Human Resources

🍰 Albio Ziu appointed as Pastry Chef at the Great Northern Hotel’s restaurant, RAILS, with 10+ years of experience including The Bloomsbury Hotel and Searcy’s Pall Mall. Will develop RAILS' dessert, afternoon tea, and private dining menus, focusing on seasonal dishes and expanding vegan/gluten-free options. Jenni Lehtonen, Sales and Marketing Director, highlights Ziu's skill, vision, and commitment to guest experiences.

📈 Sandrine Zechbauer, with over 16 years’ experience in travel and hospitality tech, is appointed as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for RMS Cloud, a leading property management software provider. She previously held senior roles at British Airways, Etihad, Air France, Sabre, and was Senior Director at Khoros. Zechbauer will lead global marketing, focusing on brand awareness in EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, supporting RMS Cloud’s strategic growth and market presence. RMS Cloud serves over 7,000 properties across 70 countries and has been established for 40 years.

🏠 The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) elected new leadership, including Chair Kristie Dickinson and inducted 37 new members for its 2025 class. Members are chosen by invitation and undergo rigorous screening to ensure integrity and expertise. The ISHC, composed of individual members, not corporations, fosters professional development and serves as a leading hospitality resource. Key roles include President Steve Hennis, Vice President Ivar Yuste, Secretary Penny Fondy, and Treasurer Suzanne Mellen.

💲 Lee Ainsworth promoted to Director of Strategy for the Advantage Travel Partnership, to lead the company's strategic plans and support ambitious growth. Ainsworth, with Advantage for nine years, praised by CEO Julia Lo Bue-Said for his leadership and strategic thinking. The promotion reflects the company's dedication to nurturing talent and Ainsworth's commitment to driving strategic development and stakeholder value.

🏨 Gabriel Escarrer Juliá, founder of Meliá Hotels International, died at 89 on November 26. He started the company in Majorca in 1956 at 21. Today, Meliá boasts over 400 hotels in 40+ countries. In 2016, his son Gabriel Escarrer Jaume became chairman and CEO. Juliá received numerous honors, including from Spain and the Balearic Islands. He opened pioneering properties in the Mexican Caribbean, Bali, and Cuba, and is survived by six children and 20 grandchildren.

💸 Driftwood Hospitality Management (DHM) promoted Bryan Postema to COO, Michael Buddemeyer to VP of operations focus service, and Michael Diaz to chief strategy officer; Frenchman's Reef appointed Martin Smith as managing director, Andrew Haas as VP of commercial services, and Maria Vilchez as general manager; Preferred Travel Group promoted Stephanie Calhoun, Christopher Ahlgrim, Renee Haddad, and Priscilla Haryadi to various VP and director positions; Katherine “Kati” Gregory joined Pendry Hotels as director of sales and marketing; Hotel Granada hired Lucits Dean as director of sales; The Chatwal, New York appointed Sebastian Gurevich as hotel manager; Sunriver Resort named Krista Miller VP of real estate and development and Megan Roe as general manager of Caldera Springs.

💿 Jimmy Suh named President of Arlo Hotels, after joining in July 2021 as Chief Commercial Officer. John Luckett appointed President of Hospitality Operations at Kessler, returning after a prior 15-year tenure. Tony Mosca becomes Managing Director at Rosewood Washington, D.C., previously Hotel Manager at The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel in NYC. Joe Pettigrew is now Group Chief Commercial Officer at L+R Hotels, tasked with integrating commercial strategies across the group's 23,000-room portfolio. Jason Kycek appointed Chief Marketing Officer at The Central Romana Corp., after leading Casa de Campo Resort & Villas to record-breaking sales since January 2017. Cory Chambers promoted to EVP and Chief Commercial and Analytics Officer at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG); Maggie Rosa promoted to VP of Operations. Adrienne Breaux named Director of Sales and Marketing at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans. Teddy Susanto Wiryawan joins Vakkaru Maldives as General Manager, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality. Simon A. Fricker appointed General Manager at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, bringing over two decades of experience. Fernando Rivera becomes General Manager of Andaz Miami Beach, set to open in December. Juha Mähönen hired as CEO and General Manager of The Hotel Maria, possessing over 40 years of international hotel management experience.

🏨 Lopesan Hotel Group and Stoneweg Hospitality acquired Hotel Miguel Angel in Madrid, the largest Spanish hotel deal this year. The 241-room hotel, previously owned by General Mediterranean Holding S.A SPF, will be renovated and modernized. NexGen Hotels purchased The Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruiseport, planning to rebrand it as Moor Hotel at Marina Bay, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Q3 2025. It features 150 rooms and various amenities. Four Seasons will open a new 104-room resort including 18 overwater bungalows in Belize in 2025. Dubai's occupancy reached its highest October level since 2012 during Diwali, hitting 82.2%, with ADR at AED819.76 and RevPAR at AED673.98; peaking on October 29 with 92.9% occupancy and RevPAR of AED957.77.

🏨 Design Hotels, part of Marriott International, announced 29 new agreements and a 10% portfolio growth. Recently opened properties include the 69-room Warren Street Hotel in NYC (February) and The Home Hotel Zurich (August) with 132 rooms. Drift Nashville opened in July with 104 keys. In the U.S., Design Hotels now features 10 new properties, totaling 14 in California, and in Mexico, it surpassed 25 properties with upcoming additions like Tinte Hotel (2026). The brand is set to introduce its fifth hotel in Georgia and expand in Switzerland to 15 hotels, as well as launch properties in Istanbul, Singapore, and Bali. The managing director, Stijn Oyen, highlights the brand's vision and community spirit as they mark nearly 300 hotels worldwide.