Human Resources

📈 Pauline Houston appointed as global managing director of Reed & Mackay Events, supporting a growth strategy signaled by the recent hiring of James Kent and Emma Chamberlain. Houston brings experience from ITM, Women in Travel, GBTA, American Express, and CWT. CEO Julie Oliver highlights the firm's commitment to integrating travel and event management, emphasizing the importance of meetings and events for collaboration and talent retention.

🏨 Orascom Hotels Management in the MENA region announced four senior appointments following Stuart Leven's CEO role since September 2023. New hires include Sanjay Sharma as Chief Technology Officer, Paula Frey as Chief Revenue Officer, Shafayat Miah as Chief e-Commerce Officer, and Renee Wagner as Director of ESG & Quality Management. Sharma, a Top 10 Middle East CIO, Frey, former Group Director at Corinthia Hotels, Miah, ex-Meta with 20+ years in digital, and Wagner focusing on ESG are to drive innovation, profits, and workplace desirability.

💱 Chain4Travel restructures its leadership; Ralf Usbeck transitions to board chairman to strategize company direction, with the CTO stepping up as CEO. Anke Hsu is promoted to chief growth officer, managing product development, while Vincent Usbeck becomes COO. The focus is on launching the Camino Network (CAM) token, expanding globally, and preparing for the CAM token's CEX listing in Q4 2024. Stirnimann, ex-CEO of Hotelplan, is on the founding team alongside Ralf Usbeck and Castillo, ex-CIO at Hotelplan.

🍽 Seamus Sam, having led Muse to its first Michelin star, will helm Evelyn's Table starting September, succeeding James Goodyear who departed on July 13. The Michelin-starred Soho restaurant, previously guided by Goodyear since November 2022 after Luke Selby's exit, will reopen on September 4 following a closure from August 17.

🍴 Chris Eden, appointed executive head chef at Gidleigh Park in 2019, regained the Michelin star for the Chagford property in 2023. Before Gidleigh Park, Eden earned a Michelin star at Cornwall's Driftwood in 2012 and maintained it until his move to Devon in 2019. Gidleigh Park had two Michelin stars under Michael Caines until 2016. Eden plans to leave Gidleigh Park in autumn 2023 to spend more time with his family. The search for his successor is currently underway.

👨️ Kathrin Jung-Reinhard appointed head of development strategy – Northern Europe for Dalata Hotel Group, based in Frankfurt. Hotel Granada announces new executive team, including Alfonce McKinney as GM, ahead of August opening. Jack Xiao joins Langham Hospitality Group as SVP operations in China. Luciano Sperduto becomes director of food and beverage at Caribe Royale Orlando Resort. Haytham Said named GM of Four Seasons Hotel Miami; Dena Roady as area VP and GM of Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. Derek Lescrinier appointed GM of Pendry Natirar, opening fall. James Miller takes over as GM of Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resort Collection. Bob LaCasse becomes GM of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Leslie Well appointed GM of DUA Miami, Autograph Collection.

🏠 Chef Adejoké ‘Joké’ Bakare of Chishuru in London won a Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2024. Since then, Chishuru experienced a 60% increase in trade and relocated to Fitzrovia last September. Joké was named Chef of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards and ranked at number 31 in the UK's Top 100 Restaurants. Earlier, she was titled Woman of the Year by Code Hospitality. Chishuru's set menu increased from £75 to £95 post-Michelin star, and the kitchen brigade grew from two to eight, many with Michelin experience.

🍝 Nikita Pathakji, the winner of "MasterChef: The Professionals" in 2022, is now the head chef at The Princess of Shoreditch gastropub, owned by Noble Inns Group. She replaces Thomas Lemercier, who left to lead La Bibliothèque. Pathakji, with past experience at two Michelin-starred Bibendum and one Michelin-starred Kitchen W8, brings a menu merging classical cooking with global flavors, featuring dishes like gazpacho with smoked anchovy and spanakopita with whipped feta.

📈 Fausto Maglia appointed as Chief Operating Officer at The Data Appeal Company, an Almawave Group firm. Previously, Maglia expanded the team at Casvo, transitioned the company to a marketplace model, and managed a large user base at Dixons Carphone in London. With an MBA and a Master's in Communication and Marketing, he brings technical and business expertise to drive strategic planning and operational improvements, aligning with The Data Appeal Company's 10th anniversary.

📱 Hospitality cloud specialist Mews names Michael Coscetta as president, previously chief revenue officer at Paxos and involved in Compass's 2021 IPO scaling revenues to $2B. Coscetta's role at Mews includes overseeing marketing, commercial, and customer success teams, based in Miami. CEO Matt Welle emphasizes Coscetta's experience in scaling businesses. Mews recently acquired HS3 Hotelsoftware and closed a $110 million funding round in March, marking significant company growth.