Nominations

🏠 François Mary, with over 30 years of experience in hospitality, takes over as the head of l’Institut Lyfe. Formerly COO of Naos Hotel Group (2019-2025), CEO of Your Nature Belgium (2017-2019), and director of operations at Villages Nature Paris (2015-2017), Mary has a background that includes managing luxury hotels such as Mövenpick Hotel (2004-2006) and Noga Hilton Genève (1999-2004), and the Brasserie du Louvre in Paris (1996-1999). His expertise is expected to enhance the institution's excellence.

🏡 Gerald Krischek, with an 18-year gap since his last Greek professional venture, returned to Greece in February 2025 to lead the One & Only Aesthesis. Krischek previously managed Hôtel Grande Bretagne in Athens until 2007. He is acclaimed for creating unforgettable luxury hotel experiences. In Paris, for around ten years, Krischek led the Prince de Galles, enhancing its 159 rooms and 44 suites, and its award-winning bar, earning recognition from Travel & Leisure to Forbes. Between 2011-2015, he revitalized Vienna's Hôtel Bristol, securing Condé Nast's favor, and before that, directed Salzburg's Hotel Goldener Hirsch, blending tradition with modernity.

🎉 Loïc Legrand, a discreet and modest hotel director, leads the Radisson Blu Paris Boulogne since 2022. He began his career in the champagne industry with Moët after graduating from the École Hôtelière de Lausanne in 2000 and a DEUG in law. Legrand's career took him to Hong Kong post-graduation, where he was offered an expatriate position by his impressed superiors.

🏨 Astrid de Sercey joins Hôtels & Préférence, France's leading 4 & 5-star independent hotel brand, as Marketing & Communication Director and Executive Committee member. With over 15 years of marketing and communication experience in BtoB and BtoC sectors, she previously honed her skills at Foundever for five years and enhanced Maison Blanche restaurant's brand image for six years. In 2020, she took charge at Matsuri to revitalize the brand and improve customer experience before her current appointment.

🏝 In 2023, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo marks its 20th anniversary with a year-long celebration. The hotel, located in the historic Nihonbashi area of Tokyo, is renowned for two decades of unmatched luxury, legendary service, and culinary excellence. The celebrations, honoring their heritage and looking forward to the future, will include a special logo inspired by the traditional Japanese hanko seal. Guests can enjoy exclusive experiences from April 15 to December 31.

🏨 Philipp Morawietz was appointed as the Director of Development for NUMA Group, focusing on market entry, business model extension, and strategic project execution. NUMA operates in 15 European countries, and Morawietz will report to CEO Christian Gaiser. He brings experience from Homelike, where he served as General Manager, and over a decade at HRS Group, driving development efforts.

🌽 Yann Terrien is appointed as the General Manager of Maison Vigean, a leading producer of artisanal and organic oils. Terrien, with deep expertise in the agri-food sector and a passion for exceptional products, aims to introduce a new dynamic to the family business while honoring its three-generation legacy. His vision includes a focus on customer satisfaction, upholding product and service quality, and enhancing competitiveness and innovation to adapt to market changes.

📌 Astrid de Sercey joins Hôtels & Préférence, France's leading independent 4 & 5-star hotel group and part of Jin Jiang International, the world's second-largest hotel group, as Marketing & Communication Director and Executive Committee member. She has over 15 years of marketing and communication experience in BtoB and BtoC, specializing in customer relations, upscale dining, and hospitality. De Sercey holds a Master's degree in international human resource management from INSEEC Paris and has a background in economics and social law. She previously honed her skills at Foundever for five years, a global leader in customer experience.

🏨 Hôtels & Préférence, leading in France's 4 and 5-star independent hotel segment, appoints Astrid de Sercey as Marketing & Communication Director and Executive Committee member. With over 15 years of experience, she brings expertise in client relationship management, luxury hospitality, and high-end dining. A graduate from INSEEC Paris, de Sercey has worked with Foundever, Maison Blanche, and Matsuri, contributing to brand modernization and customer experience. She now oversees marketing and communication for over 150 global establishments of Hôtels & Préférence.

🏡 Hervé Hochet, with a career in hotel management since at least 2010, was named last month as the head of Le Mas Candille, a 5-star luxury hotel in Mougins on the French Riviera, while continuing his role as General Manager of the Hôtel Mont-Blanc Chamonix, which he has led for nearly a decade. Le Mas Candille reopened last summer under the ownership of Jean-Philippe Cartier, Famille C Participations, and Groupe Clarins, and features 46 rooms and suites, two restaurants, bars, and the Glow House Spa by Clarins. Mont-Blanc Chamonix boasts 41 rooms and suites, a gourmet restaurant, lounge bar, Clarins spa, and a 70-person team. Previously, from 2012 to 2015, Hochet managed Au Cœur du Village in La Clusaz, contributing to its opening.