Human Resources

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation's Restaurant News since 1999 and Restaurant Hospitality from 2016, has expertise in food and beverage trends and French and Asian cuisines. He hosted "In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn" podcast, wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008), and was part of Asia Times and Manager magazine in Thailand (1992-1997). With a BA in History from Tufts University, he also studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Thorn won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award, was president of the IFEC in 2005, and inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. He authored entries for the Oxford Encyclopedia (2012) and Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets (2015). Originally from Denver, he now resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on social media.

📈 Sunnyvale, CA, Pascal Schubert appointed VP Business Development Europe for LodgIQ on March 3rd, 2025. Former senior roles include SHR Group and D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, focusing on revenue management and market expansion in hotel technology. Schubert’s 20+ years in the sector and his expertise in AI-driven solutions are expected to bolster LodgIQ's global expansion. The AI-powered platform of LodgIQ serves 550+ hotels, with offices in Silicon Valley, New York City, and Bangalore.

🏩 JoAnn Kintzel appointed CEO of M3, the cloud-based financial software for the hospitality industry, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on February 27, 2025. She succeeds Allen Read, now Executive Principal. Kintzel, former CEO of Procare Solutions, is expected to drive growth under Blackstone's ownership. Allen Read, a foundational M3 employee, has over 30 years of experience and has held multiple roles, including VP of Operations and President. M3 serves over 9,000 entities and has a 95% customer retention rate.

📣 Carla Shaw appointed as SVP & GM for BCV – A RateGain Company, in Noida on February 25, 2025. With over 20 years of experience in hospitality SaaS and services, Shaw is set to drive business growth, client success, and digital innovation. Previously, Shaw served as VP at Camber Creative, leading growth for clients like Stripe and BigCommerce. RateGain, founded in 2004, serves 3,200+ customers in 100+ countries, and partners with 26 of the Top 30 Hotel Chains and 25 of the Top 30 OTAs.

🍴 Bret Thorn, a dedicated food & beverage journalist, has been shaping industry trends since 1999 with Nation’s Restaurant News. He furthered his expertise, joining Restaurant Hospitality in 2016. Thorn's insights won the Jesse H. Neal Award in 2006 and led to his presidency of IFEC in 2005. His academic pursuits include a magna cum laude history degree from Tufts University, a Cordon Bleu culinary certificate, and studies at Peking and Nanjing Universities. Thorn, a native of Denver, now resides in Brooklyn, NY.