Nominations

🏡 Jean-Yves Blatt joined Villars Alpine Resort (VAR) as Group Managing Director in November 2023, and managed the renovated luxury Villars Palace as General Manager. Under his leadership, the five-star hotel experienced significant growth and joined the Leading Hotels of the World, and will be part of Swiss Deluxe Hotels by the end of 2024, enhancing its global luxury status. Blatt is also leading Six Senses Crans-Montana into a new era, promoting its unique luxury and high-end hospitality in Switzerland, known for its pure sensuality experience.

🏨 Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced the appointments of Anna Moore and Dan Clark to enhance operations and expand presence in Europe and the UK. Dan Clark, with experience from Calliope Collective, Gleneagles, Elite Hotels, Radisson Edwardian, and Trump Hotels, becomes VP of Global Leisure Sales for Europe, tasked with boosting leisure sales strategy and fostering relationships with luxury travel organizations like Virtuoso and Serandipians. Anna Moore is named Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, managing a portfolio of 30 branded hotels, resorts, and residences.

🏨 Gonzalo Aguilar became CEO of Minor Hotels Europe & Americas on January 1, 2025, succeeding Ramón Aragonés Marín after a 6-month transition announced in June 2024. With over 30 years of experience, notably as Europe Operations Director at Marriott International, Aguilar aims to focus on international integration, accelerate hotel openings, and implement a growth-supportive strategy in luxury and resort segments. Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels, underscores Aguilar's invaluable sector knowledge and proven leadership for the company's strategic growth plan.

🏡 Jean-Yves Blatt, a renowned hotelier, will take over the Six Senses Crans-Montana on February 1st, succeeding Christian Gurtner. Blatt, an EHL graduate (1990), is known for his leadership and sales development skills. The luxury hotel, which opened on February 1, 2023, and features 79 keys, is managed by the wealth management firm 1875 Finances. Blatt's career includes roles at Grand Hotel Park de Gstaad and The Chedi Andermatt.

🏨 Éric Favre, with over 40 years of international hospitality management experience, will supervise Villars Palace through AMS Prestige Switzerland, succeeding Jean-Yves Blatt. Favre was the GM of The Alpina Gstaad from 2013 to 2018, leading it to become the best hotel in Switzerland, and managed Le Richemond in Geneva from 2019 to 2021, boosting its Swiss and international reputation. His career began in the 1980s at prestigious hotels like Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, and Al Khozama, Riyadh.

🏖 Michaël Ruysschaert appointed as the Director General of the new Savoie Departmental Tourism Committee (CDT 73) on April 1, 2025. The committee's inaugural general assembly was held on October 25, 2024. This strategic decision aims to boost Savoie's reputation and attractiveness in national and international markets. Ruysschaert, with his expertise from managing L’Agence Savoie Mont Blanc (2020-2023), is expected to lead significant future projects for the region.

🎓 Sophie Mestiri, with a Master's degree in Social Law from Université Panthéon-Sorbonne and Paris II Assas, started her career at Bouygues Telecom, where over 12 years she held various positions in client relations and organizational project management. She later worked at Shell Oil Corporation, Primavista as the HR and Legal Affairs Director, and at Groupe ISS as the Director of Social Affairs and HR headquarters. Now at Adagio, Mestiri's role focuses on leading organizational transformations to support the company's rapid development, leveraging her expertise in talent management, social dialogue, and HR transformation to boost Adagio's expansion and reinforce its corporate social responsibility (CSR).

🏥 Mohamed Jaziri, an experienced hotel executive with past roles in Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, has been appointed to lead the contemporary Dakhla South Bay – Worldhotels in Dakhla, Morocco. Over the last three years, Jaziri served as the General Manager of Les Orangers Garden Villas***** in Hammamet, Tunisia, and Hotel Attitude in Dakhla, focusing on customer experience and hotel profitability. Earlier, Jaziri was a General Manager at Andalucia Beach Résidence in Bizerte in 2019 and enhanced client services at Swissotel Al Maqam Makkah in Saudi Arabia for nearly 3 years. His international career also includes over two years as a manager with Royal Caribbean International and customer service roles at Barcelo Hotels & Resorts Méditerranée and Jumeirah Burj Al Arab.

🏆 Michaël Ruysschaert to take office on April 1, 2025, following the constitutive General Assembly of the CDT on October 25, 2024. With his expertise from managing Agence Savoie Mont Blanc (2020-2023), Ruysschaert aims to enhance Savoie's tourism structure and reach. The Savoie Tourism Committee is focusing on the 2030 Olympics, leveraging the event to promote its natural, cultural, and sports offerings globally, emphasizing sustainability and innovation. Ruysschaert's forthcoming strategy, in collaboration with local officials and tourism stakeholders, seeks to balance attraction, innovation, and environmental respect.

📓 Emmanuel Uzoma Ele, with over 35 years of hospitality experience in West Africa, is the General Manager at Six Regions Hotels Nigeria and holds an MBA from Imo State University. He also completed a program at Harvard University and has worked with Sheraton, Le Méridien, and Golden Tulip. In his new role, he will seek new business opportunities and partnerships and maintain relationships with key clients and stakeholders to achieve company objectives. Henri WR Kennedie, CEO of Swiss International, affirms Ele's appointment will boost business growth and excellence in West Africa.