeamViewer's team from 600 to 2,000 for its 2019 IPO. Lighthouse, with 900 employees across six continents and a $15 billion market, aims for strategic growth. Geeroms, pivotal in recent Series C funding and acquisitions like The Hotel Network in April 2025, transitions to focus on deals and partnerships.

💻 Andrew Metcalfe joined Journey as Group Chief Technology & Product Officer to spearhead the company’s growth. Previously, he served as CTO and Product & Engineering Director at Access Hospitality. Metcalfe is also a hotel owner, having developed Downham Hall in Essex. Journey aims to enhance its Hospitality Performance Platform with new features like an Experience Management System. CEO Simon Bullingham highlighted Metcalfe’s expertise as vital for leveraging new revenue opportunities beyond traditional room sales.

📈 Kristie Goshow joins Loews Hotels & Co as chief commercial officer, tasked with enhancing revenue and customer relationships across its 27 properties. With over 20 years of experience, including roles at Peregrine Hospitality and Preferred Hotels, Goshow's strategic leadership spans sales, marketing, and revenue strategy. Previously, she held senior positions at Viceroy and Jumeirah. Goshow's recent roles included trustee for AHLA Foundation and board member for HSMAI Foundation.