Human Resources

🏨 Emilie Couton, with 24 years at Accor and D-EDGE, has been appointed CEO of Accor Plus, marking a significant moment for the company. Under her leadership, Accor's Asia Pacific network expanded from 250 to 1,200 hotels across 38 brands. Accor Plus, celebrating 30 years, serves over 450,000 members in Asia Pacific. Emilie focuses on personalizing member experiences and strengthening connections with hotel partners. France-based Accor currently has 68 job offers available.

📈 Leeny Oberg will retire from Marriott in March 2026 after significantly boosting shareholder value. Her successors are Jen Mason, who will be CFO, and Shawn Hill, Chief Development Officer, starting in 2026. Mason has 33 years at Marriott, leading finance and strategy, while Hill expanded Marriott's APEC portfolio to over 600 properties with 380 more in development. Marriott plans to continue global growth and expansion, with a strong focus on leadership and innovation.

📑 Joanna Fantozzi, with 7+ years in restaurant journalism, is a Senior Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since August 2021. She holds degrees in English and arts journalism. Her career highlights include roles at Insider and The Daily Meal. Joanna has moderated industry events like MUFSO and Restaurants Rise. She joined Informa in October 2018 and has also contributed to The New York Times, Forbes, and Vice.

🏨 Edward Leenders has been appointed as the new general manager of The Woodward Auberge in Switzerland by Auberge Resorts Collection. With over 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Leenders previously led the reopening of Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria in Brussels and was managing director at Hotel De L’Europe in Amsterdam. He also held senior roles at Rocco Forte Hotels in various locations, including the US, Jordan, and the UK.

🛥 Ben Trodd will oversee Four Seasons Yachts' operations, sales, marketing, and crew management. The first yacht, launching next year, will include 95 residential suites, 11 restaurants, and wellness experiences. Trodd collaborates with Fincantieri and Tillberg Design of Sweden. Alejandro Reynal and Nadim Ashi highlight his leadership as pivotal. This marks Four Seasons' expansion into the luxury yachting market, enhancing their experiential luxury ecosystem.

🏖️ Nate Hardesty has been appointed as the new general manager and area vice president for Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. With 23 years at Hyatt, Hardesty’s experience includes managing Thompson Austin and tommie Austin, and Andaz West Hollywood. He previously served as regional VP of sales, overseeing 60 directors across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. This appointment marks Grand Hyatt’s Utah debut, with 3,700 skiable acres at Deer Valley.

🏨 Ryan Bukstein's career at Ace Hotel started in 1999, when the first Ace Hotel opened in Seattle. Ace, founded by Alex Calderwood, became a cultural icon by blending hospitality with community engagement. By 2000, Ryan, originally from Wisconsin, joined Ace after moving to Seattle for college and studying abroad in Japan. He took on various roles, including PR and marketing, eventually becoming VP of brand. Ace Hotel expanded to Portland and other cities, maintaining its unique cultural integration.