Nominations

📈 Tensions rose between Henri Giscard d'Estaing and Club Med's Chinese shareholder, Fosun, leading to Giscard d'Estaing's dismissal after the appointment of a new chairman without his input. The change follows disputes over governance and strategy, notably over plans to relist Club Med on the Paris stock exchange by 2026, which Fosun rejected. Despite Giscard d'Estaing's willingness to ensure a smooth transition, Fosun proceeded with succession planning independently.

🏠 M2G Ventures, based in Fort Worth, Texas, launches a hospitality division to expand its multi-asset platform. Chris Hanrattie, former SVP at Crescent Real Estate, is appointed Managing Director. The new team aims to revitalize properties by enhancing RevPAR, operational efficiency, and customer experience. Co-founder Jessica Miller Essl highlights growth opportunities in full-service and select-service segments in fast-growing markets.

🏆 2030, Alpes Françaises. The Comité d’Organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques d’Hiver adds four strategic leaders, expanding to nine directors under Cyril Linette. Edgar Grospiron, the President, highlights a seasoned, gender-balanced team. Key appointments include Anne Murac, with 25 years in sport event operations, and Mathilde Meurisse, experienced in past Olympics and Commonwealth Games. The team is set to prioritize project goals for the 2030 Winter Games.

📍 Charline Bresse Vittoz has led Lavorel Hotels for a decade, joining at its inception. Initially, Jean-Claude Lavorel, after selling LVL Médical to Air Liquide, owned two properties and saw potential in the hotel industry. The strategy involved centralizing support functions to allow hotel directors to focus on operations, customer experience, and team management. Lavorel Hotels prioritized acquiring and owning 5-star establishments, emphasizing unique properties and strategic expansions.

🏨 Federico's arrival is pivotal for Louvre Hotels Group. With past success at Radisson and NH, he leads a new transformation aligned with the group's context, supported by a five-year plan addressing AFLH's persistent requests. Initiatives like Campanile Prime Nature and Kyriad Direct's evolution to Kyriad Éco are underway. Despite challenges in the budget hotel sector this year, clarity in contracts and trust enable mutually beneficial investor-franchisee relationships in a shifting market.

📈 Henri Giscard d’Estaing, 67, was ousted from Club Med's leadership on July 16, 2023, by Fosun, marking a major shift with operations moving to Shanghai. He had led since 2004, focusing on upscale resorts globally. Fosun, involved since 2010, failed at opening capital to new investors. The abrupt exit, lacking a transition, raises questions about Club Med's future. A new president is expected soon, as Fosun discreetly steers its strategy.

📚 Pascal Billard, director of Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona since 2013, will become the General Manager of Le Meurice, Dorchester Collection in Paris. Announced on May 13, 2025, the appointment is effective from August 4, 2025. Le Meurice features 160 rooms, 450 staff, a 600 m² suite, and Paris's largest private terrace. It also offers culinary creations by Alain Ducasse and desserts by Cédric Grolet.

📈 Emilie Couton, with 24 years of experience at Accor and D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, becomes CEO of Accor Plus, focusing on innovation and personalization. Emilie significantly expanded Accor’s Asia-Pacific presence from 250 to 1,200 hotels across 38 brands. Accor Plus, celebrating 30 years, emphasizes delivering exceptional value, driven by a data-centric, energetic approach. Mehdi Hemici highlights Emilie's visionary leadership during a pivotal time in the travel loyalty sector.

📈 Food Service Vision, founded in Lyon in 2005 by François Blouin, appoints Michael Ballay as Deputy General Manager to enhance strategic activities. Ballay, rejoining in 2018, previously expanded supplier portfolios. The company strengthens governance and strategic activities by recruiting Virginie Pernin, Justine Duvernet, Alexandre Anne, and Justine Iochmann-Dejean in roles related to sector reviews, panel performance, data management, and marketing activation.

🏠 Niché dans la Vallée de la Loire, le Château de Beauvois, à 20 minutes de Tours, accueille à l'été 2025 trois nouveaux talents : Chrystel Clément (directrice), Teddy Ragain (chef de cuisine) et Nancie Cecillon (cheffe pâtissière). Le domaine du XVe siècle, avec 35 chambres et un parc de 40 hectares, vise l'excellence. Le restaurant Louis XIII peut accueillir 120 couverts, et Teddy Ragain, fort d'une expérience Michelin, s'engage à offrir des services d'exception.