Human Resources

📖 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, also contributed to The New York Sun from 2005 to 2008. He hosted the "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast, wrote for Manager magazine and Asia Times while in Thailand (1992-1997), and served as IFEC president in 2005. Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, authored comfort food entries in the Oxford Encyclopedia (2012), and a history of plated desserts (2015). A Tufts University magna cum laude graduate and Le Cordon Bleu attendee, he was inducted into the Disciples d’Escoffier in 2014 and resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

📌 Crescent Hotels & Resorts appointed Elie Khoury as COO. Highgate named Ben Thomas as COO for Europe. First Hospitality promoted Jenna Fishel to CCO since 2004. Vision Hospitality Group named Mary Beth Cutshall as CGO. Peregrine Hospitality welcomed Jason Druso as SVP of operations. Dreamscape Hospitality appointed Christy Jernigan as VP of feasibility. JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group hired Kristina D’Amico as VP. Stonebridge appointed David Wahba as VP of sales. Concord Hospitality promoted Dannialle Neville to regional VP of operations. IHG Hotels & Resorts appointed Yann Gillet as area GM. Four Seasons named Diego Angarita as GM for Naples Beach Club, opening Fall 2025. Grand Resort Bad Ragaz welcomed Simon Spiller as GM. Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk appointed Chryssaldo Thomas as GM. R Collection Hotels, The Ava Hotel, Rosewood Little Dix Bay, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe, Hyatt Regency Greenwich, The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, Park Lane New York, SLS Baha Mar, and Riverhouse Lodge announced new GMs or food and beverage directors. Bob W added Philip Ward to its Board. BH Properties hired Taylor Reid as senior asset manager. Montage Healdsburg appointed Nikki Severson as director of spa. Fairmont Chicago, Millennium

🏦 On 26th March, 2025, in Helsinki, Finland, Bob W, a tech-powered hospitality operator, announced that Philip Ward, former CEO of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group for EMEA, joined their Board of Directors. Ward has 35 years of experience, recently overseeing a team of 130 hotel experts across 10 countries. His appointment aligns with Bob W's European expansion, including a new building in Athens. The company, with over €70 million in funding, has grown to over 5000 units across 17 cities.

📋 Philip Ward, former CEO of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group for the EMEA region, joins Bob W's Board of Directors with over 30 years of experience in real estate, investment banking, and hospitality advisory. His expertise includes leading a team of 130 hotel experts across 10 countries. Ward's appointment aligns with Bob W's European expansion, including a third building launch in Athens, Greece, last month. Ward has also worked with Brookfield Financial Corp, KSL Capital Partners, and Rothschild & Co. He aims to contribute to Bob W's growth, focusing on technology, sustainability, and hospitality.

🏖️ Florian Blois appointed as Strategic Partnerships Director at Dida, formerly DidaTravel, to enhance global DMO collaborations. With 8 years at HBX Group, his expertise in destination marketing and strategic partnerships aims to drive business growth. Blois will report to CMO Gareth Matthews, focusing on DMOs, hotel chains, airlines, and tour & activity providers. Dida, a leader in the outbound B2B Chinese market and APAC, is expanding into Middle Eastern, European, and Americas markets.

🏦 Dorchester Collection names Philippe Leboeuf as CEO, effective June 2025. Four Seasons Resort Orlando promotes Nick Anderson to commercial director and Jessica Sibley to director of sales. Stonebridge appoints David Wahba as VP of sales – luxury, lifestyle, and resort. Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels hires Nicolas Kipper as managing director. Grand Resort Bad Ragaz welcomes Simon Spiller as general manager. Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk brings on Chryssaldo Thomas as general manager. L7 CHICAGO by LOTTE appoints Andrew Eck as general manager.

🏘 Hotel Maya in Long Beach, California, ends Hilton DoubleTree affiliation on April 1, coinciding with its 50th anniversary and a renovation of nearly 200 rooms. Upgrades include redesigned suites, refreshed public spaces, and new menu with Latin-inspired dishes at Fuego restaurant. Guests can enjoy waterfront activities, a poolside lounge, private cabanas, fire pits, and Playa at the Maya beach area. Celebratory events are planned throughout 2025 for the anniversary.

🏦 Philippe Leboeuf appointed as CEO of Dorchester Collection, starting June 2025, succeeding Eugenio Pirri. Leboeuf's extensive experience includes leadership roles at Raffles London, Concorde Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood, and Claridge’s. Fluent in multiple languages, he's recognized with the Knight of the Legion of Honour. Dorchester Collection, with 10 luxury hotels, plans to expand into Dubai and Tokyo, marking its first hotel in Asia.