Nominations

🏨 Pierre-Marie Ragon becomes the General Manager of Hôtel Le Mas Candille in Mougins, in 2024. Born in Cannes, he studied hospitality in Nice from 2001 and has worked in Michelin-starred venues. His career includes roles at prestigious hotels like Chewton Glen, St-Regis Bora Bora, and Hôtel Président Wilson. In 2023, he won the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France. Le Mas Candille features 46 rooms and suites, a Spa Clarins, two pools, and a 4-hectare park.

📊 David García Blancas joined B&B HOTELS in June 2025 as CEO for Spain & Portugal, aiming to boost growth in the Iberian Peninsula. By September 2025, he became Group CCO, overseeing commercial functions. B&B HOTELS operates over 900 hotels across 19 countries. Their network doubled since 2019, emphasizing the importance of revenue management, distribution optimization, and data analysis to enhance profitability. The strategic focus is on expanding European presence and optimizing commercial operations.

💸 Antin Capital Partners, fondé à Paris en 2007, vise des participations majoritaires dans des entreprises en croissance. Mid Cap Fund I, doté de 2,2 milliards d'euros, pourrait réaliser sa 9e acquisition en juin 2026. Le family office Caravelle, dirigé par la famille Martel depuis 1995, cible des entreprises entre 50 et 300 M€ de CA. Alexis Gardy a pris les rênes de Belambra en 2021, impulsant une relance avec des formules tout compris et de nouvelles constructions à Flaine et aux Deux-Alpes.

🏠 Julie Desvaux, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality, joins Nikki Beach in early 2026. Her role focuses on global marketing strategy and brand consistency as the company expands into Antigua, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, and Baku. Nikki Beach is transitioning from a single-concept to a multi-asset platform, demanding enhanced centralized management. Desvaux's expertise includes leadership roles at Les Airelles and Groupe Barrière, where she led marketing and communication initiatives.

🏫 Alain Sebban, né à Oran, s'éteint à 79 ans, quelques mois après Henri Magne. En 1981, il ouvre sa première école à Paris, pionnière dans l'enseignement supérieur en management hôtelier. D'autres institutions suivent, formant un réseau mondial de franchises. Lyon devient un campus clé. Sa fille, Karine Sebban-Benzazon, prend la direction générale en 2023. Le modèle pédagogique intègre formation académique et expérience pratique, régulièrement révisé lors de réunions annuelles.

🏨 Gérald Van Reck has been appointed as the general manager of InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal, marking IHG's expansion in France. This move aligns with IHG Hotels & Resorts' strategy to strengthen its luxury portfolio by focusing on heritage assets. IHG collaborates with BMF Hospitality and PFH to enhance regional luxury performance. The property, strategically located near major cities, targets premium leisure, event stays, and high-end corporate clients, aiming to convert symbolic capital into measurable performance.

🏨 Evok Collection appointed Aya Hanova as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing operations and growth, coinciding with new openings: Brach Roma (Q1 2027) and Nolinski Golfe de Saint-Tropez (Q2 2027). Hanova, with over 18 years of luxury hospitality experience in Europe and the Middle East, has worked at Rosewood Hôtel de Crillon, Four Seasons George V, and Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Her leadership focuses on talent development and service excellence.

📅 Raffles, Accor's luxury brand, has four European locations: Paris, London, Istanbul, and Warsaw, focusing on iconic capitals rather than extensive expansion. Accor's European strategy prioritizes converting historical assets in mature markets. Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris is a strategic asset in Accor's luxury platform, demanding high leadership standards. Nicolas Dubort, with experience in luxury hotels like Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental, has worked in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

📚 Paris, 5 février 2026: Leonor Lopes Gil, ex-Directrice Générale, devient Présidente Directrice Générale de bnetwork Group, un leader européen en hébergement événementiel B2B. En 2025, bnetwork a acquis HMI Europe et récemment géré 28 300 nuitées et 6 573 chambres lors de l’ICE 2026 à Barcelone. Avec 15 ans d’expérience, Gil vise à intégrer la durabilité, renforcer l'hébergement et développer des services, consolidant bnetwork comme plateforme de référence.

📄 François Georges remains president of Sandaya, appointing Jean-Yves Challies as CEO and Cécile Williot Scarfogliere as deputy CEO. The executive committee expands to include Loïc Cerdan as secretary general and Jean-Marc Hoarau, who leads an extended scope covering commerce, marketing, and IT. Tiphaine Ballarin, Sébastien Mendes, and Manuel Trarieux continue their roles. Roberto Franchi and Marie Le Saux oversee territories in Italy and France. Jean-Yves Challies previously spent nine years as deputy director.