Nominations

🏖️ HE Shaikh Khalifa bin Rashid Al Khalifa presides over Sevens Holding which welcomes back Mohamed Al Kayed, a talent known for reshaping Bahrain's tourism and gourmet scene. A pivotal figure during his time with Gulf Hotels Group, Al Kayed secured deals with Marriott International and Accor and partnered with Solutions Leisure Group. Recognized by Business Elite’s 40 Under 40, he's influential in making Bahrain a culinary destination, mixing international brands with local flavors.

🏩 Reiko Sakata, appointed on April 1, 2025, becomes the head of the future Imperial Hotel Kyoto after 22 years with Imperial Hotel, Ltd. Holding a master's degree from Keio University, she started as a wedding planner and transitioned to strategic HR and management roles. Her mission is to provide exceptional quality stays and a memorable experience for guests, anchoring her belief in the importance of the staff, who embody the heritage of the 135-year-old hospitality tradition.

🏡 In Bretagne Nord, a search is underway for a passionate and experienced Director General to lead a hotel establishment. The role involves strategic vision, operational excellence, and leadership to provide exceptional service while optimizing profitability and performance. Responsibilities include managing operations, teams, commercial and marketing actions to position the hotel as a national reference, ensuring financial and operational goals align, and maintaining customer satisfaction with high standards of hygiene, quality, and safety. The Director will also oversee recruitment, training, evaluation of staff, supervise service departments, analyze profitability, productivity, and customer satisfaction, and manage administrative, budgetary, and financial health of the hotel, aiming to create exceptional moments for guests.

🏡 Five Flowers Hotel & Spa, 150 meters from Es Pujols beach, joins the Meliá Collection in April, remaining under Paya Hotels management. The only 5-star hotel on Formentera Island, designed with a 1960s and 1970s "flower power" aesthetic for a luxury gypset style experience. The hotel features 79 rooms, family rooms, suites with terrace hydromassage, grand suite with round bed and private jacuzzi, breakfast buffet with show cooking, gourmet restaurant, fitness club with yoga, and a spa.

🏨 Chedi Hospitality, part of GHM, appointed Stephan Schupbach as CEO to drive growth and brand management innovation. Schupbach, with nearly four decades of luxury hotel leadership, previously led at SK Hospitality, Doğuş Tourism Group, and Jumeirah Group, handling projects like Park Hyatt Dubai and MGM. Now at Chedi, he aims to build on the legacy and explore new market segments, with several developments planned for this year.

🏨 After three seasons, Audrey Brémond has been succeeded by Léa Fabrizio as director of the iconic Hôtel La Ponche in Saint-Tropez. Brémond, born in Saint-Tropez, enhanced the hotel with a 60s elegance reminiscent of Sagan and Bardot. Simone Duckstein, a previous director, is still associated with the hotel, often found at table 16. The hotel boasts a legacy of memory and modernity.

🏨 Dave Baswal appointed as Senior Vice President, Hotels at Brookfield Properties Australia, during the company’s major phase including the acquisition of hotel X in Brisbane. Based in Sydney, Baswal brings experience from leadership roles at Ovolo Hotels and TriO Capital, specializing in hotel asset management and growth strategy. Brookfield Properties, part of Brookfield Asset Management, is a leading global real estate asset manager with diverse portfolio in commercial, residential, and hotel sectors.

🏡 Audrey Brémond, after three seasons, hands over the leadership of the iconic La Ponche hotel to Léa Fabrizio. Fabrizio, a University of Cergy Pontaine graduate (2014) with a BTS Manoir Infa (2013), became the General Manager of Hotel La Ponche in Saint-Tropez in February 2025. She has previously served as Operations Director at Hotel des Grands Voyageurs in Paris and Room Divisions Director during its opening.

🏛 César Alcobendas named Hotel Manager at Fairmont Monte Carlo on March 31, 2025, joining General Manager Alexandre Ariel. The hotel features 596 rooms and suites, four restaurants, a spa, two pools, a fitness center, and 5,000 m² of event space. The announcement coincides with the hotel's 50th anniversary and its complete renovation. Alcobendas has an Executive MBA (UNIR 2021), a Master in Hotel Management (Forst 2021), and graduated from the Swiss Hotel Management School (2012). His career started in Paris, proceeded through key positions in Switzerland and Spain, and included roles at Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona and Hyatt Regency Birmingham. In 2023, he took the helm at InterContinental Edinburgh The George.

🏨 🏨 Céline Bressot Meyer remains AFA President, a position she first held in 2023, and also serves as General Manager of Compagnie Française d'Hôtellerie. Jérôme Schibler named Vice-President, co-founder of Atypio Hotels & Resorts. Stéphanie Rollin joins AFA as Treasurer; she co-leads Hively Hospitality, established in 2023 and participated in last year's Hospitality Awards.