Nominations

🏨 Ignacio Gomez-Escolar appointed General Manager at METT Hotel & Beach Resort Marbella, located between Estepona and Marbella on Costa del Sol. He brings over two decades of luxury hospitality experience, having previously served as General Manager at Hard Rock Hotel Marbella and held leadership roles at St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, InterContinental Bahrain, Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort, and Rio Perdido. Gomez-Escolar will oversee daily operations, on-site events, dining offerings, including Isola and AMMOS, and focus on team development and talent retention. METT Hotel & Beach Resort Marbella features an Azure Beach Club, MOI Spa, and RAISE Fitness Gym.

📌 Michel Politano has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of Sales at Atmosphere Core in the Maldives. In his new role, Politano will oversee the company's global commercial strategy and lead a team of over 60 professionals, while also managing distribution with the goal of worldwide development and expansion. This promotion is part of a series of strategic appointments within Atmosphere Core's executive team. Stéphane Laguette, Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the importance of strong leadership for the company's long-term service improvements, performance enhancement, and profitability for shareholders.

🏨 Michel Politano appointed as Senior Vice President of Commercial by Atmosphere Core. He will oversee the company's global commercial strategy and lead a team of over 60 collaborators. This high-level promotion is part of strategic nominations within the executive team. Politano, with an MBA from KEDGE Business School (2006), started his career in Europe, established a strong reputation in Dubai's hotel management, and has a proven track record in sales team restructurings and driving efficiency and growth.

🏦 Guy Bertaud is appointed as the General Manager of the Waldorf Astoria Rabat, located in the 250-meter tall Tour Mohammed VI in Morocco, which will redefine luxury hospitality in the region. The hotel features 11 rooms and 44 suites in its top 18 floors and aims to become an international reference for its exceptional setting and refined service. With over 30 years of experience, Bertaud, a hospitality graduate from Paris with an MBA in tourism from the University of Zurich, has worked at prestigious establishments like the Plaza Athénée in Paris and the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris. The Waldorf Astoria Rabat offers luxury amenities, including a spa, gourmet restaurants, a ballroom, and a business lounge.

💰 Plamondon Hospitality Partners, a third-generation family business owning and operating 16 Marriott, Hilton, and Holiday Inn establishments in the U.S., appoints Matthew Zappone as Chief Financial Officer. Zappone brings 25 years of Marriott International experience, overseeing finance for various global divisions and the financial strategy of Marriott's Climate Action Program, impacting over 9,000 hotels. The group is also developing a Marriott full-service with a conference center in Frederick, Maryland, aiming to expand in the Washington D.C. area, where Zappone will play a crucial role. He will also strategize for Roy Rogers Restaurants, which already has 23 owned outlets.

🏨 Hyatt unveiled Andaz Miami Beach in Florida on May 5, marking their first presence in the state. The 287-room hotel, including 64 suites, is located between the vibrant South Beach and the serene Mid-Beach. Formerly the Confidante Miami Beach, the property was redesigned by the EoA Group and Hyatt's internal design team. The hotel features a Mediterranean-inspired design, two open dining concepts by Chef José Andrés, two heated outdoor pools, an upcoming spa, a private beach club, and targets an international clientele seeking authenticity and understated sophistication. The Bazaar by José Andrés is set to open by the end of the year.

🏠 Ennismore will inaugurate Hyde Melbourne Place, its first Hyde brand establishment in Australia, on May 2, 2025, in Melbourne's CBD. This launch is part of Ennismore's major openings in the country, including Hyde Perth, Mondrian Gold Coast, and 25hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia. Designed by Kennedy Nolan, the hotel promises contemporary rooms, unique public spaces, and immersive music programming. Jodi Brown, the new General Manager, envisions a bold, inclusive experience, highlighting Melbourne's artistic spirit. Hyde Melbourne Place is noted by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the most anticipated venues of 2025.

🏨 Aspire Group expands in Germany, transforming former Kaiserhof hotel into Spark by Hilton Wuppertal City Centre, set to open on June 2, 2025. This marks the brand's second location in the country following the Stuttgart-Sindelfingen opening earlier in the year. Located near Wuppertal's train station and within walking distance to the city's suspension railway, the hotel features 172 rooms, a bar, and is 35 kilometers from Düsseldorf Airport. The 11,000-square-meter property includes 24/7 Grab & Go store and in-room steam baths, targeting budget-conscious travelers with a central location and digital amenities.

🏖️ Since April 30, 2025, the Victoria Golf Resort & Spa in Vilamoura, southern Portugal, is managed by Accor and transforming into a Fairmont hotel. The property, 30 minutes from Faro Airport, has 260 rooms and will undergo a comprehensive improvement plan. Accor operates the hotel during the transition, integrating Fairmont standards gradually. Features include four restaurants, four bars, multiple pools, a spa, gym, kids' club, and conference spaces for up to 700 guests. The resort aims to blend luxury living with natural heritage and local traditions, emphasizing sustainable tourism.

🎰 Isidore Partouche, born April 21, 1931, in Trezel, Algeria, bought the Saint-Amand-les-Eaux casino in 1973. Under his leadership, Groupe Partouche expanded with strategic acquisitions across France, created the first Pasino, went public in 1995, and gained international presence. He gradually handed over to his son Patrick from the 2000s, leaving a legacy of a leading European group in the leisure sector.