Human Resources

💵 Late September 2009, a Canadian regional controller, David Lund, considered a job trade with his friend, the regional controller in another city, to relocate to the U.S. for his family. By early November, Lund attended a crucial budget review in the U.S. to secure the job. Despite the challenging meeting with three asset managers, including a skeptical lead, his experience and negotiation skills won the position in San Francisco.

🚀 Brett Burgess, former Sabre executive, is appointed as the new CEO of ATPCO, based in Denver. This follows his recent departure from Jeppesen ForeFlight, where he led a global business line. The ATPCO board supports Burgess for his expertise in air distribution and enterprise software. His priorities include modernizing airline retailing and balancing innovation with operational reliability. Burgess emphasizes the importance of value creation in airline pricing and operations.

✈ Amsterdam-based Hubby eSIM has appointed Kasper Rasmussen as Chief Commercial Officer. Bringing over 20 years of experience, Rasmussen joins from AuthentIQ Intelligence. In 2025, Hubby eSIM significantly grew travel brand partnerships with DERTour and Flight Centre. CEO Thijs van der Wijk highlighted 2026 as a year to scale new products and enhance partnerships. The company aims to make connectivity a vital part of travel, helping brands and travelers stay connected.

💻 Travel Counsellors, UK’s leading travel tech platform, appoints Jeremy Smith as AI Innovation Partner in February 2026. Smith, founder and CEO of Neural Voice, aims to enhance AI in the company, evolving TC Co-Pilot, improving workflows, and personalizing customer experiences. This appointment supports Travel Counsellors’ ongoing tech investment in 2026. CEO Steve Byrne highlights the commitment to innovation, while Smith emphasizes AI’s role in augmenting human expertise. His mother, a Travel Counsellor for over ten years, connects him personally to the business.

📍 A&O Hostels appointed Carolin Paarmann as general manager for its first London site, A&O London Docklands Riverside, in Southwark. The hostel, situated in a 17th-century building, opened in late November, offering 500 rooms and 2,100 beds. A modernization investment of £17.3m (€20m) is planned for 2026. Paarmann, based in London since 2015, anticipates a 65% occupancy rate in early 2026 with 180,000 overnight stays expected. The site features a riverside bar and electric ferry service.

🗺️ Colorado Springs faced declining hotel occupancy due to decreased government travel in 2025, affected by U.S. Space Command's move and a government shutdown. A government per-diem decrease of $10 in summer and $5 elsewhere hurt rates. Yet, tourism grew by 2.7% in 2024 with a 5.2% spending rise. New developments include the $36 million airport expansion and $41 million Hosmer Visitor Center. Despite challenges, long-term prospects remain positive with continued tourism and economic investments.

🏨 Munir Salem has been appointed as the general manager of Hyatt's Dream Downtown hotel in New York City, located between Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. With over 25 years of experience, Salem's career includes leadership roles in the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S., notably at Hyatt Regency and Andaz Xiamen in China. Most recently, he was the hotel manager at Thompson Central Park New York. Salem aims to enhance the guest experience while maintaining the hotel's unique character.

📈 Accor appoints Leire Leoz as chief franchise officer for its Premium, Midscale, and Economy division, effective February 2nd. Leoz will optimize franchise operations and report to Jean-Jacques Morin, group deputy CEO. Her responsibilities include enhancing franchised hotel success and refining processes. Leoz previously served as VP, owner & partner relations for EMEA at Marriott International, with roles at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotels Group.

🍴 Sean Cooper joins Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal as general manager in January 2026. He carries over a decade of experience, including roles at The Fat Duck and The Clove Club. Cooper will oversee operations and guest experience at the Two-Michelin-starred, 34-seat restaurant, ensuring service excellence in contemporary French cuisine. His previous accomplishments include the 2019 opening of Siren at The Goring with Nathan Outlaw and managing Muse by Tom Aikens.