Nominations

🏡 The prestigious 5-star hotel, Le Manoir de Bélioles, with 16 suites, often referred to as the "little Versailles" of the Ardennes, has been sold by the Lüssem family. The new owner is reported by the Belgian press to be Gilbert Lodomez, who also owns the Thermes de Chaudfontaine.

🏠 Onyria Group, owner of Onyria Quinta da Marinha and Onyria Marinha in Cascais, takes over management of Château des Vigiers—a luxury resort in Dordogne, 90 minutes from Bordeaux. The 150-hectare estate features 65 rooms, including a 16th-century château, the Relais des Vigiers hotel, a 27-hole golf course, a Sothys spa, and the Michelin-starred restaurant Les Fresques, led by Chef Didier Casaguana. Onyria has been a shareholder since the 1990s; the team, led by Niels Koetsier, remains, marking a significant step in Onyria's international expansion. CEO Antonio Pinto Coelho celebrates the acquisition.

🏨 Kempinski Hotels, led by CEO Barbara Muckermann, restructures its governance, welcoming Gordon Drake as CFO and Rasha Lababidi as CPO. The luxury hotelier, with a 127-year history, aims to accelerate development and consolidate its prestigious position. Drake brings over 30 years of global experience in corporate capital markets, asset management, risk management, and strategic financial planning to drive profitability and growth.

🏕 Céline and Philippe Bossanne's nature camping group acquires a 34% stake in Philippe Vaurs and Christophe Sauvage's Elégancia hotel group. Elégancia manages Hoscar café-hotels, with its flagship in Versailles since last year. Elégancia founders witnessed Hoscar de Versailles' opening in May. Huttopia, known for French glamping, expanded to Canada, the USA, the Netherlands, and China, and introduced café-hôtels post-lockdown for village revitalization.

🏦 Sébastien Mariette, an Essec Business School MBA graduate of 2001, has been appointed General Manager of Kempinski Harbour Heights Bahrain, scheduled to open in late 2025, and Vice President of Operations for Kempinski hotels in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the Levant, and Morocco. With an 18-year tenure at Kempinski, and leadership roles across Jordan, China, Dubai, Singapore, and Egypt, Mariette was awarded General Manager of the Year in Jordan in 2024. The Bahrain luxury hotel will feature elegant rooms, high-end residences, and wellness facilities with views of Manama's marina.

🍽 La Réserve Paris celebrates a decade of excellence, announcing Chef Jérôme Banctel as Ambassador of Château Cos d'Estournel. Michel Reybier and 3-star chef Banctel are pleased with this new role that extends Banctel's responsibilities since the inauguration of La Réserve Paris. The partnership honors the success and synergy between Reybier and Banctel, emphasizing values of excellence and refinement shared by La Réserve Paris and the emblematic Château of Saint-Estèphe. Banctel expresses gratitude for Reybier's trust since the hotel's opening.

🏨 Scott Ratcliffe, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality, appointed General Manager of Crystalbrook Byron, Byron Bay, assuming role by the end of 2024. Emma Alcorn, former GM of Crystalbrook Byron, now leads Crystalbrook Bailey in Cairns, known for team management and customer experience enhancement. Carl Taranto, a Crystalbrook member since 2018 with 20+ years in hospitality, becomes Area General Manager for Cairns, overseeing Crystalbrook Riley, Flynn, and Bailey. Lisa Brown, with 15 years in hospitality, moves from Crystalbrook Bailey to manage Crystalbrook Flynn in Cairns. These appointments reflect Crystalbrook's strong management strategy and focus on luxury hotel sector success.

🏦 Ayman Gharib, with a Master’s degree in International Hotel Management from the University of Surrey (2003), has been appointed CEO of Kisawa Sanctuaries and Residences, based in Dubai DIFC and working from the Mayfair, London satellite office. With over 20 years in luxury hotel industry, Gharib served as VP Operations Middle East for Raffles and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts from April-November 2024 and held key management roles at Accor for over six years, including Managing Director at Raffles the Palm Dubai and Area General Manager from May 2021 to April 2024.

📍 Harry Theoharis announced his candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization during FITUR 2025. His campaign slogan "reform to transform, unite to grow" reflects his plan for organizational and technological transformation. The African Office of Tourism supports his bid. Theoharis aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency within UNWTO.

⛷ 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.