Human Resources

🏋 Fairmont Hotels & Resorts appoints Emma Darby as Global VP of Spa & Wellness, overseeing operations across 92 properties. Darby's 20+ years of experience includes roles at Rosewood, Ritz-Carlton, and Resense Spas. Fairmont plans 29 new hotels, including in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, enhancing wellness offerings. Darby focuses on holistic wellness strategies and integrating wellness into guest experiences. Her leadership aims at driving innovation and maintaining operational excellence.

📌 Ms. Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk was appointed President of the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) for the 2025-2026 term. From her role as Vice President at Dusit International, she aims to enhance Thailand's MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) sector, promoting the country globally. TICA was established in 1984 to advocate for Thailand as a prime MICE destination. This appointment underscores Dusit's influence in the tourism and hospitality industry.

🏨 Pascal Billard, with 35 years in luxury hospitality, becomes General Manager of Le Meurice, Paris, effective August 4, 2025. Previously, he led Barcelona's Majestic Hotel & Spa for 12 years. Le Meurice, nearing its 200th anniversary, is the first in France to earn the “Palace” distinction and holds three Michelin stars. Billard replaces Franka Holtmann, who retired in February 2025 after 18 years. President Christopher Cowdra anticipates continued excellence.

🚀 Bryan Batista will become Skyscanner's new CEO on June 1, succeeding John Mangelaars. Batista, who joined Skyscanner in January 2024, previously led at Tesla and Booking.com. Under his guidance, Skyscanner searches 100 billion prices daily and has expanded into high-growth markets like India. The company has seen double-digit growth in flights, car hire, and accommodation. Batista aims to enhance travel planning with new rail and package travel options. Mangelaars departs after 4.5 years.

✈ Corendon Airlines appoints Paul Schwaiger as chief commercial officer, succeeding Mine Aslan. Schwaiger has advised the airline since March 2024 and contributed to its 20th-anniversary improvements. With experience at Lufthansa, SunExpress, and Condor, he enhances German-Turkish tourism. Operating under Turkish and European licenses, the airline serves UK, Germany, Poland, Austria, and Switzerland, flying to Spain, Greece, Egypt, and Turkey for summer 2025.

✈️ Travix, an online travel agency, has appointed Casper Maasdam as CEO and Lesley Zandvliet as COO to drive growth. Maasdam, with over seven years at Travix, succeeds Chee Teong Ooi, CEO since late 2022. Zandvliet, previously Chief of Staff, has enhanced operations with Lean Six Sigma. Travix aims to strengthen its position in Dutch and Belgian markets, leveraging its CheapTickets brand and integration into the Trip.com Group.

📈 Minor Hotels has appointed Nicholas Smith as Vice President of Operations for Asia, targeting expansion with over 100 new properties by 2027. Smith, with 25+ years of experience, previously held key roles at Shangri-La Group, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental. He holds a bachelor's degree from Manchester Metropolitan University. The focus is on urban, resort, and branded residences across Asia, enhancing Minor Hotels' regional capabilities and growth trajectory. The company is headquartered in Thailand.