Nominations

📌 Scott Woroch, with over 30 years of luxury hospitality experience, was appointed following the August 1st, 2024 nominations of Cristina Diezhandino and Fabrice Megarbane at Mandarin Oriental, a global luxury hotel group. Previously, Woroch held high-level development positions at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for 15 years. The new appointments, including Woroch, aim to bolster Mandarin Oriental's strategy and governance structure, with the Board now comprising 50% independent non-executive directors. Chairman Ben Keswick of Jardine Matheson, Mandarin Oriental’s parent company, praised Scott's global hotel development expertise and its enhancement to the Board's capabilities.

🏢 Richard Ginioux appointed on November 4, 2024, as Director of Excelia Tourism School and head of development for specialized Excelia schools. Formerly the General Manager of FERRANDI Paris, Ginioux succeeds Pascal Capellari. His role includes driving strategic repositioning, establishing a distinctive brand in line with the school's purpose, and overseeing development to diversify Excelia's initial training offerings.

🍴 Nicolas Le Tirrand, chef of Sources* in Lorient since summer 2020, sold his Michelin-starred restaurant to lead the kitchens at Les Mouettes hotel in Larmor-Plage, his hometown, starting March 2025. Partnering with owner Gérard Le Faouder and associate director Frédéric Avignon, Le Tirrand will introduce two new dining areas: a seasonal bistrot in spring 2025 and a sea-focused gastronomic restaurant after extensive renovations ending late 2025.

🏠 Sabine G. Lamberts, an alumna of École Hôtelière de Glion (1993), was appointed in March 2024 as the "Regional General Manager" of Nihi Hotels, under James W McBride, CEO and co-founder. Previously, she managed Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort in French Polynesia since 2021 and was the Operations Director at Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel from 2009 to 2016 before her first General Manager role at Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran in Asia.

🎓 Richard Ginioux, an ESSEC and Sciences-Po Bordeaux alumnus, formerly General Manager of FERRANDI Paris, is now leading Excelia Tourism School. His extensive experience includes roles at FERRANDI Paris (2021-2024, General Manager), École Supérieure Internationale de Savignac (2006-2021, Director), and ownership of Gites et Chambres d'Hôtes Le Branchat (1999-2008). He succeeds Pascal Capellari and is tasked with strategic repositioning, brand establishment, and supervising development at Excelia Tourism School. He's also responsible for aligning specialized Excelia schools with the group's strategy and fostering growth.

🏌️ Thomas Benassayag, with hospitality degrees from Ecole hôtelière de Strasbourg (2006-2008) and Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (2008-2011), led luxury hotel operations in France, China, and the USA for brands like Sofitel and Mandarin Oriental. He later specialized in strategic consulting, international development, and luxury industry M&A. A year ago, Thomas took charge of Opio Valbonne Golf Resort, implementing a high-end, user-centric vision and integrating hotel and golf experiences.

🏨 Guillaume Bourniquel was appointed to lead Hôtel Sax Paris, set to be operated by Hilton's Waldorf Astoria. Thibault Année, with a Master from Vatel (2013) and a degree from Université de Perpignan (2011), joined as CFO from Cheval Blanc Paris. Since 2023, Guillaume Lapostolle has been the operational key person for Compagnie de Phalsbourg's President, Philippe Journo, also representing the company at DoubleTree by Hilton Nice Centre Iconic and preparing the Parisian flagship hotel's opening. Previously at Hyatt Paris Vendôme (2015-2020) and COO for Wishibam (2020), Lapostolle strengthened his customer experience expertise.

🏌️ Thomas Benassayag marks one year as General Manager at Opio-Valbonne Golf Resort with a focus on enhancing the resort experience and positioning it as a European leader. His tenure is highlighted by a new dynamic reflecting values of conviviality, wellness, and nature connection. Benassayag's strategy involves improving synergy between golf and hotel teams, resulting in smoother operations and exceptional customer service. Opio-Valbonne Golf Resort now embraces a "lifestyle" golf vision to meet modern golfer expectations.

🏨 Paul Mulcahy has joined The Lux Collective as Commercial Director, bringing over 20 years of experience in business strategy and corporate transformation in hospitality and tourism. Previously, he was the General Manager for North America at RCI, focused on growth and operational efficiency, also serving at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and Pierre & Vacances - CenterParcs Group. Mulcahy's new role will enhance the brand's market presence and support team development, crucial for the company's expansion in the luxury hospitality sector.

🏠 Juliette Granon appointed as the Director of Communication at Rosewood São Paulo, bringing over 15 years of luxury, fashion, and media experience. Previously involved with elite brands like Lanvin, ELLE, and Air France Media, Granon also founded a consultancy between France and Brazil. She aims to enhance the hotel's reputation as a luxury icon in São Paulo through strategic communication and branding, targeting discerning international clients.