Nominations

🏩 Benjamin Debout, previously managing Hotel Le Champlain in La Rochelle since June 2022, has been appointed as the new Director of the 4-star Maison Obono Hôtel & Spa, a serene hotel located in a historic manor. Benjamin Debout's educational background includes a BTS from Lycée hôtelier de Gerardmer in 2008 and a Licence from ICI ICARE in 2009. His mission is to fortify the hotel's unique identity and make Maison Obono a distinguished name in hospitality and wellness.

🏨 Julie Hammond, with over 25 years of hospitality experience, appointed to lead The Celtic Collection and ICC Wales, the largest independent hotel group and newest conference center in Wales, UK. The Celtic Collection boasts 10 hotels with 1,217 rooms. ICC Wales, a modern facility costing over €100 million, can host 5,000+ delegates and will welcome Worldchefs Congress and Expo in 2026. Hammond previously oversaw Cumberland Hotel London since January 2022 and held leadership roles at L+R Hotels and Ralph Trustees Ltd. Her new role involves driving revenue growth and profitability for one of Wales' largest employers.

🏨 Alexander Henskens appointed new Hotel Director of JW Marriott Grosvenor House London starting February 2025. Previously, he served as director at Royal Lancaster London from 2018, enhancing its success. Stuart Bowery, General Manager, oversees Henskens. The hotel, eyeing its centenary in 2030, anticipates operational excellence. Henskens, a 2007 Bachelor's in Hospitality Management graduate from The Hague, started at Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf in 2008 and has held key positions at Amba Hotel Marble Arch and Montcalm London Marble Arch.

🏨 Xavier Perret appointed as General Manager of Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte de Monaco, bringing over 20 years of hospitality industry experience. He has held key positions within Marriott International, including Operations Manager at Renaissance Paris Nobel Tour Eiffel and multiple financial director roles in Paris and Brussels. The year marks the hotel's 30th anniversary, emphasizing its commitment to superior accommodations and service.

🏡 Hani Akkari leads The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort as General Manager in Doha, previously holding the position from May 2023 to February 2024. His career started post-2007 after graduating from La Rochelle hotel school, working at Relais & Châteaux in Vence, then Four Seasons, and at Hilton Paris Arc de Triomphe in 2008. Moving to the Middle East in 2011, Akkari progressed through Sofitel in the UAE and became General Manager of MGallery Doha in 2019. He joined Fairmont Doha in January 2022 before his recent return to The Chedi Katara.

🏡 Mathieu Sauvestre, with 16 years of hotel development experience, is appointed as the new Development Director at French ecological and lifestyle hotel group Eklo. Graduated from HEC in 2009, started at Club Med, restructuring its portfolio in Africa and the Middle East, then led North American development in 2015, focusing on mountain markets in the US and Canada, and beach resorts in the Caribbean. By 2019, he was driving Club Med's development in France and Switzerland and enhancing its upscale positioning. Sauvestre joins Eklo to drive its ambitious expansion, aligning with its concept of accessible lifestyle hospitality and strong environmental and societal integration.

👨 Stefan Reiter, with Hilton since 1993, returned in January as head of Hilton Sofia, which he previously led from 2012 to 2017. At 57, his notable career includes opening the Hilton Riyadh Olaya in May 2024 after a four-year preparation, making it a luxury symbol with 239 rooms and three restaurants. He also launched the Hilton Astana in 2017, achieving the country's best congress hotel in under two years, and opened the Hampton by Hilton Turkistan in 2020.

📖 The Oetker family, owners of the Bristol Paris, appoints a new chef with two Michelin stars and the title of MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France). The renowned Epicure restaurant at the Bristol, located on Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, offers a culinary journey through France under the new chef, previously known for serving at the Auberge du Jeu de Paume for the Aga Khan, and hosting Barack Obama and Bono at La Chèvre d’Or in Èze. This marks a significant move from his comfort zone in Nice, where he spent eight years and developed the "Rivyera" concept.

🏨 Tarek Beheiry, a hospitality industry veteran with over 20 years of experience across Asia, Africa, and Australasia, was appointed to lead INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit. The 208-room hotel spans 34 floors in Bangkok's trendy On Nut district, featuring a high-rise transparent infinity pool, a rooftop tapas bar, and integrated coworking spaces. Beheiry's role at Meliá Hotels International marks his first collaboration with the Spanish hotel group, known for its global presence and expanding footprint in Asia. Previously, he managed the Mondrian Seoul Itaewon in South Korea, W Koh Samui, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Pullman Bangkok Hotel G in Thailand, and held operational roles at Sofitel in Egypt, Australia, and Singapore for a decade. Beheiry, a Helwan University Cairo graduate in tourism and hotel management, began his career at Sofitel and became General Manager of Hotel G Singapore in 2017.

📈 Jean-Jacques Morin, administrateur at AccorInvest, is tasked with selling Accor's 31% stake within a maximum of 18 months, as confirmed by Sébastien Bazin during a financial analysts' meeting. This move follows Accor's decision to discontinue its ownership in the real estate firm it established.