Nominations

🏡 The Bazin family, owners of the iconic 11-room "La Maison du Bassin" hotel in Cap Ferret, reportedly sold their establishment to a collective led by Laurent de Gourcuff, according to "L’informé".

🏦 Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, owner of The Peninsula Hotels, announces the appointment of Frenchman Benjamin Vuchot as Executive Director and General Manager starting March 3, 2025. Preceding CEO Clement King Man Kwok will step down on October 31, 2024. Vuchot will also join Executive, Financial, and Management Committees and be an Administrator of various group entities. He expresses commitment to uphold the company's 150-year reputation in luxury hospitality.

📈 In Paris, on October 10, 2024, D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions revealed a study indicating that GDS bookings outperform other channels in key areas like average daily rate (ADR), length of stay, and cancellation rates. Commission rates on GDS bookings range between 18% and 20%, lower than OTAs which can be up to 28%. D-EDGE serves over 17,000 hotels in 150 countries, offering a suite of Cloud-based e-commerce solutions and has 500 experts across 25 countries. It is part of Accor, a hospitality leader with more than 5,500 hotels.

🏨 Eternam and Victoires Haussmann SGP finalized the sale of the majority stake of the Phoenix Club Invest fund in O’Lord hotel residence in September, located in Paris's 8th district. The former office building was renovated into 19 high-end apartments, opening in 2021 after a two-year makeover. The successful hotel business operation demonstrates the asset class's resilience and value creation potential.

🏨 Peter Haaber's company, Core Hospitality, partners with Marriott International to rebrand 14 Zleep Hotels in Denmark to Four Points Flex by Sheraton, majority by December 2023 and the rest by early 2025. The mid-range hotels will emphasize reliable, simple, value-for-money experiences with free breakfast and Wi-Fi for practical, budget-conscious travelers. The rebranding aims to unlock new value potential by leveraging Marriott Bonvoy's established brand recognition.

📌 Frédéric Vidal, a seasoned professional with over 30 years in the luxury hotel industry across five continents, is appointed the General Manager of Jumby Bay Island, part of Oetker Collection. Vidal, with over a decade at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, served as General Manager of Las Ventanas al Paraíso in South America since 2014, overseeing 61 suites, 15 villas, and 74 private residences. In 2019, he expanded his role to Regional Vice President, managing five properties across the continent. In 2022, while still General Manager, he was named Vice-President of Operations for the Americas, supervising 14 properties in five countries. Previously, Vidal managed MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa in Seychelles for seven years and was the General Manager at Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo in Monaco for three years.

📌 Adrian Keating is appointed as the new Regional Sales Director for Northern Europe at WebBeds, a global accommodation and ground services platform for the tourism industry. Keating previously doubled revenue in the region as Commercial Director at PLAY Airlines. He brings extensive experience from high-level commercial roles with brands like Norse Atlantic Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways, and EasyJet. Northern Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavian countries, is WebBeds' largest source market in Europe.

🍴 Lionel Lévy, renowned French chef, joins LJ Hôtels & Co as Director of Catering and Events, tasked with growth and innovation. Lévy, trained by Gérard Garrigues and previously worked alongside Yves Camdeborde, Éric Fréchon, and within Alain Ducasse's teams. Opened Une Table au Sud in Marseille in 1999, awarded a Michelin star in 2004, later becoming the Director of Catering at the international group of the InterContinental in Marseille until early 2024, supervising the starred restaurant Alcyone. He will lead Cocci, the new Italian restaurant opening in November.

🏨 Patrice Landrein, with nearly 30 years in luxury hospitality, has worked at Parisian palaces like the Ritz and Hôtel de Crillon. Career highlights include positions at The Savoy in London, Plaza Athénée in New York, and prestigious Asian hotels. At 26, he joined the management team of the five-star Manapany in St Barth. Led Pimalai Resort & Spa in Koh Lanta to top luxury hotel ranks in Thailand and globally on TripAdvisor. Advocates for sustainability, achieving Green Globe certification for Pimalai. Now helms Royal Palm in Mauritius, a Leading Hotels of the World member.

🏨 Since October 1, 2024, Bernard Krabbenhöft leads the operational management of Moxy Rapperswil and Modern Times Hotel in Vevey, two major Swiss properties of the RIMC group. Previously gaining experience at Four Points Hotel in Zurich, Krabbenhöft's expertise and leadership have prepared him to advance the future of these hotels. RIMC's operations director, Ingo Sierich, acknowledges Krabbenhöft's embodiment of the group's values and passion, contributing to the growth and success of their Swiss hotels. Krabbenhöft prioritizes employee satisfaction, customer happiness, and sustainable operations for continual improvement.