Driftwood Hospitality Management has announced the appointment of Gregory Maliassas as CEO. A globally recognized hospitality executive with three decades of leadership experience spanning luxury, full-service and resort properties across four continents, Maliassas arrives at the company as it looks to expand its presence across the Americas.
“We are thrilled to welcome Greg,” said Carlos Rodriguez Jr., co-founder and CEO of Driftwood Capital. “As DHM continues to scale its platform and expand across brands, geographies, and ownership relationships, Greg’s track record of transforming and scaling world-class hotel operations, combined with his global perspective and hands-on leadership style, makes him the natural leader for this next chapter. We are confident his appointment will accelerate our momentum and create exceptional value for our ownership groups, employees, and guests. We see a significant opportunity to grow our management platform across the Americas, supported by the strength of our capital relationships and our integrated operating model.”
Maliassas joins DHM from Playa Hotels & Resorts, where he served as EVP and COO, overseeing operations for a portfolio of branded all-inclusive resorts across the Caribbean and Mexico. During his tenure, he led a team of more than 15,000 employees and spearheaded landmark partnerships with global brands including Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Hilton and Wyndham.
Throughout his career, Maliassas has led hotel operations in Europe, North America, and the Middle East, with postings in Germany, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Dubai, and Athens. Before Playa, Maliassas served as SVP of operations for the Luxury and Premium Brands of Accor Hotels in Central & Eastern Europe, overseeing a portfolio of more than 45 hotels operating under the Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel brands. He has previously held senior operational leadership roles with Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, including VP for North, Central and Eastern Europe and SVP for the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean regions.
Carlos Rodriguez, Founder and Executive Chairman of Driftwood Capital, added, “DHM has been built over decades with a deep commitment to people, performance, and long-term relationships. Greg brings the leadership and global perspective to build on that foundation and take the platform to the next level,” said Carlos Rodriguez, founder and executive chairman of Driftwood Capital.
“I am honored to join Driftwood Hospitality Management at such an exciting moment in the company’s history,” said Maliassas. “I want to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable legacy that David Buddemeyer has built over the years — his vision, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit have shaped Driftwood Hospitality into the exceptional company it is today, and I am deeply grateful to be stepping into this role on the foundation he created. DHM has built an extraordinary foundation with innovation, a portfolio of iconic properties and deep relationships with ownership groups that are truly distinctive in this industry. I look forward to working alongside the talented DHM team to drive operational excellence, expand our management footprint, and deliver outstanding results for every stakeholder we serve.”
Driftwood’s platform is anchored in South Florida, with Driftwood Hospitality Management based in North Palm Beach and Driftwood Capital headquartered in Coral Gables.