Human Resources

💵 Puma Property Finance appointed Louise Gillon as director, head of hotels. Who? Louise Gillon. When? Recent. Where? UK. What? Expansion of hospitality lending platform. How? Partnered with Madison International Realty; aims to raise £350 million with a £150 million seed loan portfolio. Increased maximum development loan size from £50 million to £100 million. Gillon previously led hotel finance at Leumi UK for 16 years.

💰 Nikita Miller joins TravelPerk as Chief Product Officer to drive product innovation and support North American expansion, leveraging her 10+ years of product leadership experience. TravelPerk, the fastest-growing travel platform with a 72% gross margin and 50% year-to-date revenue growth, also promoted Robin Smith to Chief Technology Officer. The company enhances its AI-driven travel and spend platform, aiming to set a new industry standard.

🗺 The UK's largest travel agent, Hays Travel, will welcome Dr. Mohsen Ghasempour, chief AI officer at Kingfisher Group, to its board as a non-executive director in October. His expertise in AI will guide the agency's future use of data and technology. Dr. Ghasempour's role follows his success in leading AI and ML at Kingfisher. Hays Travel's Dame Irene Hays emphasized the importance of his contribution as the third non-executive director.

🏨 PM Hotel Group appointed Evan Morick as senior vice president of development. With over 20 years in hotel development, acquisitions, and asset management, Morick recently advised Douglas Development Corporation. Previously, he spent more than a decade as senior VP at Procaccianti Companies and worked with Kokua Hospitality, Rim Hospitality, Hilton, and MeriStar. He will expand PM Hotel Group's portfolio through HMAs and strategic partnerships. Paul Sacco praised Morick's expertise and network.

🍳 On 1 October 2025, The Beaumont Mayfair will launch Rosi, a new dining experience led by Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Located in Mayfair, London, Rosi showcases Modern British dishes with seasonal ingredients. Lisa collaborates with Executive Chefs Brendan Fyldes and Jozef Rogulski under CEO Stuart Procter’s vision. The menu features playful classics, while the restaurant’s design embraces a bright, inviting atmosphere. Reservations for this culinary venture are now open.

📍 Jonathan Tisch, Executive Chairman of Loews Hotels, emphasizes his leadership approach of hiring the right person for each job, which has facilitated women advancing into senior roles. Influenced by family and colleagues, Tisch acknowledges the significant contributions of talented women in the growth of Loews Hotels. This discussion is hosted by Emily Goldfischer, founder of hertelier. Music for the episode is by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.

📚 Accor has appointed Ranju Alex as CEO for South Asia, overseeing operations in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Alex transitions from her role as Regional VP at Marriott International and will manage over 70 hotels with 30 more planned. Earlier this year, Accor announced a joint venture with InterGlobe to consolidate assets and expand Accor's brands in India, including those under Ennismore.

🏨 Laura Trussell McKoy has been named Chief Creative Officer of Omni Hotels & Resorts. Since joining in February 2007, she has significantly influenced Omni’s design direction, initially as Director of Interior Design. McKoy established the Omni Design Studio and has held key roles, elevating the brand's design standards. Before Omni, she worked with CNL Hotels in Orlando and BBGM in Washington, D.C., and has a Bachelor of Science from The University of Alabama. Omni also appointed Adam Hayashi as Chief Revenue Officer, highlighting a focus on creativity and revenue optimization.