Nominations

🍴 Walter Butti, with a career spanning over 30 years, has been appointed as the new Executive Chef at Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman's Musandam Peninsula. Butti previously worked in various locations, including the Maldives, Ghana, Sydney, Switzerland, South Africa, Mauritius, and the USA. He started his career with an apprenticeship under Chef Jacky Donatz at a prestigious 5-star hotel in Zurich from 1986 to 1989. His first executive role was at Hunter’s Country House in South Africa, followed by Pontresina Sporthotel in Switzerland in 2002. Butti joined Celebrity Cruises in Miami in 2010 and was appointed as relief Executive Chef at Orion Expedition Cruises in Sydney in 2011.

🍴 Quentin André was appointed Executive Chef at Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort ***** in early September, with Fabien Ghini as Sous-Chef Executive. They will continue to strive for culinary excellence at the resort's gastronomic restaurant Le Faventia, focusing on seasonal products. Alain Mourgues, the resort's director, emphasized the commitment to culinary excellence and local producers, marking a new chapter for Terre Blanche. André, with roots in Franche-Comté and Corsica, and Ghini aim to establish the resort as a top gastronomic destination.

🏨 Olivier Dufit stepped up as the Deputy General Director of The Originals Human, Hotels & Resorts in October 2023 and will become General Director on July 1, 2024, succeeding Philippe Marguet who led for 23 years. Dufit joined the Cooperative in 2020 with a background of 15 years in marketing agencies and 15 years as an entrepreneur. The brand, celebrating its 5th anniversary, focuses on pride, reinforcing identity, and tackling future economic and environmental challenges.

🏨 Flor Garcia Cambon is appointed as the new Commercial Director of Esprit de France, Hôtels & Demeures, succeeding Claire Goldman. With a Master's degree in English (LLCE), a Master's 2 in corporate communication from Barcelona, and a continuous education Master's in international and intercultural management from the University of Paris-Dauphine, Flor brings diversified expertise from key roles in the hotel sector, including her recent contribution at Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadéro. She has also worked at Melia Hotels & Resorts, Hôtel du Collectionneur, and Sofitel La Défense, and her tenure in Barcelona included positions at the Sagrada Familia and the National Museum of History of Catalonia.

🏠 Harald Feurstein, with over 20 years of hospitality experience, including leadership roles at Fairmont, Conrad, and Hilton in Asia, and a Cornell University Master's degree in hotel management, is now the General Manager of Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas and Area General Manager for Abu Dhabi & Al Ain at Rotana. Previously, he elevated standards of excellence as the General Manager of Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana. His focus will be on improving customer experience and maintaining service excellence while optimizing performance.

🏡 Isabelle Bouvier, with an ESCI Master 2 (1992) and a BTS from Le Likès Quimper (1989), departed from her General Manager position at Royal Palm Beachcomber, where she's been since 2021. Bouvier boasts a career including Area Director of Sales & Marketing France for Starwood from 1995-2006, Brand Marketing & Strategic Alliances for Concorde Hotels & Resorts (2007-2012), and Director of Sales and Marketing at Peninsula Paris (2013-2017). She transitioned to operations as Hotel Manager of Lutetia – The Set Collection in 2017 for four years. Her successor at Royal Palm Beachcomber in Grand Baie, Mauritius, is Patrice Landrein, a 1992 BTS graduate from Lycée hôtelier Le Paraclet, who recently left Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort Managed by Accor in Cambodia.

🎓 Flor Garcia Cambon, with a Master's degree in Corporate Communication from Barcelona and another in International and Intercultural Management from Université Paris-Dauphine, has joined the Esprit de France hotel collection. Previously, she worked at Sagrada Familia and the National Museum of History of Catalonia, and has experience in translation and marketing for trade shows. Her international and diverse background will contribute to Esprit de France's growth, as per General Manager Jérémie de Fombelle.

🏕 Italian national, Massimo Brancaleoni, with over 25 years of commercial experience, recently held the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Revenue at Silversea Cruises. He has dedicated 20 years at Costa Crociere, climbing the ranks from Director of Pricing and Revenue Management to Senior Vice President of Global Sales, working in cities including Paris, Genoa, Hong Kong, Madrid, Miami, and Monaco. Brancaleoni studied at the University of Genoa and IESE Business School in Barcelona and, since 2022, serves as a visiting professor at Università degli Studi di Genova.

🌞 Pasan Wijewardana appointed as Director of Sales and Marketing for Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Maldives and Sun Siyam Pasikudah in Sri Lanka. With over a decade of luxury hospitality experience in Sri Lanka, Oman, and the Maldives, including a significant role in the growth of Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Wijewardana returns to Sun Siyam Resorts to enhance brand awareness and drive revenue and market presence.

🍷 Paul Robineau, former Chef Sommelier at Les 110 de Taillevent in London, is now leading the Sommellerie of Maisons Taillevent, which includes establishments in Paris, London, Beirut, Tokyo, and Yokohama. His appointment as Executive Head Sommelier is part of the group's development strategy, focusing on wine and gastronomy. Robineau's role will enhance the wine and sommelier expertise of Maisons Taillevent globally, involving exclusive wine events and the internal 'S de Taillevent' program, which offers monthly master classes, estate visits, and more.