Nominations

🍴 Elior Group's subsidiary, Elior, is the leading company in France's collective restaurant industry. For over 25 years, Elior has been ahead in meeting the expectations and needs of various groups, including children, students, workers, patients, and residents.

🏢 Christian Fomm, with a 30-year career across Europe, including the UK (Connaught, The Thistle Tower Hotel, Grosvenor House), Austria (Hotel Imperial and Hotel Bristol by Starwood), Spain (St. Regis Majorque), and a nearly 9-year stint with Hilton in Germany, takes his first position outside of Europe. Congratulations Christian Fomm!

💸 Tim Cordon's role as COO expanded to SEAP region. Rob Collier, responsible for future openings in MEA, will now also support SEAP. Caroline Thissen, Senior Area Director of Sales & Revenue Optimization, extends her responsibilities to SEAP. Stephanie Aboujaoude, Senior Area Director of Marketing & Communications for MEA and the Mediterranean, will also support SEAP. Saadiyah Hendricks, Area Director of PR & Social Media, and Diana Al Jaseem, Area Brand & Content Marketing Manager, to provide additional support from Dubai. Cameron Speedie promoted to Senior Director of Finance and Control SEAP, previously Regional Financial Controller for the Middle East, East Africa, and Nigeria.

🏨 Camille Laratte has joined Okko Hotels as the Marketing and Communications Director and will serve on the executive committee. With a background in developing F&B concepts at Accor Group and strategic conception to operational execution expertise, she aims to enhance customer experience. Laratte's marketing strategy for Okko Hotels will focus on innovation and sustainable practices, reflecting its status as France's first mission-driven hotel brand. She will lead strategic rebranding projects and brand expansion, ensuring marketing consistency and efficiency.

📈 Cédric Bartolini has been appointed to lead the commercial direction of Choice Hotels EMEA, focusing on sales, marketing, revenue management, and distribution. A veteran with a career starting at Vienna International Hotelmanagement AG, he later joined Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, then Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH in 2017, and Zenitude Hôtel-Résidences. In his new role, Bartolini will implement a targeted commercial strategy to enhance growth and profitability in the EMEA region. CEO David Beers expresses confidence in Bartolini's proven track record and impact on strategic goals and franchisee value proposition.

🏨 Pierre Lartigue discussed the Hotel Gaité Montparnasse transaction with Hospitality ON, following the sale of the 33-room, 4-star Hotel Opera Opal on rue Tronchet. The 3-star hotel, located in Paris' 14th arrondissement between Montparnasse station and rue de la Gaité, was acquired by Groupe Marmott, led by Louis Grandcolas and Matthieu Bégué, in collaboration with Extendam.

📍 Kasada cède l'Hôtel Ibis Douala au Cameroun avec ses 160 clés à Bocom, appartenant au milliardaire Dieudonné Bougne. L'acquisition initiale de l'hôtel faisait partie d'un portefeuille de 8 hôtels en 2021, une des plus importantes transactions transfrontalières d'hospitalité en Afrique à l'époque. L'hôtel, ouvert en 1985, dispose d'un restaurant, bar, piscine extérieure, salles de réunion et a reçu la certification écologique EDGE en 2022. Les détails financiers de la vente n'ont pas été révélés.

🏨 Australian Judd Rabbidge, with a background from Pacific International Hotel Management School (2008), is now General Manager at Avani+ Fares Maldives. Previously, he managed hotel operations for W Sydney and boosted W Bali – Seminyak’s luxury appeal from 2018 to 2022. His tenure included overseeing client satisfaction and profitability at two other Marriott properties. Stuart De San Nicolas of Minor Hotels Maldives endorses Rabbidge's sales and marketing expertise to drive revenue growth.

📍 Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) announces a strategic partnership with The MRS Group of Hotels, a leading Indian boutique hotel group. This partnership marks a significant development for SLH in the Indian subcontinent and positions MRS Group as a global player in contemporary hospitality. MRS Group's portfolio includes award-winning establishments like Suryagarh in Jaisalmer, Narendra Bhawan in Bikaner, and Mary Budden Estate in Binsar, offering immersive heritage experiences. The collaboration will leverage SLH's global distribution network and marketing capabilities, expanding MRS Group's unique offerings to an international audience. MRS also gains from SLH's exclusive partnership with Hilton. Karan Singh Vaid, President of The MRS Group, expresses pride in being the first Indian independent hotel chain to partner with SLH.

🏨 Marie Bocquillon joins B&B Hotels as HR Director, previously holding the same position at Louvre Hotels Group and roles at ArcelorMittal, CGI, and Axa. Olivier Lucas is appointed Operations Director, bringing 30 years of experience from positions at Renault, Saint Gobain, Lapeyre, and Sonepar France. Marine Charles, General Manager of B&B Hotels Western Europe, emphasizes the importance of their expertise for growth and customer satisfaction.