Nominations

📦 Eurofragance, based in Barcelona, appoints Oumayma Tabet as General Manager for the Middle East starting January 2026. Tabet, with over 21 years in the fragrance industry, succeeds Antoine de Riedmatten, who served over ten years. This change follows exceptional growth in the Middle East in 2024 and accelerated dynamism in India, now under Mayur Kapse's leadership. Tabet has led Dubai's Creative Center for two years, a regional innovation hub.

🏨 Virgin Hotels Collection appoints Chris Stevens as COO and Rayhan Arif as CCFO to enhance its global reach and premium lifestyle hospitality offerings. Stevens, with nearly 25 years in hospitality, brings solid operational expertise from Hilton and Blackstone's BRE Hotels & Resorts. Arif, a key figure at Virgin Group with experience at Virgin Mobile LATAM and Virgin Orbit, knows the brand well, having served as Board Observer at Virgin Hotels.

🍻 Xavier Jaffret will assume the role of director general at Société des Brasseries du Gabon (Sobraga) on July 1, 2025, succeeding Fabrice Bonatti. The announcement was made by Grégory Clerc, CEO of the Castel group, on June 19, 2025, in Libreville. Sobraga, a key player in Gabon's brewing industry, manages a portfolio of 38 brands. This leadership change comes at a strategic time for the company.

🍳 Matthieu Pasgrimaud became the executive chef at Domaine des Étangs in Massignac in spring 2024. Previously, he earned a Michelin star and a Bib Gourmand at Domaine de la Brûlaire, Maine-et-Loire, in 2022. After the American group Auberge Resorts Collection acquired Domaine des Étangs a year prior, Pasgrimaud aims to elevate the culinary offer with a focus on French epicurean cuisine, blending tradition with innovation. The restaurant Dyades emphasizes regional ingredients.

🏨 Christian Jaquier has been appointed General Manager of Capella Ubud, Bali, a luxury hotel designed by Bill Bensley. Previously, he enhanced customer experience at Sunlife Mauritius, boosting their Net Promoter Score by 35% in 2022. Jaquier has extensive experience in Southeast Asia, having managed operations for AYANA Resort and Ritz-Carlton. His leadership blends operational excellence, attention to detail, and strategic vision, reflecting his ability to integrate service excellence, profitability, innovation, and sustainability.

📅 Cap, Afrique du Sud – 18 juin 2025. Thuthukile Moloto devient Directrice Générale au Pullman Cape Town, le premier hôtel Pullman en Afrique du Sud. Avec plus de 15 ans d'expérience, elle supervisait auparavant les opérations pour Marriott International à NEOM, Arabie Saoudite. L'hôtel, ouvert récemment, est un modèle de design et de service, situé dans la "Best City in the World 2025" par Time Out.

📓 Betty Rech becomes the new Director of Acteurs du Tourisme Durable (ATD) after her tenure at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and Atout France. With expertise in sustainable tourism, she's set to strengthen partnerships within ATD's network of nearly 300 members. She succeeds Anne-Lise Olivier, who led the association for six years. ATD focuses on promoting responsible tourism practices across the industry.

📍 Le Loftstyle Hotel Gerlingen, près de Stuttgart, propose 167 chambres, dont 80 rénovées, et huit salles de réunion pour jusqu'à 320 personnes. Une salle mène à une terrasse sur le toit. Le site inclut un bar 24h/24, une salle de détente, un centre de remise en forme, un restaurant, et des bornes de recharge pour voitures électriques. Marcus Smola de BWH Hotels Europe met en avant l'emplacement et les installations de l'hôtel, renforçant la stratégie de BWH dans les centres d'affaires.

🏨 André Devillers, a well-known figure in global hospitality, is appointed as General Manager of Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge, London, marking a strategy shift for Jumeirah's European properties. A graduate of the FT Board Director Programme and trained at Institut Saint-Pierre and EHL, Devillers has worked with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Bicester Collection, IHG, and Richemont across major European cities. His experience includes leading operations at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and IHG's luxury sector in Southern Europe.

🏨 **Etienne Haro**, a prominent figure in international luxury hospitality, is returning to Europe after leading iconic hotels like **La Mamounia** in Marrakech, **Burj Al Arab** in Dubai, and **The Mark** in New York. In 2026, he will become the Managing Director of **Cambridge House** in London’s Mayfair district, part of **Auberge Resorts Collection**, emphasizing his commitment to "hotel craftsmanship." Haro's journey reflects his dedication to luxury and artisan hospitality.