Human Resources

💻 Diego Di Paolo, appointed as Head of Sales at Adalte during Fitur Madrid, aims to accelerate international growth through strategic relationships. His extensive experience spans Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Adalte is evolving its Community.Travel platform into a multi-level marketplace to enhance collaboration with tour operators. The platform supports precise matching of supply and demand and includes modules for product upload and third-party service consolidation. The company aims to boost global partnerships in travel tech.

🏠 Kevin Pickard becomes general manager of L’Auberge de Sedona, Arizona, in 2023, after serving as dual general manager at The Lindy Renaissance Charleston and Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta. With over 25 years in hospitality, he aims to enhance the guest experience following the resort's $30 million expansion, which added 70 rooms and new amenities. Previously, Pickard held senior roles at Marriott International. The resort is owned by DiamondRock Hospitality and managed by Aimbridge Hospitality.

🏠 Red Roof has appointed Tim Lipka as senior VP of operations. Lipka, with over 10 years in brand leadership, was VP at G6 Hospitality and has 25+ years in operations roles. He'll be based in Columbus, Ohio. Shanna Wright, promoted to senior VP of commercial strategy, will lead marketing and distribution. Both appointments highlight Red Roof’s leadership strength, aiming for business growth.

🏨 Javier Águila's appointment as Global President of Hyatt's all-inclusive portfolio in March 2025 marks a significant milestone. The Inclusive Collection now features over 150 resorts and 55,000 rooms across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Maria Zarraluqui joins to spearhead asset-light growth. Hyatt's strategic acquisitions, such as Playa Hotels & Resorts, bolster its portfolio. Recent openings include Secrets Playa Esmeralda and Secrets St. Lucia, with plans for Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana by 2026.

📈 Inn-Flow, Cary, N.C., announced strategic leadership changes for 2026 with Lee Bridges as Chief Product Officer and Daniel Scagnelli as Senior VP of Customer Experience, to enhance hotel industry growth. Bridges, with 15 years in SaaS, excels in AI and fintech, previously aiding XOi's $230M capital raise. Scagnelli, with over 15 years in SaaS, improved customer retention at Spreedly. These appointments coincide with Inn-Flow's 2026 HotelTechAwards recognition, bolstering their back-office platform for hotels.

🏨 Evolution Hospitality, part of Aimbridge Hospitality, has taken over management of the 82-room Balfour Miami Beach, an Art Deco hotel since 1940 in SoFi, Miami Beach, Florida. Chosen by FullG CRE Investments for their expertise with luxury lifestyle hotels, Evolution aims to elevate the hotel's brand. Balfour Miami Beach is near Ocean Drive and home to Laurel Miami and SoFi Coffee. The hotel recently joined Wyndham's Registry Collection.

🏠 Carlos Rodriguez Jr. has been appointed CEO of Driftwood Capital, succeeding his father, Carlos Rodriguez Sr., who co-founded the firm in 2015 and will continue as executive chairman. Over the past decade, Driftwood Capital has expanded significantly, managing approximately $3.5 billion in hospitality assets and over 80 hotels. The firm has more than $1 billion in projects under development and has participated in over $2 billion in loan originations.

🏨 Hospitality strategist with 25 years of experience works with global brands, independent owners, and real estate developers worldwide, including Europe, Asia, and Australia. Past roles include Managing Director at creative agencies Pixelpark and Scholz & Friends, and Design Hotels alumnus. Experience spans industries such as real estate, automotive, aviation, finance, and telecommunications. Known for creating economically successful and critically acclaimed strategies, with references like citizenM, 25hours Hotels, and luxury properties like Berlin's Das Stue and The Setai in Miami.

🚀 Propellic, a digital marketing agency for the travel and tourism sector, is expanding its leadership team. Jeff Johnson, with 20+ years in digital marketing, joins as COO, and John Matson, with 15+ years in sales and marketing, becomes CRO. Johnson will enhance operations and service delivery, while Matson will drive revenue strategy and growth. Their expertise signifies Propellic's next growth phase, focusing on scaling business and ensuring travel brands achieve measurable outcomes.

📈 Peregrine Hospitality appointed Heather Stege as COO to enhance operational quality across its portfolio. Stege, previously with KBP Inspired and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, will collaborate with executive leadership. Three new executives joined: Anthony Gaeta (technology), Christina Gregg (human resources), and Jeff Gross (asset management). Peregrine Hospitality manages 92 properties in the U.S., Fiji, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Thailand, focusing on hotel management and global sales. These leadership changes aim to drive innovation and portfolio performance.