Nominations

🌏 Giacomo Puntel has been appointed as the General Manager of Grand Millennium Hotel Dubai, located in Barsha Heights. With over three decades of luxury hospitality experience, Puntel has a history of enhancing hotel performance and customer satisfaction. Previously, he managed Voco Bonnington Dubai with over 200 staff members, improving its operations significantly. He has worked with IHG, Rixos, Anantara, and Grosvenor House Dubai, focusing on customer experience, service quality, and continuous innovation.

🏖️ MMV, with over 35 years of mountain club vacation expertise, appoints Fabienne Carrasco as General Manager during a pivotal transformation focused on economic, social, and environmental performance. An EDHEC graduate with 20+ years of leadership experience across tourism, real estate, finance, and postproduction, Carrasco has a track record of strategic vision and operational excellence. Her appointment is a move to accelerate MMV's transformation towards a more sustainable and equitable alpine tourism model.

🎂 One&Only One Za’abeel collaborates with Fabergé for a special tea time experience, available on weekends until April 27, at Aelia restaurant. This event celebrates the 140th anniversary of the first Fabergé Imperial Egg, The Hen Egg, crafted in 1885. The tea time features pastries and savory bites inspired by Fabergé's aesthetics, including a chocolate sculpture of The Hen Egg by pastry chef Rasika Weerasinghe.

📢 Schulte Hospitality Group, with over 230 establishments in six countries, appoints Anne Fischer as Chief Marketing Officer. Fischer brings over 20 years of experience, recently serving as Chief Growth Officer at Wingstop, overseeing marketing strategies for over 2,000 restaurants. Previously, she held positions at Papa John’s International Inc., The Walt Disney Company, and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, leading digital transformation and customer-centric brand evolution. Darryl Schulte, CEO of Schulte Hospitality, highlights her brand transformation skills and digital innovation proficiency.

🏖️ Frédéric Savoye joins Vietnam's 30-hectare Alma Resort Cam Ranh as Chief Commercial Officer, following the resort's December 2019 opening. With experience in luxury hospitality and hospitality asset management globally, Savoye previously served as Hospitality Director – Sales & Marketing at Modon Properties in Abu Dhabi and Corporate Vice President of Sales and Brand Performance at Rotana, overseeing 100+ establishments in the MENA region. His new role at Alma encompasses sales, marketing, and reservation strategies, with General Manager Herbert Laubichler-Pichler commending his cross-functional expertise and strategic creativity to enhance Alma's premium positioning in the Asian hotel industry.

🏨 Travelodge acquires 11 UK hotels, adding 951 rooms to its portfolio. Key locations include Birmingham, Bradford, Dartford, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Northampton, Milton Keynes, and Swindon. Five hotels are fully owned; four others secured by long-term leases. Additionally, contracts exchanged for two more UK properties in Bromsgrove (former Ibis) and Wakefield (former CitiLodge), with rebranding scheduled for May and August, respectively, each under a new 25-year lease.

🎓 Nathalie Lemyre named General Director at ITHQ Foundation, bringing 26+ years of leadership experience from top hotel brands and strategic roles at Air Canada. Josée-Christine Boilard joins the board, Josée Dufour promoted to Vice-President. The foundation highlights Lemyre's commitment to non-profit work and community development through her involvement with IAWA and Women in Aviation International.

📝 Charlotte Bernadi joins Groupe Delineo as Marketing & Communications Director; Charles Vexiau appointed as Franchise Development Director in France. Groupe Delineo focuses on transformation and franchisee attractiveness amidst evolving environment. Bernadi, with over 15 years of experience in food and spirits industries, including roles at Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits and Groupe Bertrand, to drive ambitious marketing strategy.

🏨 Vincent Fourquet has been appointed as the Director of Commercial & Marketing for Groupe Dimacco's hotel division, effective immediately. His extensive background includes five years at a Relais & Châteaux in Montpellier and roles with Indevho as Regional Sales Director for over 20 establishments, and with Alain Ducasse's group managing the Les Collectionneurs/Teritoria network for Southeast France and Corsica. Fourquet's task is to drive the group's commercial and marketing strategy amidst ambitious development plans.

🏨 Alila Villas Uluwatu announced the appointment of Vincent Durier as General Manager, bringing over 20 years of international hospitality experience to the Balinese resort, known for its innovative design and sustainable luxury. Vincent, from Bordeaux, France, began his career in 2002 and has worked in luxurious hotels such as InterContinental Bora Bora, The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, and COMO Cocoa Island, where he became General Manager in 2021.