ACCOR APPOINTS BRAND PRESIDENTS
Accor has appointed two presidents to lead its premium, midscale and economy brands.
Benoît Racle has been named global brand president-premium (including Pullman, Swissôtel, Mövenpick, Angsana and Peppers). He will helm the strategic direction and growth of Accor’s premium brands. Racle honed his skills with Starwood and W, leading brand transformation and driving commercial and operational success.
Jean-Yves Minet has been named global brand president-midscale and economy (including Novotel, Mercure, Tribe, Handwritten Collection, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and greet). With more than 25 years of executive and operational experience in brand building, he will lead the brand vision, positioning and operating models of Accor’s economy and midscale brands.
 ATLANTIS RESORTS’ NEW PRESIDENT
Atlantis Resorts has welcomed Paul Baker as president of Atlantis. He will be spearheading the entertainment destination, Atlantis, The Palm and the ultra-luxury resort, Atlantis The Royal. He will also be leading Atlantis Sanya in China in the coming months.
Baker will report to Philippe Zuber, CEO of Kerzner International, and lead all operations, strategic direction, management and growth of Atlantis Dubai. This includes additional responsibilities of all administrative, commercial, retail, F&B, banqueting and events, marine and waterpark and recreational services across the destination. Most recently, Baker served as president of Grand Lisboa Palace in Macau, managing the opening of the 1,892-room integrated resort.
JONATHAN HEATH JOINS SH HOTELS
SH Hotels & Resorts, the hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels & Homes, Baccarat Hotels & Residences, and Treehouse Hotels, has named Jonathan Heath as executive vice president of food and beverage and hotel operations.
He will work alongside operational leaders across the company and contribute to all facets of SH Hotels & Resorts operations, enhancing both hotel and dining experiences as the brand continues to expand its global reach.
Bringing in 20 years of global hospitality experience, Heath most recently served as corporate head of food and beverage at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. Previously, as COO of F10 Creative, he integrated food, art and design into unique guest experiences. His career also includes senior roles at W Hotels, ACE Hotel, Viceroy Hotel Group and Soho House UK.
ROSEWOOD MANDARINA NAMES MANAGING DIRECTOR
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Juan Carlos Cardona Aquino as managing director of Rosewood Mandarina in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, which will open in early 2025. Aquino will oversee all launch initiatives and operations for the resort.
With around two decades of hospitality experience, Aquino had led teams in Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and North and South America. He joins Rosewood from Banyan Tree Mayakoba, where he served in the position since 2021.
MORE MOVES
The Kimpton Sawyer Hotel has welcomed Claire Johnsen as director of sales and marketing. With around 10 years of experience at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Johnsen will continue to lead all sales and marketing operations with a focus to maximize revenue, foster client relationships and introduce new partnerships.
Johnsen joined Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants since 2015 and has held several leadership roles. Prior to her new position, she served as director of sales at The Sawyer. Before her time at The Sawyer, Johnsen served as director of catering at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake CityÂ
John Wagner has joined Zeal Hotels as a non-executive director. The announcement comes as Zeal Hotels prepares to open its first ever net zero carbon hotel, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park, in January 2025.
Wagner will support the team as they develop the net zero carbon Zeal Hotel brand and help to promote ESG collaboration within the hospitality industry. Wagner has previously served as co-founder and CEO of Cycas Hospitality. Prior to Cycas, he was the VP at IHG, where he planned and created the European and Middle East variant of the Staybridge Suites brand.
Penta Hotels has promoted Riccardo CalĂ to director of marketing. He will oversee brand strategy, activations, e-commerce, communication, design and customer loyalty.
CalĂ brings in more than 12 years of experience in marketing and communications, including over nine years in the hotel industry. He joined Penta Hotels in 2019 and has been promoted to marketing lead, head of brand marketing and now director of marketing.
The InterContinental Mark Hopkins has promoted Jennifer Dunn from director of sales and marketing to hotel manager. Dunn will lead daily operations of the hotel, while ensuring the delivery of luxury guest experience, colleague engagement and profitability across all aspects of the operation.
She will serve as an inspirational ambassador for the hotel, stepping in for the general manager when needed to engage with guests, colleagues, owners, corporate entities and other stakeholders.
Rosewood London has appointed Fernando Corona Burch as executive chef. He will provide strategic direction to the hotel’s culinary team and helm the property’s dining outlets as well as in-room dining and banqueting.
With more than 20 years of hospitality experience across Europe, Mexico, Asia Pacific and the U.A.E., Burch joins Rosewood London from the Park Hyatt Los Cabos in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where he served as the executive chef and was part of the pre-opening team.
Robert Weland has joined YOTEL Washington DC as the executive chef, bringing his expertise in farm-to-table cooking and sustainable culinary practice to the hotel’s two dining venues.
Bringing in two decades of experience, Chef Weland trained in France and New York before joining YOTEL Washington DC. He also served in establishments such as Poste Moderne Brasserie in Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco and opened his own restaurant, Garrison, on Capitol Hill.
NEW GMs
Damien Hirsch has been named the new general manager of JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa. Hirsch will lead daily operations across all facets of the resort, including guestrooms and F&B outlets, as well as support its associates and develop new internal and external programs and activities.
Previously, he has driven guest satisfaction and team engagement at the W Los Angeles – Beverly Hills and transformed JW Marriott Santa Monica Beach Hotel & Spa.
Terry Buchholz has been named general manager of The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. He will oversee all aspects of the luxury hotel’s operations, ensure the seamless flow of daily activities and optimize success.
Buchholz brings over 25 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, having led both independent and branded properties. He joins from the Nobu Hotel Atlanta, where he served as general manager. Prior to that, he served as the regional vice president of Coury Hospitality, where he led a portfolio of Autograph Collection properties across the U.S.
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection in Costa Rica has appointed Koen Masschelein as general manager. He will spearhead all operations at the resort.
Masschelein joined the brand in 2022 as resort manager at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection and was promoted to director of operations at Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santa Fe, N.M.
Keswick Hall, the luxury resort located among the hills of Virginia’s wine country, has welcomed Louis Shapazian as general manager. With a career spanning 18 years in luxury hospitality, he will lead all operations at Keswick Hall, overseeing the resort’s amenities and introduce fresh initiatives to further enhance guest experience.
Most recently, Shapazian served as resort manager at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I. Prior to his role at Ocean House, Shapazian held key positions within the Four Seasons portfolio including at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, and the Four Seasons Hotel in Vail, Colo.