Nominations

⛷ In Lech Zürs am Arlberg, Austria, home to the country's largest ski area, Gasthof Post has been a Relais & Châteaux for over 40 years. Owned by the Moosbrugger family since 1937, the hotel has evolved with a contemporary wing, a botanical garden, and a luxurious spa over 1,000 m² featuring Cellcosmet and Alpienne brands. It offers 48 rooms and suites, 3 restaurants, and an indoor-outdoor heated pool. The 5-star establishment is a partner of the Arlberg Weinberg wine and gastronomy festival, marking the winter season's start from December 5-15, 2024.

📢 Nicki Graham elevated to Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Ricky Castoldi promoted to Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Cendyn, a global hospitality technology and integrated hotel services company. Graham, with nearly two decades of marketing and PR experience, previously Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Cendyn since 2017, will lead global marketing teams focusing on growth and brand awareness. Castoldi, after a 5-year tenure as Senior Vice President of Sales for the Americas, will drive the global sales team's growth.

🏦 Christopher Weissberg joins the Executive Office of the GHR, the Groupement des Hôtelleries et Restaurations de France. Weissberg, a former restaurateur in Saranac Lake from 2010 to 2024 and a political figure, including Deputy from 2022 to 2024, will represent Groupe Bertrand. The GHR, led by President Catherine Quérard, is comprised of ten administrators and serves as the leadership body for the hotel, cafe, and restaurant sector in France.

🏖️ Guerlain Chicherit's personal holding group, DeSavoie, involved in financial uncertainties while operating well. Chicherit, a former ski freerider and car racer, invests in mountain real estate through DeSavoie Real Estate, noted for the ambitious WOM (World of Mountain) project in Tignes. Whitegold Hospitality, part of his corporate network, operates Les Étincelles brand hotels, having amassed about 30 upscale assets in less than a decade, including hotels Carlina, Chamois d'Or, Taj-i-Mah, residences Montana, Koh-i Nor, and chalets Thovex and Tribute Bansky, via a variety of club-deals.

🏨 Javier Águila, President of Hyatt for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, extends his leadership to the global all-inclusive portfolio starting March 1, 2025. Hyatt's Inclusive Collection encompasses approximately 55,000 rooms across 11 brands, including Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, now part of the collection through a 50/50 joint-venture with Grupo Piñero, where Águila will also join the board. This move follows Hyatt's division into five portfolios: Lifestyle, Luxury, Inclusive, Classics, and Essentials, with a separate Lifestyle group already formed under Amar Lalvani.

🗓 Mick Girardin, aged 33, was appointed as the new Director of Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP) France, succeeding Elise Gouveia who became the Director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). He will report to Franck Fleck, the EMEA Sales Director. Having spent nearly a decade at Kimberly-Clark, Girardin will leverage his expertise to lead a team of 20 and focus on enhancing business and human relations within KCP France. Girardin began his journey with KCP in Belgium in 2015, where he held key commercial roles.

🏨 Hyatt Hotels Corporation appoints Javier Águila as President of its Inclusive Collection effective March 1, 2025. He maintains his role as President for Europe, Africa, and Middle East regions. The Inclusive Collection boasts approximately 55,000 rooms and includes Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts from a 50/50 joint venture with Grupo Piñero. The brand-focused reorganization follows the creation of five distinct brand portfolios—Lifestyle, Luxury, Inclusive, Classics, Essentials—and a Lifestyle group led by Amar Lalvani. Further luxury group announcements are expected later in the year.

🏨 Gonzalo Aguilar appointed as General Manager for Minor Hotels Europe and Americas, effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Ramón Aragonés, who retired at the end of 2024 but will remain as a board member and non-executive vice president. Aguilar, with over 30 years in the hospitality industry and a former COO for Europe at Marriott International, will focus on brand portfolio integration and hotel expansion, particularly in the luxury segment.

🏨 Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced the appointments of Anna Moore and Dan Clark to enhance operations and expand presence in Europe and the UK. Dan Clark, with experience from Calliope Collective, Gleneagles, Elite Hotels, Radisson Edwardian, and Trump Hotels, becomes VP of Global Leisure Sales for Europe, tasked with boosting leisure sales strategy and fostering relationships with luxury travel organizations like Virtuoso and Serandipians. Anna Moore is named Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, managing a portfolio of 30 branded hotels, resorts, and residences.

🏖 Michaël Ruysschaert appointed as the Director General of the new Savoie Departmental Tourism Committee (CDT 73) on April 1, 2025. The committee's inaugural general assembly was held on October 25, 2024. This strategic decision aims to boost Savoie's reputation and attractiveness in national and international markets. Ruysschaert, with his expertise from managing L’Agence Savoie Mont Blanc (2020-2023), is expected to lead significant future projects for the region.