Human Resources

📈 Premier Inn, part of Whitbread, appoints Christopher Presland as Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director for Germany starting May 1, 2025. Chris-Norman Sauer to become Managing Director Property for Germany and Austria on June 1, 2025. Premier Inn operates 62 hotels with 11,000 rooms in Germany and Austria, aiming to expand to 20,000 rooms by 2030. The leadership changes align with strategic growth objectives in the German-speaking hotel sector.

🍴 Bret Thorn, a senior food & beverage editor, has been with Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. He held a column at The New York Sun from 2005-2008. Thorn also joined Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. A Tufts University alumnus, he studied at Le Cordon Bleu and Nanjing and Beijing Universities. In 1989, he worked for ABC News in Beijing. Thorn's accolades include a 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. He resides in Brooklyn, NY.

📈 Rosewood Hotel Group appointed Anthony Ingham as COO, effective September 1, and Luca Finardi as VP of operations for EMEAC, effective June 1. Ingham, with a decade of experience at Marriott and others, led the transformation of W Hotels. Finardi, previously with Mandarin Oriental, brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience. Finardi will collaborate with Ingham, managing directors, and stakeholders to advance operational strategies in the EMEAC region.

📍 Antoine Serhan has been appointed as hotel manager at InterContinental New York Barclay. He brings extensive experience from roles in North America, the Middle East, and Asia, including managing over 500 staff in Dubai. Serhan has held leadership positions at Millennium Broadway Hotel and New York Palace Hotel. The Barclay, built in 1926, is owned by Street Holdings, LLC and managed by IHG. It recently underwent extensive renovations.

🏨 Rosewood Hotel Group announces key leadership appointments effective September 1, 2025, and June 1, 2025. Anthony Ingham, former leader at Marriott, joins as COO to oversee global operations, reporting to CEO Sonia Cheng, enhancing guest experiences. Luca Finardi, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality, becomes VP of Operations for EMEAC, leveraging experience from Mandarin Oriental. These changes aim to bolster Rosewood’s expansion and operational excellence in the luxury market.

📅 Federico González Tejera will speak at the Hospitality Operator Forum on June 12 at the InterContinental Paris le Grand. With a background in economics and a Master's in finance, he worked for Procter & Gamble and Disneyland Paris before transforming NH Hotel Group and Radisson Hospitality. Under Jin Jiang International, Radisson doubled its size, and in 2023, he leads the Louvre Hotels Group. His leadership is about people, innovation, and cultural adaptability.

📋 Philipp Weghmann is appointed as the chief development officer at Preferred Travel Group and president of Beyond Green. Susie Park becomes executive vice president for CBRE Hotels in the Americas. Jason Bond is now VP of attendee solutions at Groups360, while David Kuperberg serves as managing director of real estate at Majestic Hospitality. Other key appointments include Jordan Ben-Hanania, Lydia Bates, Leonel De Leon, and Daniel K. Nahoopii in their respective roles. Chris Rice is the 2025 NEWH ICON of Industry.

🏨 Meyer Jabara Hotels took over management of the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Northwest/Oldsmar, an 87-room hotel located 13 miles from Tampa International Airport. Owner Rogatien Krecek noticed significant improvements within 45 days, including a 50% reduction in accounts receivable. The hotel features an outdoor pool, fitness center, and conference space. Recently renovated, it aims to attract both families and business travelers. With strong post-COVID recovery, Tampa is a top-performing U.S. market.