Nominations

🏛 César Alcobendas named Hotel Manager at Fairmont Monte Carlo on March 31, 2025, joining General Manager Alexandre Ariel. The hotel features 596 rooms and suites, four restaurants, a spa, two pools, a fitness center, and 5,000 m² of event space. The announcement coincides with the hotel's 50th anniversary and its complete renovation. Alcobendas has an Executive MBA (UNIR 2021), a Master in Hotel Management (Forst 2021), and graduated from the Swiss Hotel Management School (2012). His career started in Paris, proceeded through key positions in Switzerland and Spain, and included roles at Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona and Hyatt Regency Birmingham. In 2023, he took the helm at InterContinental Edinburgh The George.

???? 🏨 Céline Bressot Meyer remains AFA President, a position she first held in 2023, and also serves as General Manager of Compagnie Française d'Hôtellerie. Jérôme Schibler named Vice-President, co-founder of Atypio Hotels & Resorts. Stéphanie Rollin joins AFA as Treasurer; she co-leads Hively Hospitality, established in 2023 and participated in last year's Hospitality Awards.

🏦 Hotel Seville NoMad, previously James NoMad Hotel, transitions into The Unbound Collection by Hyatt with an upcoming renovation. Managed by Hyatt, the renovation aims to enhance the hotel's early 20th-century grandeur and contribute to the NoMad district's revitalization in New York. The hotel, in a preserved Beaux-Arts building from 1903, offers 348 redesigned rooms with vintage-inspired furniture and a modern comfort aesthetic.

🏨 Laetitia Barchewitz has been appointed as the General Manager of Canopy by Hilton Paris Eiffel Tower. With over 30 years in the hospitality industry and a significant career at Hilton, her responsibilities include the strategic direction and performance optimization of the hotel. Barchewitz aims to enhance the hotel's services, increase local and international renown, and create a collective synergy within the establishment. She plans to eventize significant moments and improve overall offerings to establish the hotel as a flagship of the Canopy brand. Her priorities also involve boosting hotel occupancy by leveraging iconic spaces like the rooftop Eylau Paris and the l’Esprit Nouveau restaurant, as well as revising dining options to elevate the customer experience.

📌 Manik Budhraja joins RateTiger as Global Director of Sales and Account Management, bringing a decade's experience from his previous VP role at RateGain. Focused on customer-centric solutions, Budhraja aims to enhance hotel distribution, revenue management, and international product development with his SaaS B2B expertise for the hospitality industry.

🏡 Le Castel Novel in Varetz, Corrèze, transitioned to new ownership in 2021 by a local investors' trio led by Maxime Meizaud. Despite Lithuanian ownership, the hotel's authentic spirit remains, overseen by General Manager Maxime Meizaud and Development Director Katia Mamlina. Lithuanian businessman Giedrius Klimkevicius, owner of Pakruojis Manor Hotel, now controls the establishment, continuing writer Colette's legacy.

🏠 On March 17, 2025, French national Michael Calixte became Vice-President Regional and General Manager of Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, tasked with bolstering the brand's presence in Morocco, overseeing four properties: Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech, Fairmont Taghazout Bay, Fairmont La Marina Rabat-Salé, and Fairmont Tazi Palace Tangier. With a career spanning 13 countries and top hotels like Sofitel Cairo Maadi, Sofitel Dubai Downtown, and Swissôtel Dubai, Calixte embraces a service philosophy centered on guest uniqueness.

🍴 Marketing sensoriel key to distinguishing restaurants by engaging all five senses for memorable experiences. Techniques create emotional connection, crucial for customer retention and response to online reviews, transforming mere thanks into an evocative journey. Visual allure, scent evoking memories, taste promises, texture descriptions, and ambiance sounds enrich client interactions and enhance restaurant appeal in a saturated market.

🍽 Frédéric Vincent takes the lead of the 25 establishments of Groupe La Mère Poulard at Mont Saint-Michel, aiming to bolster the brand's image, expand international influence, and maintain culinary excellence and authenticity. Vincent, with extensive experience in hospitality, previously worked for Groupe Lucien Barrière and Société Paul Ricard. Renovation works are planned, with improvements to customer experience expected by 2030. The Vannier family has led the group for 40 years.

🏨 Philip Ward, former CEO of Hotels & Hospitality at JLL for the EMEA region, has joined the board of technology-driven hotel operator Bob W as an independent non-executive director. With over three decades of experience in real estate, investment banking, and hotel consultancy, Ward's appointment comes amidst Bob W's rapid expansion across Europe, including in Greece. His role will involve guiding the strategic direction and acting as an independent voice for shareholders.