Nominations

📈 Hassan Merchant joined Arabian Travel Market (ATM) as the marketing director, a role he's been appointed to by RX, the event organizer. Merchant, previously with RX since 2020, will report to Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, ATM. As part of his role, he'll manage the marketing strategy for the Dubai-based event, which saw a record attendance of 47,000 visitors last year. He brings 12 years of experience to the team and has worked in Dubai since 2014 after graduating with a commerce degree in India.

🏨 Ninoska Batista joins OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group to manage planning, programming, and construction programs, bringing over a decade of industry experience. Recently, she acted as a project manager for a $10 billion industrial project at THOST Projektmanagement. Previously at Gensler, she administered over a dozen interior design projects. Batista holds WELL AP, FITWEL Ambassador, LEED AP BD+C certifications, and is working towards CIDQ and ARE qualifications. Her accolades include recognition for her master's thesis, the AIA-AIAS Trust scholarship, CH2M HILL's Leadership and Mentoring Award, and winning Florida International University's Solar Decathlon design contest.

🏦 Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, owner of The Peninsula Hotels, announces the appointment of Frenchman Benjamin Vuchot as Executive Director and General Manager starting March 3, 2025. Preceding CEO Clement King Man Kwok will step down on October 31, 2024. Vuchot will also join Executive, Financial, and Management Committees and be an Administrator of various group entities. He expresses commitment to uphold the company's 150-year reputation in luxury hospitality.

Communiqué de presse Paris, le 10 Octobre 2024 – D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, l’un des principaux fournisseurs de CRS et de connectivité GDS pour des milliers d’hôtels m travers le monde,…

🏨 Eternam and Victoires Haussmann SGP finalized the sale of the majority stake of the Phoenix Club Invest fund in O’Lord hotel residence in September, located in Paris's 8th district. The former office building was renovated into 19 high-end apartments, opening in 2021 after a two-year makeover. The successful hotel business operation demonstrates the asset class's resilience and value creation potential.

🏨 Peter Haaber's company, Core Hospitality, partners with Marriott International to rebrand 14 Zleep Hotels in Denmark to Four Points Flex by Sheraton, majority by December 2023 and the rest by early 2025. The mid-range hotels will emphasize reliable, simple, value-for-money experiences with free breakfast and Wi-Fi for practical, budget-conscious travelers. The rebranding aims to unlock new value potential by leveraging Marriott Bonvoy's established brand recognition.

📌 Frédéric Vidal, a seasoned professional with over 30 years in the luxury hotel industry across five continents, is appointed the General Manager of Jumby Bay Island, part of Oetker Collection. Vidal, with over a decade at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, served as General Manager of Las Ventanas al Paraíso in South America since 2014, overseeing 61 suites, 15 villas, and 74 private residences. In 2019, he expanded his role to Regional Vice President, managing five properties across the continent. In 2022, while still General Manager, he was named Vice-President of Operations for the Americas, supervising 14 properties in five countries. Previously, Vidal managed MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa in Seychelles for seven years and was the General Manager at Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo in Monaco for three years.

📌 Adrian Keating is appointed as the new Regional Sales Director for Northern Europe at WebBeds, a global accommodation and ground services platform for the tourism industry. Keating previously doubled revenue in the region as Commercial Director at PLAY Airlines. He brings extensive experience from high-level commercial roles with brands like Norse Atlantic Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, and EasyJet. Northern Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavian countries, is WebBeds' largest source market in Europe.

🍴 Lionel Lévy, renowned French chef, joins LJ Hôtels & Co as Director of Catering and Events, tasked with growth and innovation. Lévy, trained by Gérard Garrigues and previously worked alongside Yves Camdeborde, Éric Fréchon, and within Alain Ducasse's teams. Opened Une Table au Sud in Marseille in 1999, awarded a Michelin star in 2004, later becoming the Director of Catering at the international group of the InterContinental in Marseille until early 2024, supervising the starred restaurant Alcyone. He will lead Cocci, the new Italian restaurant opening in November.