Human Resources

🚀 Propellic, a digital marketing agency for the travel and tourism sector, is expanding its leadership team. Jeff Johnson, with 20+ years in digital marketing, joins as COO, and John Matson, with 15+ years in sales and marketing, becomes CRO. Johnson will enhance operations and service delivery, while Matson will drive revenue strategy and growth. Their expertise signifies Propellic's next growth phase, focusing on scaling business and ensuring travel brands achieve measurable outcomes.

📈 Peregrine Hospitality appointed Heather Stege as COO to enhance operational quality across its portfolio. Stege, previously with KBP Inspired and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, will collaborate with executive leadership. Three new executives joined: Anthony Gaeta (technology), Christina Gregg (human resources), and Jeff Gross (asset management). Peregrine Hospitality manages 92 properties in the U.S., Fiji, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Thailand, focusing on hotel management and global sales. These leadership changes aim to drive innovation and portfolio performance.

📈 Jonathan Newbury joined CHMWarnick as executive vice president in Beverly, Massachusetts, in January 2026. He will lead strategic initiatives and expand the Proph+IT platform for hotel owners and investors. Newbury brings over 20 years of experience from roles at Preferred Travel Group and Small Luxury Hotels. CHMWarnick aims to enhance data-driven decision-making to increase long-term value. Proph+IT's growth will include AI integration, improving performance analysis for owners and investors.

🏨 Heartwood Collection plans to reach 500 bedrooms by 2027, backed by Heritage Development Finance and Alchemy Partners. Turnover increased by 21.7% to £82.7m for the year ending 29 June 2025, with site EBITDA rising from £11.7m to £13.3m. An 8.3% sales rise occurred from 1 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 across 34 inns. Six new pubs-with-rooms opened in Emsworth, Lewes, Newbury, and Epping Forest, plus standalone pubs in Lymington and East Barnet. Chief Financial Officer Chris Guy stepped down on 31 December 2025.

📚 The AHLA Foundation has announced its 2026 Board of Trustees, with Anu Saxena from Hilton Supply Management serving a second term as chair. This board aims to enhance workforce development in the hospitality industry. Key officers include Joan Bottarini from Hyatt as vice chair and Joseph Bojanowski from PM Hotel Group as secretary/treasurer. The board includes notable members from Marriott, My Place Hotels, and Xenia Hotels & Resorts, among others.

🏨 IHG Hotels & Resorts appointed Mark Sergot as chief development officer for the Americas. Operto named Tim Major as CEO, focusing on AI for hotels. Noble Investment promoted Emily Feeney to vice president. AIC Hotel Group appointed Delia Osegueda as VP of global partnerships. OKANA Resort welcomed Natalia Arbelaez as director of partnerships. These appointments reflect ongoing leadership changes across the hospitality industry, highlighting a focus on innovation, strategic partnerships, and operational excellence.

📈 Emily Feeney has been promoted to Vice President at Noble Investment Group in Atlanta, Georgia. She leads the capital markets and transactions team, enhancing Noble's capital strategy and portfolio execution. Her new role includes overseeing financing initiatives, lender engagement, and transaction closings. Mit Shah, Noble's CEO, and Adi Bhoopathy, managing partner, praise her leadership, credibility, and disciplined execution. This promotion highlights her significant impact on Noble's business operations.

🏨 Hotel Heron in Alexandria, Virginia, transitions to the Curio Collection by Hilton with its 134 rooms managed by Aparium Group. This marks the second Curio Collection property in the DMV region, offering guests Hilton Honors benefits. The hotel, known for its Mid-Atlantic cuisine at KILN, craft cocktails at Francis Hall, and a rooftop view of the Potomac, aims to maintain its local charm while reaching a broader audience.

🏨 HEI Hotels & Resorts is now managing a portfolio of four Marriott-branded hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, Florida, owned by L+R Hotels. The portfolio includes the Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort and the Marriott Orlando Village complex, with a total of 1,590 rooms. The Sheraton is undergoing renovations of guest rooms, public spaces, and 40,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotels are strategically positioned near Disney, Universal, and Sea World theme parks.

📈 Marriott's Liam Brown becomes AHLA Board Chair in 2026 after Mitch Patel. Thom Geshay and Jon Stanner appointed vice chair and secretary/treasurer, respectively. Brown, after retiring in June, aims to build on Patel’s momentum. The 2026 AHLA Board includes industry leaders like Jeff Horwitz and Amanda Hite. The AHLA, representing over two million employees nationwide, prepares for a "mega decade" of global events, highlighting the importance of the hospitality sector in the U.S. economy.