Nominations

📌 Claudia Kozma Kaplan has been appointed Chief Brand Officer for Raffles and Fairmont hotels, previously contributing to the Raffles network of 23 hotels and multiple new developments. An unrelated event occurred as a fire broke out Wednesday evening at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva on the 7th floor, promptly extinguished by firefighters, resulting in no casualties but necessitating an evacuation. Clients were moved to nearby hotels like Hotel Bristol. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

🏥 The Ritz Carlton Rabat's management was dismissed weeks ago due to an incident involving a palace personality, with the hotel's opening set for September 2024. Marriott dispatched Laurent Demoulin, the General Manager of the St. Regis La Bahia Blanca, Tamuda Bay, for the transition. Rumors suggest possible food poisoning, inappropriate response, or lack of courtesy as reasons. The ousted General Manager, known for his extensive hospitality experience, had previously managed F&B and held an Executive Chef position. Opinions suggest skepticism towards these rumors. Hospitality veteran Pierre Ferchaud once remarked, "If the client is king, I am not his queen.

🏤 Hendrik Huebner is appointed General Manager of the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, UK, with a service launch planned for July 5, 2025. He brings nearly two decades of experience, including leadership roles at Claridge’s, Hotel Café Royal, and Corinthia London. His mission is to build an international team and lay the foundation for the train's long-term success. Gary Franklin, Vice President of Trains and Cruises at Belmond, expressed excitement for Hendrik leading the launch.

🏨 Mathilde Béziau has been appointed General Manager of the Grand Mazarin Paris, part of the Maisons Pariente collection, since its opening in 2023. She oversees hotel services including the Boubalé restaurant, and operations of 47 rooms and 14 suites. Béziau's career includes experience at luxury hotels such as Hôtel L’Hermitage La Baule and Palace Byblos on the Riviera. Her focus includes team management, technological innovations, and corporate social responsibility, aligning with Maisons Pariente's philosophy.

📅 Eventiz, a key player in French-speaking tourism media and events, announced a leadership reorganization with Guillaume Poulain becoming the new General Manager. Poulain, who has been the editorial director since 2018, is tasked with guiding the team and implementing Eventiz's global strategy. Arnaud Gloannec, Vice President of Operations, Charles Vanhoutte, Vice President of Sales, and Julie Clerget, Vice President of Event Creation and Production, join the leadership team. Eventiz, which includes media brands like L'Echo touristique, DeplacementsPros.com, and TOM.travel, as well as key events like Travel d'Or and Innovation Trophies, aims to accelerate development with innovative offers in partnership with Travelsoft. The restructured team aspires to solidify Eventiz's position as a major player in the tourism industry by prioritizing innovation and expertise.

🏤 Hendrik Huebner appointed General Manager of the Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train, in the UK. With nearly two decades of experience in luxury travel, he's set to lead the launch of England and Wales' first exceptional night train, scheduled for July 5, 2025. Huebner has held leadership roles at prestigious institutions like Claridge’s, Hotel Café Royal, and Corinthia London. His strategic role includes building an international expert team and laying the foundation for the train's long-term success. Gary Franklin, VP of Belmond Trains and Cruises, expressed excitement for Huebner to lead this pivotal launch, emphasizing the continuing essence of "Slow Luxury" and unparalleled experiences of Belmond's iconic trains.

🏠 Sandra Oliva, a multilingual professional with expertise in Spanish, English, French, and Italian, began her career in Paris as an event coordinator for an international hotel group. She then joined Four Seasons, progressing through roles at their Geneva, Cap-Ferrat, and Surf Club properties, and briefly left the hospitality industry in 2020 to co-manage the flagship Louis Vuitton store in Paris. In 2023, Oliva took a directorial position at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia before becoming General Manager at a pivotal time for tourism growth in Los Cabos, amidst new hotel openings.

🍴 Damien Béguin appointed as Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia Comcast Center, joined by Executive Chef Mark McDonnell and Banquets and Room Service Chef Narayanan Jayaraman ("Jay"). Béguin, a French national with a diploma from the Avignon hotel school in France, has worked at Paris's Le Meurice with Michelin-starred chefs Yannick Alléno and Alain Ducasse, earning 3 Michelin stars within six months. After traveling Asia for a year, he became maître d'hôtel at Michelin-starred Saint James Paris. At Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, Béguin played a pivotal role in opening George, which quickly earned a Michelin star and helped establish the hotel as one of Europe's top Michelin-starred venues. He now oversees the culinary vision for the Philadelphia hotel's outlets, including Jean-Georges Philadelphia, SkyHigh, Vernick Fish, and Vernick Coffee Bar.

🏨 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.