Human Resources

📍 Olivier Thomas becomes the Managing Director of Raffles London at The OWO starting November 3, 2025. With over 30 years of luxury hotel experience across EMEA and the US, Thomas previously managed Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and held roles at Four Seasons and St. Regis. His appointment is seen as a continuation of excellence in luxury hospitality at this iconic London property.

🍴 Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC) appointed by Conygar as the catering and events partner for Nottingham's 36-acre Island Quarter mixed-use development. RHC to oversee Cleaver & Wake restaurant, event space, and Binks Yard's outdoor terrace events. Christopher Ware of Conygar highlights RHC's role in growth plans, while CEO P.B Jacobse commits to enhancing Nottingham's dining and entertainment scene. RHC's UK experience spans Royal Albert Hall to Sky Garden.

📈 Hays Travel appoints Sue Bradley, a former Tui director, as head of customer experience. Bradley, with Tui for over 14 years, will join Hays Travel's senior leadership team to embed a customer-first culture. The role focuses on enhancing customer experience, aligning with the Institute of Customer Service, and supporting Hays Travel's growth strategy. Hays Travel, a 45-year-old company, aims to maintain its reputation for exceptional customer care and align with strategic initiatives for future growth.

🏨 Oct. 4, 2025, Shanell Marinuzzi, now at Actabl, reflects on her past experience as a hotel general manager. She emphasizes the importance of "speaking owner" to align team goals and communicate effectively with investors. By understanding numbers and translating results into investor-friendly terms, she achieved significant buy-in and success. This approach underscores the value of connecting performance with investor interests in the hospitality industry.

🏢 DIGITRIPS Group, a France-based travel solutions provider, has announced its European expansion plan, following five million bookings in a decade. New VP of International Growth, Vicki Wickens, joins from Gimmonix, Sabre, and Expedia Group. DIGITRIPS aims to penetrate key European markets with its modular tech solutions and a competitive portfolio of 1.2 million hotels, flights from 500+ airlines, and value-added services. Recent successes include launches in Benelux and Italy.

🍳 Vandelay Hospitality Group, operating 23 restaurants in Texas and California, appointed Gen Gray as COO. Dallas-based, they plan new concepts in Scottsdale, Ariz. next year. Gray, ex-COO of Topgolf and Maggiano’s Little Italy, will manage operations, guest experience, and new openings. Vandelay, founded in 2012, aims for growth with Gray's expertise in hospitality. CEO Hunter Pond highlights Gray's transformative leadership. Gray emphasizes investment in teams and quality service.

📛 Sept. 28, 2025: Claudio Meli, General Manager of THE PLACE Firenze, is named Virtuoso's "Hotelier of the Year" for 2025.

🍴 Jimmy Garcia Catering appoints Alana Buckley as Managing Director from 6th October 2025. Former KERB MD, Alana brings expertise in strategic growth and partnerships. Richard Groves transitions to Chairman, focusing on business development. The leadership team, including Founder Jimmy Garcia, gears up for growth, targeting B Corp certification. The company adds venues like V&A South Kensington, The Science Museum, and Two Temple Place to its portfolio.

📈 Noida, 25th September 2025: RateGain Travel Technologies Limited appoints Amarpreet Singh as Chief Customer Officer to enhance global customer experience using AI. Singh, with over 20 years of experience, will focus on seamless implementation and customer loyalty. RateGain, founded in 2004 and based in India, supports 3,200+ customers in 100+ countries, working with top hotel chains and travel agents to optimize revenue. Singh will be based in India, collaborating globally to improve customer engagement.