Nominations

🏨 B&B HOTELS aims to expand its portfolio from over 800 hotels in 17 countries to 3,000 in the next decade. Sami Mendil, with over 20 years of commercial real estate investment experience, including roles at GE Capital Real Estate, ADIA, Lasalle Investment Management, and KPMG Corporate Finance, has been appointed as Global Head of Real Estate to drive this growth. Mendil will focus on developing investor relations, identifying new property owners, and structuring innovative programs to support the group's ambitious plans.

🏨 Sami Mendil appointed as Global Head of Real Estate at B&B Hotels in early September. With over 20 years of experience in commercial real estate investment, Mendil has worked with General Electric Capital Real Estate, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund (ADIA) in Europe, Lasalle Investment Management, and was the head of hotel investments France at CBRE. B&B Hotels, owning more than 800 hotels in 17 countries, aims to reach 3,000 establishments over the next decade.

🏦 Sascha Lenz began his career in 1999 at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, joining Mandarin Oriental in 2004 in Hawaii, moving to Hong Kong in 2005. He joined Hyatt in 2007 at Grand Hyatt Berlin, moved to Russia in 2009, and was part of the London 2012 Summer Olympics team at Andaz Hyatt. After 4 years in London, spent 5 years at Park Hyatt Chennai as GM, and has now joined Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok with 380 rooms and nine dining outlets.

🏨 Viceroy's Ombria Algarve in Europe announces key appointments ahead of its opening on October 1, 2024: Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha as General Manager, Pedro Pinto as Executive Chef, and Gonçalo Mendes as Head Sommelier. This team will manage all resort operations from the outset, aiming to position it among Europe's most renowned hotels.

🏨 Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, set to open on October 1, 2024, announced key leadership appointments: Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha as General Manager, Pedro Pinto as Executive Chef, and Gonçalo Mendes as Head Sommelier. The new team will oversee all operational aspects of the resort in Portugal. Duarte brings over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience, previously working at four Aman Resorts, Finca Cortesin, and as General Manager at Discovery Hotel Management's Octant Douro for four years. He holds degrees from Les Roches School of Hotel Management in hospitality management and strategic marketing.

🏨 Martin Rinck, former Executive Vice President – Chief Brand Officer at Hilton (2018-2021) and President in Asia-Pacific (2008-2018), with an MBA from Brunel University London (1995), has held executive positions at Radisson Hotel Group in Brussels, Mövenpick Gastronomy International in Zurich (1998-2003), and is now the CEO of Cervo Advisory AG in Switzerland. He serves on the boards of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and the NGO Room to Read. Rinck has been appointed CEO of Lindner Hotel Group, following Arno Schwalie, who will leave on August 31, 2024.

🏢 In Oslo, Karoline Hoff succeeds Torunn Tronsvang as CEO of Up Norway, a company founded by Tronsvang in 2016. Tronsvang, with past roles in Anantara (2004-2006, Thailand and Maldives), Madinat Jumeirah (2007-2008), and Aman Resorts (2008-2010, Bhutan), now becomes Chief Experience Officer (CXO). Hoff, not originally from the tourism industry, has a background in financial management from the Norwegian School of Economics and holds experience in strategy, business development, and digital transformation, recently serving as the Director of Strategy and Business Development for Møller Mobility Group.

🏦 Jeff Toscano boasts three decades of experience in the luxury market, excelling in asset creation, management, and evolution. He collaborated with hotel management teams, ownership groups, and developers to innovate and execute unique premium hospitality concepts and experiences. An alumnus of Cornell University's General Manager Program and holder of a B.S. in Hospitality from Purdue University, Toscano has a track record of transforming organizations and establishing properties as top-tier brands with exceptional customer experiences and strong operational performance. Most recently, he was the Executive Vice President of Luxury and Lifestyle Hotels at Highgate, overseeing strategy and operations for 31 hotels with over 8,000 rooms, generating approximately $1 billion in annual revenue. Toscano has held leadership roles at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Davidson Hotels & Resorts, Two Roads Hospitality, Denihan Hospitality Group, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, managing major projects like The Surrey NYC, The Beekman NYC, Ventana Big Sur, and Carmel Valley Ranch.

🏨 New York native Randall Williams began his hospitality career at Greenbrier Resort, West Virginia, in 1999. By 2006, he became a general manager. Williams has managed various hotels across the U.S., including Wyndham, Hyatt, and 21c Museum Hotel brands. In 2022, he joined the Fairmont Vancouver Airport as General Manager, maintaining its rank as North America's number one airport hotel for nine consecutive years. Williams now joins Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, after over two decades in the industry and leadership roles in Accor's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee from 2020-2022. He holds a degree from the University of Nevada.

📝 Marie Di Genova has been appointed to the board of the Foundation of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ). With over 30 years in the agri-food industry and holding a sociology degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a marketing program from HEC, she's also the Vice-president of sales and industrial marketing at Groupe Première Moisson Inc since 2020. Di Genova contributes her extensive business experience to ITHQ Foundation's board, aiming to achieve its objectives.