Nominations

🍴 Born in 1991 in Como, Fabio Volontè, a passionate chef since childhood, has become the executive chef at Hôtel Villa Calvi. Previously, he was executive chef at Imperialino, a gastronomic restaurant in the Grand Hotel Imperiale Resort & SPA, Moltrasio. Volontè's global career includes working with renowned culinary figures, mastering traditional cuisine with a modern twist. Committed to sustainability, he emphasizes fresh, local, seasonal ingredients and minimal waste, while valuing teamwork, knowledge sharing, and collective creativity.

🏦 Hyatt appointed Marshneil Bharadwaj as General Manager of Andaz 5th Avenue in Manhattan, with nearly 20 years of luxury hospitality experience across four continents. Beginning at The Oberoi Raj Vilas and Le Meridien, she gained expertise at Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt Dubai, and led Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas. Moved to New York in 2022 and was Hotel Director at Gild Hall before her August 2023 promotion; now oversees operations and development strategy at Andaz 5th Avenue.

🏨 White Lodging promoted Chris Anderson to COO, previously EVP and CCO, to oversee revenue and operations strategies, including sales, marketing, and customer satisfaction. Joe Pagone, with White Lodging since 2022 and a former Kimpton Hotels employee for 14 years, was promoted from Regional Vice President to Senior Vice President of Operations. Anderson joined in 2015, recognized by HSMAI as a top marketing mind in 2018, and authored "I'm Not Buying It.

🏩 Maxence Ligneul promoted to Human Resources Director of OLCM Group and Deputy Manager of RÉ MANAGEMENT, also serving as Director of Hotels on Île de Ré. A graduate from Lycée Hôtelier de Dinard, Ligneul has extensive luxury hotel experience across Europe, including Relais & Châteaux, Groupe Barrière, and Ultima Collection. Since summer 2023, he helped Villa Clarisse on Île de Ré earn its fifth star and a top three ranking in Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2024.

📈 Jens Schmitz named Vice President of Marketing for Dorint Hotel Group, effective April 1, 2025. With over 15 years of high-level marketing experience, his focus will be on digital marketing and brand strategy for Dorint Hotels & Resorts, Hommage Luxury Hotels Collection, and Essential by Dorint. Jörg T. Böckeler, CEO of Dorint Hotel Group, announced the key appointment, emphasizing brand growth and innovation. Schmitz aims to enhance market presence and customer engagement through tailored marketing strategies.

🏨 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.