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.

🛥 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.

🏨 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.

🏨 Jens Gmiat rejoins Ruby Group to support its global expansion and manage operations, commercial strategy, and culture. With over 30 years in hospitality, including leadership at HotelCo51 and Criterion Hospitality, he now assumes oversight during Daniella Boeken's maternity leave. Ruby Group, guided by CEO Michael Struck, is strengthening its leadership with Fabian Zellinger and Martin Zilkens joining as managing directors, aligning with their Lean Luxury philosophy and international growth objectives.

💼 Pete Sams becomes President of Highgate, bringing over 30 years of hospitality leadership experience, previously serving as COO at Peregrine Hospitality. Highgate, aiming to expand in Europe, launched HG Portugal and relaunched Dorsett City London Hotel. The company also acquired Viceroy Hotels & Resorts and, with partners, purchased 18 hotels in Portugal. Mahmood Khimji, Co-Chairman, praises Sams for his operational expertise to accelerate growth and value delivery globally.

🍴 José Andrés Group appointed Sam Bakhshandehpour as CEO over a year ago. The group operates 45 restaurants and plans to expand in the Western U.S. and the Middle East, particularly in Arizona, Southern California, Nevada, Colorado, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Focus areas include the Bazaar meat concept, Zaytinya, and a new concept. Expansion will emphasize hotel partnerships and licensing the José Andrés name, targeting secondary markets near Las Vegas.

📅 Lucy takes the helm at ExecSpace with over 30 years in hospitality, aiming to create a 5-year growth plan. Collaborating with Emma Little, Lucy focuses on evolving the boutique venue sourcing service while integrating low-touch tech solutions. ExecSpace plans to expand into Life Sciences, Construction, and Energy sectors while navigating cost reductions in the Public Sector. The firm emphasizes sustainability and neurodiversity in events, aiming to enhance the client experience through strategic partnerships and innovation.

📈 Chetan Arjun has been appointed as CFO of RMS, a hospitality platform, to drive global growth. With 20+ years of financial expertise from roles at PwC, Coles Group, and Lux Group, he will focus on RMS’s financial strategy and support its vision as a top technology partner. RMS operates in 70 countries, serving over 7,000 properties. CEO Adam Seskis, appointed December 2024, highlights Chetan’s role in aligning financial and strategic goals. RMS expands with backing from Advent Partners.