Nominations

📈 James Bermingham steps down as CEO of Virgin Hotels after 5 years, having strengthened ties with Virgin Limited Edition. Joe Margison, with 20+ years in investment, takes over as interim CEO for 12 months starting November. Active in Virgin since 2015, Margison oversees the group's real estate portfolio. This temporary leadership aims to ensure continuity while reassessing long-term governance. Previously, Margison worked at the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

📄 Brune Poirson joins Alfred Hotels' board, aiming to enhance their RSE strategy. Formerly a State Secretary for Ecological Transition and Accor’s Executive Committee member, she brings over four years of strategic expertise in sustainable development and transforming the hotel sector. Her role focuses on integrating environmental and social performance into Alfred Hotels' growth. This appointment underscores the company’s commitment to an action-based, ambitious governance model centered on corporate responsibility.

💸 Lightspeed Commerce Inc. appoints Gabriel Benavides as Chief Revenue Officer to enhance growth and profitability across global markets. Benavides, with over 20 years of international go-to-market leadership, will oversee global revenue generation, coordinating sales, marketing, and distribution partnerships. Previously, he was Chief Revenue Officer at Contentsquare and VP at Medallia. Lightspeed aims to transform into a highly efficient growth-focused company, supporting sustainable expansion in over 100 countries.

🏠 Le Groupe Barrière exploite environ 150 restaurants et bars, principalement dans ses 33 casinos et 20 hôtels en France, ainsi qu'à Saint-Barthélemy, Marrakech, New York, et en Suisse. Depuis deux ans, sous la direction de Grégory Rabuel, un repositionnement stratégique a été initié. L'entreprise assure la cohérence des concepts variés par des équipes dédiées et une direction culinaire menée par Julien Chicoisne, garantissant une expérience uniforme mais localisée.

🏨 Esprit Seine strengthens its leadership at Maison Breguet, a 5-star boutique hotel in East Paris, with key appointments. Laurent Herpeux, with over 30 years in luxury hospitality, becomes General Manager, having led top Parisian hotels like Hôtel Royal Saint-Honoré. Thomas Landowski, now Deputy Director, previously enhanced Esprit Seine's strategic projects, including development in dining cruises and managing Maison Jaune restaurant. These changes aim to boost operational management effectiveness.

📈 Choice Hotels International a nommé Kaaren Hamilton au poste de vice-présidente des ventes globales. Elle travaillera sous Raul Ramirez, Chief Segment and International Operations Officer. Kaaren Hamilton, avec plus de 20 ans d'expérience dans les ventes et le marketing B2B, a précédemment occupé des postes clés chez Hyatt, Sonesta, et Radisson. Sa nomination s'inscrit dans la stratégie de croissance internationale de Choice Hotels, qui compte plus de 7 500 établissements.

Lionel Ladouceur, CEO Monde de la branche Café Bakery du Groupe Le Duff (Brioche Dorée, Kamps, La Madeleine), annonce l’arrivée d’Olivier Voarick au poste de Directeur Général de Brioche Dorée…

📈 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts CFO Michele Allen will depart after 25+ years for a non-hospitality role. She'll advise through 2025's end. On November 4, 2025, Kurt Albert, Treasurer and Head of Financial Partnerships & Planning, becomes interim CFO. Recruitment for a permanent CFO, considering internal and external candidates, will commence. CEO Geoff Ballotti praises Allen's contribution and leadership. Albert’s interim role reflects team strength and leadership quality within Wyndham.

🏖 Paul-Antoine Mauraisin has been appointed to lead the Distribution & Hospitality division of Compagnie des Alpes, joining the executive committee amidst a record-setting activity level for 2024/2025. Previously with Vinci Immobilier, Mauraisin focused on impactful projects aligned with a Zéro Artificialisation Nette strategy. The division includes MMV, Terrésens, Mountain Collection Immobilier, and Travelfactory, and plays a crucial role in the Alpine tourism economy by managing accommodations and promoting sustainability.

📈 Charlie Ayers, ex-Under Armour & Speedo leader, joins Amsterdam-based, B Corp-certified company for brand leadership. Rosa Dinnissen, ex-Airbnb, handles global public affairs. Shirley Kind, ex-Nederlandse Loterij, leads global sales. Jeffrey Kloezeman, TikTok/Roblox expert, Martina Nesti, ex-Four Seasons, and Bridget O’Lone, ex-Booking.com/Diageo, bolster the marketing team. The Social Hub, with 21 locations across 18 cities, grows its European presence, managing over 10,000 rooms and 1,000 staff.