Nominations

📈 Philipp Weghmann, with over 20 years of international luxury hospitality experience, including leadership at Marriott International, rejoins Preferred Travel Group. He previously held leadership roles at Preferred for over 15 years. Weghmann will drive global development to expand Preferred Hotels & Resorts and promote the sustainable hospitality label, Beyond Green. Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Travel Group, endorses his strategic vision aligning with the company’s commitment to responsible tourism and growth.

🏖 Vail Resorts announces Rob Katz, 58, returns as CEO, replacing Kirsten Lynch, in office since 2021. Katz, who led from 2006 to 2021, aims to bolster strategic priorities and transformative initiatives. Known for acquisitions like Whistler Blackcomb and Stowe, he strengthened the brand as a global ski leader. The board, led by independent director Bruce Sewell, supports this strategic move to enhance execution. Katz expressed enthusiasm for advancing Vail's development.

💰 Stella Blythe will join EVT as Senior Vice President Development, Asia, starting June 3, 2025, based in Singapore. EVT, an Australian hotel group managing QT Hotels & Resorts and Rydges Hotels & Resorts, aims to expand in Asia using a vertical integration model. Blythe, who was named a "Rising Star" by the International Society of Hospitality Consultants in 2024, brings over ten years of expertise from CBRE Asia, covering EMEA and APAC.

🏨 Emmanuel Schott, at the helm of Auberge du Jeu de Paume for a year, is poised to join H8 Collection as general manager. This strategic appointment could signify a pivotal moment for the hotel group founded by Jean-Philippe Cartier, which owns seven iconic establishments blending heritage, refinement, and art de vivre.

🏠 Cheval Collection nomme Nick Pilbeam directeur commercial pour soutenir son expansion mondiale, avec un portefeuille proche de 1 000 appartements. Qui? Cheval Collection, Nick Pilbeam. Quand? Récemment nommé. Où? Mondial. Quoi? Expansion et gestion de services d'appartements. Comment? Grâce à l'expertise de Pilbeam, avec 20 ans d'expérience dans les voyages et l'hôtellerie, et en introduisant le programme de fidélisation Cheval Discovery. Pourquoi? Pour renforcer la stratégie de croissance et la reconnaissance client.

🏨 Avec 25 ans d’expérience, Giammario Ragnoli, diplômé de l’école hôtelière de Bellagio, devient Directeur Général de Sopwell House, St Albans, Hertfordshire. Il rejoint après son poste de Chief Operating Officer au Hurlingham Club et 14 ans comme General Manager à Stoke Park. Sopwell House, un hôtel 5 étoiles avec un spa primé, est membre de Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Ragnoli supervise hébergement, restauration, spa et événements, valorisant patrimoine et identité chaleureuse.

📚 Cycas Hospitality strengthens its leadership team with key appointments in 2025. In January, Philip Steiner became Chief Operating Officer for the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Portugal. In February, Floris Kouijzer took charge of the Bankside Hotel in London. In March, Naël El Assaad joined as Director of Development, bringing experience from Knight Frank and founding LIVE&CO. These strategic moves aim for agile governance and market expansion.

📈 Claudia Di Iorio a rejoint le conseil d'administration de la Fondation de l’Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ). Elle est diplômée en droit civil et common law de l'Université McGill, et en affaires publiques de l'Université Concordia. Fondatrice de CD1 Legal, elle se spécialise en droit des affaires et a créé une entreprise d'intelligence artificielle pour la construction. Elle siège également aux conseils de la Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec et Bitzero.

🍫 Barry Callebaut appoints Chef Alexis Sanson as Director of the Chocolate Academy™ France, effective May 19, 2025, at the revamped site inaugurated in July 2024. Alexis, a renowned Chef Chocolatier-Formateur with qualifications from CIFAC Caen and CFA Le Mans, has extensive experience, including tenure at Yver Chocolatier (2006–2015) and Christophe Roussel (2015-2016). In 2022, he was a finalist in the MOF Chocolatier-Confiseur competition.

🏡 KSL Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in luxury sustainable hospitality group Soneva, active in the Maldives. This follows their initial investment in November 2019. Neil Gallagher, with over 20 years in high-end hospitality, is now Soneva's CEO. He previously led at Clermont Hotel Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott Vacation Club. Gallagher aims to expand Soneva, founded in 1995, while maintaining its focus on luxury, nature, and personal experiences.