Human Resources

📈 Evolution Hospitality assumed management of the Balfour Miami Beach in the SoFi neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida. This 82-room boutique hotel, part of Wyndham Hotels' Registry Collection, sits on Ocean Drive, near the beach. FullG CRE Investments chose Evolution Hospitality for their success with luxury lifestyle hotels. The Balfour, established in 1940, features Laurel Miami restaurant and SoFi Coffee café. Evolution aims to enhance the hotel’s value and guest experiences.

🏨 Chris Cooper, a 15-year luxury hospitality veteran, becomes general manager of Gilpin Hotel and Lake House after Thomas Ferrante's departure. Previously at The Grand, York, Cooper was 'Leader of the Year 2025' and led the hotel to win VisitEngland’s 'Large Hotel of the Year 2024'. He will manage operations, including the Michelin-starred Source and Gilpin Spice. The owners emphasize Cooper's alignment with their family-run values and thank Ferrante for his impactful leadership.

🏨 Lubosh Barta has managed Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Bangkok, since its launch. Antonio Saponara led Capella Hotels, Bangkok, to global acclaim. Silvio Vettorello manages Passalacqua and Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como. Christian Westbeld, with over 15 years at Raffles, leads Raffles Singapore. Olivier Bonard managed Atlantis Resorts, Dubai, since pre-opening. Anthony Tyler has over a decade at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Leonardo Morado leads Chablé Yucatán, Mexico, and Max Musto oversees Four Seasons, Firenze.

💻 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.

💻 Robert Matsuoka was appointed CTO of Duetto in San Francisco, California. With over 25 years of experience, including roles at Citymaps and Tripadvisor, Matsuoka will lead Duetto’s technology transformation. He aims to enhance hotel revenue optimization, demand forecasting, and yield management through AI and machine learning. Matsuoka plans to accelerate client onboarding, expand integrations, and develop new pricing models, while implementing AI-assisted development to boost product delivery speed.

🏨 Airbnb appoints Jesse Stein as head of hotels to expand its boutique hospitality offerings. Stein, with Airbnb since 2020, will integrate independent hotels into the platform and optimize the hotel experience, identified as a growth lever for 2026. With previous roles at KHP Capital Partners, Kimpton Hotels, Wyndham, and Starwood, Stein aims to forge partnerships and improve hotel listings. His focus is on bringing boutique and independent hospitality globally.

🏨 Maria Zarraluqui will take on the role of Senior Vice President, Global Hyatt Inclusive Collection Growth and Owner Relations for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, starting March 1, 2026. This move aims to bolster Hyatt’s presence in the all-inclusive sector.

🏨 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.