Hilton Worldwide announced on Friday that it is creating an “All Suites” brand category – including Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites – and changing its leadership teams for those brands.
The company said it made the move to improve development, operations and sales synergies and maximize performance in the growing brand portfolio.
“Our brand management strength is as important as ever with the rapid global expansion of our brands and the need to keep them fresh, relevant and highly competitive,” said Jim Holthouser, Hilton’s executive vice president of global brands.
The company’s suite-style brands comprise nearly 15% of inventory and almost 20% of its pipeline, by rooms.
Starting in January, Bill Duncan will oversee the newly created All Suites division encompassing Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton; he also will be brand manager for Embassy Suites. Duncan has more than 25 years of experience with Hilton, most recently as global head of Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites.
“As the first hospitality company to take an integrated approach to managing suite-style brands, we are transforming the All Suites category to provide a more intuitive offering for owners, as well as our guests,” Duncan said.
Hilton announced other shifts in brand leadership to take effect in January 2016:
- Dianna Vaughan will be promoted to senior vice president and become global head of DoubleTree by Hilton. Vaughan, a 23-year Hilton veteran, most recently led the launch of Hilton’s Curio brand, which she will continue to oversee.
- John Greenleaf will become global head of Hilton Garden Inn. His experience includes marketing and brand performance support with Hilton and DoubleTree.
- Adrian Kurre will become global head of Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites. Over Kurre’s 19-year tenure, he oversaw the growth of Hilton Garden Inns from four operating hotels to more than 650 properties.