Nominations

🏨 Johan Cronjé, with over 20 years of hospitality experience and a degree from Tshwane University of Technology (2000), began his career at Protea Hotels by Marriott in 2001. Neal Jones, COO for Europe and Africa at Marriott International, commended Cronjé's profound market knowledge and operational excellence. Cronjé has held key positions including General Manager at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! in Cape Town and Menlyn, and Regional General Manager for properties in South Africa and Tanzania. In 2019, he was appointed General Manager for the opening of Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch.

🏡 Emmanuel Sauvage, 42, with a BTS in hospitality management, began his career as head receptionist and became a director at 23 within Les Hôtels de Paris group. In 2010, he managed the opening of the 5-star Burgundy in Paris. By 2014, he co-founded Evok Hôtels Collection with Romain Yzerman and investor Pierre Bastid, now comprising five lifestyle destinations. Sauvage leads the Prestige commission for the GHR union. Despite the luxury sector's resilience, it's experiencing a slowdown, partly due to the past year's economic issues, affecting not only the ultra-wealthy but a broader clientele.

🏨 After closing in 2018, Lomé's Palm Beach Hotel has been acquired by Burkina Faso's Ebomaf group, known for their work in infrastructure renovation in Africa. Ebomaf plans to refurbish the hotel, modernizing it while preserving its historical legacy, possibly leading to a name change. This project aims to rejuvenate Lomé's hospitality scene and enhance the city's tourist appeal.

🏦 Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna named Jurgen Ammerstorfer as General Manager effective January 7, 2025. Ammerstorfer, with over 30 years in the travel and hospitality industry, will oversee the hotel's extensive renovations, including new dining and bar offerings and the introduction of Anantara Spa. Previously, he managed the Ritz Carlton in Vienna from 2020 to 2024 and has worked with luxury hotel companies across Europe, the US, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

🏦 Jurgen Ammerstorfer appointed as General Manager of Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna, effective January 7, 2025. He oversees the hotel's extensive renovations, including enhanced dining and the introduction of Anantara Spa. Ammerstorfer, with 30+ years in the industry, previously managed Ritz Carlton Vienna (2020-2024) and has worked with luxury hotel companies globally, including Leading Hotels of the World, IHG, and Marriott Luxury Brands.

🏡 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.