Nominations

📌 Julien Glannes becomes the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Beau Vallon's hotel division, succeeding Fabio Meo. With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Glannes has worked in prestigious European establishments, including Le Meurice in Paris. A 16-year resident of Mauritius, he has held leadership positions with Ninety-Six Hotel Collection and most recently at Le Jadis Beach Resort & Wellness of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. A graduate from the University of Technology of Paris and the University of Poitiers, Glannes brings expertise in operational management, business development, and customer relations to Beau Vallon. Thierry Merven, Group CEO, expresses gratitude to Fabio Meo for his crucial role in the hotels' development and resilience post-COVID, wishing him success in future endeavors.

🏨 Skander Gharbi, with an MBA from Vatel Tunisie (2013) and a Licence from IHEC (2010), after leading La Cigale Tabarka for seven years, becomes the General Manager of Anantara Sahara Tozeur Resort & Villas. Previously held director positions at TUI Hotels North Africa and Sensimar Medina Gardens, Gharbi steps into a 93-room luxury resort combining Moorish and Berber architecture that features lavish villas with private pools and a royal villa.

🏡 Michael Pouyer started as the General Manager of Roch Hôtel & Spa (Paris 1st) in mid-October after beginning his career at Hôtel Champs-Élysées Plaza, moving to Hôtel Les Théâtres as Operation Director, and then to Padam Hôtel and its restaurant Edith as General Manager. Pouyer, with a background in luxury hotel management, is eager to bring his experience and vision to this prestigious establishment.

🎓 Charline Bresse, a key collaborator for nearly 10 years with Lavorel Hotels, has been appointed by founder Jean-Claude Lavorel to drive strategic expansion and operational excellence. Bresse's promotion reflects the high confidence Lavorel has in her abilities to uphold the group's values of excellence and creativity. Previously serving as Director of Sales and Marketing, then Director of Development, Bresse became Deputy General Manager in 2018, playing a crucial role in the group's transformation and growth through strategic projects and acquisitions.

📅 Sunweb Group, an online European tour operator, appointed Désirée van den Goorbergh as Chief Product Officer and Willemijn Rijpma as Director of Marketing. Van den Goorbergh brings experience from her previous role at Maersk and lead positions at Expedia Group in Seattle. The hiring aligns with Sunweb's strategy to bolster product development and marketing efforts.

💰 Angela Zhou, with a BSc from Johnson & Wales University (1998) and a Master's from Bentley University (2004), is appointed Senior Vice President - Finance at Langham Hospitality Group (LHG), reporting to Bob van den Oord, the managing director. Zhou brings extensive experience from key financial roles at Marriott International, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, where she was Vice President of Finance. This move coincides with the departure of Francis Ling after two and a half years as LHG's CFO. LHG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, embracing brands like The Langham Hotels and Resorts, and Cordis Hotels.

📢 RMS Cloud, a leading cloud-based hotel management software provider, appoints Zen Valli as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Valli, previously General Manager for EMEA, will now oversee global revenue strategy and growth initiatives across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, India, EMEA, and the Americas, focusing on market share increase and identifying new business opportunities. This strategic move aims to expand RMS Cloud’s global presence and consolidate its position in the hotel management technology sector.

🏨 Benjamin Vuchot will be the new Executive Director and CEO of The Peninsula Hotels starting March 3, 2025, succeeding Clement King Man Kwok. Announcements were made on December 15, 2023, and August 13, 2024, about Kwok's departure from his Managing Director and CEO roles by October 31, 2024. Christobelle Yi Ching Liao will serve as interim CEO between November 1, 2024, and March 2, 2025. Vuchot will also join the Executive Committee, Financial Committee, and the Board.

🏨 Mama Shelter plans to open its first hotel in the Netherlands by the first quarter of 2027 in Amsterdam’s Noord district. The Mama Shelter Amsterdam will feature 150 rooms with bold interiors, graffiti ceilings, and distinctive decorations. Designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects and developed in collaboration with White House Development B.V., the hotel aims to blend local charm with Mama's unique spirit, according to Mama Shelter's General Manager, Cédric Gobilliard.

🏨 Vantage Capital, Africa's largest mezzanine fund manager, invested $18.4 million in December 2020 into PickAlbatros Hotels, a leading Egyptian hotel owner and operator with 4 and 5-star properties in the Red Sea region at Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, and Marsa Allam. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the funds helped the hotel group cover working capital needs and renovate newly acquired hotels, maintaining smooth operations despite a significant drop in tourism.