Insider Stories

PONANT, world leader in luxury exploration travel, announces appointment of Thomas Romieu as Chief Digital and Information Systems Director for the group as of June 10, 2024. A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and ESSEC, Thomas Romieu is a renowned expert in the digital transition and relationship marketing. He began his career with L'Oréal in France and USA, before joining Microsoft where he was Marketing Director and then Sales Director for Consumer & Online activities. He then worked for LVMH as Chief Digital Officer for the group before going on to take charge of the digital transition of the subsidiary DFS, world leader in luxury travel retail. Before joining PONANT, Thomas was Director Digital Products at the pharmaceutical group, Sanofi. Thomas Romieu heads up the new IT and Digital Transition department, reporting directly to Presidency of PONANT. His mission is to ramp up the IT and digital functions to support the company's development. His responsibilities include information systems management, cybersecurity, data analytics and digital. He is a member of the Management Committee.

Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens is delighted to announce the appointment of Jann Kaiser as General Manager. Jann brings a wealth of expertise in luxury hospitality to his role, with over two decades of experience working across five countries, six cities and seven Four Seasons properties, including London, Chicago, Istanbul and Beirut. Jann’s journey in the hospitality industry began at the Hotel School The Hague in Holland, where his first tenure was secured with Four Seasons and his career began at the renowned Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills. He then progressed to Restaurant Manager and Director of Food & Beverage at Four Seasons properties in Istanbul, Beirut, Chicago and London where his leadership and dedication propelled him to the role of Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square. While Hotel Manager, the property secured its first Forbes Five Star rating, a second Michelin star for La Dame De Pic, and AA Hotel of the Year London 2018-2019. In 2021, Jann arrived at Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens located within the Greek Riviera as Hotel Manager, driven by a desire to advance sustainability and set a visionary strategy. Jann revised the way the hotel empowers its 1000+ staff to embody the traditional hospitality “filoxenia” at the heart of Greek culture and inspire a dynamic, diverse and inclusive culture, boosted by team members from around the world. In 2023, the hotel took the 35th spot in the World’s 50 Best Hotels and was awarded its first Forbes Five-Star designation. In his new capacity as General Manager of Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens, Jann is poised to lead with his signature blend of expertise, passion, and cultural understanding. He is committed to upholding the resort’s reputation for personal spirit, and exceptional service whilst creating memorable experiences for guests. Commenting on his appointment, Jann said, “I am thrilled to be appointed as General Manager at Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens. I look forward to working together to create unforgettable experiences for our guests and further elevate the resort’s reputation as a leading resort in Athens and continuing to be part of local culture and community.”

Effective July 1, 2024, Florian Augustin, the current Chief Commercial Officer and member of the executive team at HotelPartner Revenue Management, will assume the role of Deputy CEO. This strategic decision aims to fortify the leadership team, broaden service offerings, and drive further growth. Having joined HotelPartner Revenue Management in 2017, Florian Augustin has been instrumental in the company's positive trajectory over recent years. Rainer M. Willa, CEO of HotelPartner Revenue Management, remarked, "Florian's expertise and dedication have been crucial to our evolution into becoming the leading service provider for revenue management and distribution in Europe. In his new role as Deputy CEO, Florian will not only bring his extensive knowledge but will continue to collaborate closely with me and the leadership team to further enhance the success of our partners and our company." Rainer M. Willa, who began his career at HotelPartner Revenue Management as Deputy CEO over a decade ago, has significantly contributed to the company's success. The founder and Chairman of the Board, Oliver Meyer, has consistently leveraged in-house talent and their continuous development since the company's inception. This is exemplified by the "TET-Synergy" of HotelPartner Revenue Management, which stands for qualified teams (T), proven expertise (E), and the use of the latest technology (T). In his new position, Florian Augustin will act as a direct deputy to Rainer M. Willa, managing operations across countries. While Rainer M. Willa will concentrate on quality management, Florian Augustin, with nearly 20 years of experience in international hospitality, will focus on sales and marketing. HotelPartner Revenue Management, a Swiss company with offices in Vienna, Salzburg, Hamburg, and London, currently supports over 500 hotels across Europe.

Tina Heyl has assumed the position of Director of Marketing at Ruby as of July 1. She brings impressive expertise in brand management and content creation. Prior to her role at Ruby, she was Head of Marketing at ROECKL Gloves & Accessories, where she was a board member responsible for strategic brand management and the development of campaigns and content. She previously held successful C-level positions at APRICOT GmbH and SOUL ZEN, where she applied her experience in branding, content, public relations, and social media. These roles were preceded by further leadership positions at well-known companies in the German fashion industry. In her new position, Heyl will use her extensive experience to drive strategic brand management, campaign and content development, social media marketing, and public relations.

In her new role, Felicity will lead Hyatt's growth initiatives across the EAME region, overseeing a diverse and growing team of subregional developers. Latest additions to her team include Anna Corkill as Regional Vice President of Development for the UK and Ireland, Gabriela Basovska as Director of Development for Northern Europe, and Carlos Paredes as Director of Development for Southern Europe, who previously focused on Hyatt"s all-inclusive portfolio. Briana Swift, recently awarded with the ISHC Young Leader Award, has been promoted to Regional Vice President Western Europe earlier this year. In 2023, Hyatt had created a new regional transactions role and appointed Jaime de la Mata as Vice President Portfolio Development and Transactions EAME to drive inorganic asset light growth throughout Europe, Africa and Middle East.

Bruce Grosbety, president of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, announces the appointment of Christy Patterson to director of sales. Patterson brings more than 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality sales to her new position. In her new role, Patterson will lead and oversee all group, transient, and catering/banquet sales endeavors, develop, implement, and manage the objectives and policies governing the sales and reservations department, encompassing corporate and social sales, weddings, leisure guest reservations, and more. “We are thrilled to welcome Christy to the Woodstock Inn & Resort as the new director of sales. Her wealth of experience and proven track record in the industry, especially luxury hospitality, make her an invaluable addition to our team. We are confident that her innovative approach and dedication will continue to drive our sales strategies team,” said Bruce Grosbety. Prior to joining the Woodstock Inn & Resort, Patterson served as the director of sales, leisure at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills from 2022 – 2024. Previously, Patterson was the director of sales, leisure for Auberge Resorts Collection, in locations such as Anguilla, Costa Rica, New Mexico, and Utah. Patterson served as the global membership manager at Club Quarters Hotels and held multiple positions at Ritz-Carlton, including director of leisure and business travel sales (Laguna Niguel, CA, and Marina del Ray, CA) and senior travel industry sales manager (Naples, FL). Patterson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in telecommunications and film broadcast production from the University of Alabama. She has received numerous awards from the Ritz-Carlton company, including the Golden Circle Incentive Trip and Ritz-Carlton Transient Team of the Year Western Region (Laguna Niguel), Five Star Leader of the Quarter Nominee and Golden Circle Incentive Trip (Marina del Ray), Five Star Leader of the Quarter Nominee, and Five Star Nominee (Naples).

Mark Jacob, a seasoned hospitality professional and former Managing Director of Dolder Hotel AG, will take over as General Manager of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel on 1 September 2024. Mark Jacob (aged 49) is a proven leader with over two decades of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. He spent a great part of his career at Dolder Hotel AG in Zurich, where he served as Managing Director with overall responsibility for The Dolder Grand (5 stars), the Dolder Waldhaus (4 stars) and Dolder Sports from 2013 to 2020. His subsequent roles included Head of Brand Culture & Design at InterGlobe Enterprises, where he was responsible for the strategic repositioning of an international hotel portfolio. Mark Jacob, who graduated from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, is delighted to be returning to a direct operational role in the hotel industry: "The Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois embodies the spirit of Basel, while simultaneously commanding a strong global presence. It expresses pure joie de vivre and radiates an aura of timeless elegance, all underpinned by an unwavering commitment to detail. These values resonate deeply with my own vision of an inclusive and welcoming hospitality experience. I am thrilled, alongside an exceptional team, to guide the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois into a vibrant future."

The former head chef of L’Ortolan joins the Pembrokeshire hotel alongside fellow L’Ortolan alumnus Walter Cheung and sous chef of the Hide and Fox in Kent, Adam Ashley.  

UMusic Hotels announced the appointment of Iñigo Sánchez-Crespo as General Manager of UMusic Hotel Madrid. Saìnchez-Crespo will be instrumental in reinforcing the company’s culture, strengthening core values, and enhancing leadership development and team cohesion across all levels of the organization. Other duties will include consolidating the unique value proposition UMusic Hotel Madrid brings to the city, enhancing customer satisfaction, and continuously improving the Hotel’s culinary offerings. Under his leadership, UMusic Hotel Madrid will continue to provide unparalleled service and exceptional experiences to guests and visitors. A hospitality veteran with 20+ years of experience, Sánchez-Crespo is a passionate leader excelling in hotel operations. He has a proven track record of maximizing profits in international markets, including Europe, the Caribbean Islands, and the United States. Before taking on this new position at UMusic Hotel Madrid, he was General Manager at Hotel Montera Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton. His extensive experience in the hospitality industry stems from his time as Chief Operations Officer at Axel Hotels, Cluster General Manager at Fontecruz Hotels – an Autograph Collection by Marriott, and Husa Hotels Barcelona General Manager. 

Dusit International has appointed Mr. Rami Massoud as Vice President of Development for the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Rami Massoud will be based in Dusit’s regional office in Dubai. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, he is an Egyptian national with over 25 years of experience in hotel development, real estate investment, and asset management. During his career, Massoud has worked for hotel brands such as Marriott, Starwood, and Four Seasons and spearheaded projects for top developers including Dubai Holding, Power Holding, and Shuaa Capital across the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Most recently, he served as the Managing Director of Hotel Assets Acquisition Consultants. He holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel management and advanced certification in hotel real estate investment & asset management from Cornell University. Massoud said, “Joining Dusit International is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to a brand with a rich heritage and an incredibly bright future. I am excited to help drive Dusit’s expansion in the EMEA region by identifying new growth opportunities and fostering relationships that will enable us to bring our distinctive Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to more guests around the world.” Massoud is now responsible for the growth of Dusit’s unique portfolio of Dusit Hotels and Resorts across key existing and emerging destinations in the EMEA region.

He will take charge of the five-AA-red-star Gilpin Hotel and Lake House and the Michelin-starred Source restaurant.

Hotel Co 51 is promoting experienced hospitality professional Wayne Androliakos as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Wayne Androliakos took over the CEO reins on 1 June, succeeding Tobias Linder who stays within the Vastint Group as the new Head of Asset Management for Vastint Holding B.V. With over 25 years of hands-on hospitality expertise, Wayne brings his track record of building high-performing teams to the top role. Since joining Hotel Co 51 as UK Regional Director of Operations in summer 2022, Wayne has demonstrated his commitment to driving guest satisfaction by boosting feedback ratings across the 17 Marriott-branded properties in the UK region. This includes increasing food and beverage scores by 18.1%, intent to recommend by 14.4% and staff service by 12.7%. Prior to joining Hotel Co 51, Wayne led the global operations for Generator and Freehand Hotels, and spent 14 years with Cycas Hospitality, where he played a strategic role in the group’s European expansion. Having progressed from General Manager of Cycas’s first hotel to Chief Operating Officer for its European portfolio, Wayne is passionate about developing talent from within. Announcing the appointment, Tobias said: “Hospitality is all about human connections, and Wayne’s ability to create happy teams that deliver exceptional service shines through his leadership approach. I’m delighted that Wayne has agreed to take on his new role and consolidate Hotel Co 51’s position as one of Europe’s most successful hotel operators.” Reinforcing Hotel Co 51’s sustainable credentials, under Wayne’s stewardship the company is on target to secure Green Key certification across each of its European hotels by the end of 2024. Speaking of his focus on delivering sustainable hospitality with purpose, Wayne said: “Since joining Hotel Co 51 in 2022 I’ve been struck by the company’s genuine commitment to putting people and the planet first, and it’s an honor to become CEO of a company with such strong cultural values. “The Green Key process is an important step as we continue identifying new ways for us to break new ground in hospitality and ensure our hotels have a positive impact on our employees, guests and communities. I’m looking forward to harnessing my experience of working across multiple international brands, accommodation styles, cultures and markets to enhance Hotel Co 51’s reputation as an employer of choice as we focus on training and retention programs that help our people grow.”