Human Resources

📈 Rosen College, at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, appoints Associate Professor Mehmet Altin as the HFTP Professor of Hospitality Financial Management and Technology. Altin has contributed over 80 scholarly publications to the field. Supported by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), this role focuses on bridging finance and technology in hospitality. Rosen College, globally ranked No. 1 in hospitality management by CEOWorld, enhances its academic strength with this professorship.

🏨 Pan Pacific Hotels Group appointed Celine Du as chief commercial and marketing officer amidst its expansion strategy. With over 30 years in luxury hospitality, Du will enhance commercial performance for Pan Pacific, Parkroyal Collection, and Parkroyal brands. She previously held senior roles at Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-La. CEO Choe Peng Sum praised her leadership and data-driven strategies. Du aims to boost performance and loyalty, following the group’s recent rebranding and focus on global presence.

🍴 Crerar Hotels appointed Sayan Bandyopadhyay as head chef at Thainstone House in Inverurie, Scotland. The 18th-century hotel introduced a new menu under his leadership. With over 20 years' experience, Bandyopadhyay previously worked at Hilton Aberdeen TECA. Thainstone House features the AA Rosette Green Lady restaurant and recently reopened Stockman’s Bar. The hotel also plans festive events, including Christmas parties and a Hogmanay gala in December.

📍 William Hunter has been appointed as general manager of The Derby London City, Curio Collection by Hilton. Opening in February 2026, this hotel marks the next evolution of Curio Collection’s lifestyle offering in London. Hunter’s 15-year career with Hilton included senior roles at The Westminster and The Trafalgar St. James London. He has appointed Edward Field as cluster director of sales and marketing and is recruiting an operations manager and head chef.

💻 David Angotti is the new Chief Digital Officer at Casago, a major vacation rental management company. Angotti, known for his work with SmokyMountains.com and StaySense, will lead Vacasa.com’s transformation into a top booking platform and oversee Casago's digital strategy. This appointment follows Casago's acquisition of Vacasa and its management of over 40,000 properties across North America, the Caribbean, Belize, and Costa Rica. Steve Schwab, CEO, highlights Angotti's expertise in technology and operations as crucial for future growth.

🍴 Bret Thorn, who hails from Denver and resides in Brooklyn, has been a food and beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999. He holds a history degree from Tufts University and studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu. Thorn wrote for The New York Sun from 2005-2008 and contributed to the Oxford Encyclopedia in 2012 and 2015. He received the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and led IFEC in 2005.

📖 JP Roberts has been appointed general manager of The Statler, a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel, located in downtown Dallas. Roberts brings extensive experience in managing U.S. hotels and resorts, including 21c Museum Hotels in St. Louis, Dream Hotels in Nashville, and Hotel Vandivort in Missouri. Built in 1956, The Statler is part of the Historic Hotels of America and famous for iconic performances by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and The Jackson 5. Managed by Stonebridge, it remains a significant landmark.

📈 Kartik Yellepeddi was appointed as the chief product officer at Duetto in San Diego, California. Yellepeddi will lead the evolution of Duetto’s platform into a Revenue and Profit Operating System (RP-OS). Previously, he held positions at FLYR, Deepair Solutions, Cirravia, and Sabre Airline Solutions. Duetto aims to connect revenue and operations through pricing, forecasting, and profit insights, leveraging advanced AI to optimize hotel profitability worldwide.

📈 Graham Dodd appointed as VP of development for Accor in the UK and Ireland, focusing on premium, midscale, and economy brands. With a background at Hilton and firms like Christie and Co, he will enhance brands such as Pullman, Novotel, and Ibis. Accor operates in over 110 countries with 5,700+ hotels and resorts. His appointment on 11 November 2025 aims to accelerate Accor's UK and Ireland growth.