Human Resources

🏨 Rob Lees will manage Village Hotel Club's new site in Reading, opening in December. Located at the former Crowne Plaza at Caversham Bridge, this site is undergoing a multi-million-pound refurbishment, creating over 100 jobs. Lees, with 20 years in hospitality, previously managed Village Hotel Club Farnborough. The Reading hotel will feature a health club, event spaces, Starbucks, and a riverside Pub and Grill. Village is also Reading FC's hotel partner for the 2025–26 season.

💰 Marc Lemarchand joins Adagio as CFO and executive committee member. With a decade of experience at KFC France and former roles at Domino’s Pizza and Galileo Global Education France, Lemarchand will manage Adagio’s financial processes. Founded in 2007, Adagio is a joint venture between Accor and Pierre and Vacances Centre Parcs, operating 130 locations with 14,815 apartments across 15 countries. CEO Xavier Desaulles highlights Lemarchand’s expertise in network-based organizations during this growth phase.

📺 ITV offers businesses a cost-effective entry into TV advertising with a new platform in partnership with Streamr.ai. For just £200, companies can get their first TV ad made, overcoming traditional barriers of cost and complexity. Businesses can easily customize components like images and text. ITV also provides a bespoke proposal and incentivized introductory rates to help measure TV's impact, aiming to enhance brand awareness and attract new customers through both linear broadcast channels and streaming platform ITVX.

🏊 Cameron House, located on Loch Lomond, unveiled a £300,000 redesign of Cameron Spa, with a revamped indoor pool, hydro, and hot tubs, alongside new showers, and lockers. Café Spa extended hours to 9 am–5 pm. Gillian McGraffin, with 25+ years in the luxury spa sector, is the new Spa Director. The project enhances wellness offerings and reinforces Cameron House as a top Scottish luxury destination, boasting amenities like a rooftop infinity pool and diverse treatments.

📍 Olivier Thomas becomes the Managing Director of Raffles London at The OWO starting November 3, 2025. With over 30 years of luxury hotel experience across EMEA and the US, Thomas previously managed Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and held roles at Four Seasons and St. Regis. His appointment is seen as a continuation of excellence in luxury hospitality at this iconic London property.

💻 Oct 14, 2025, YOTEL’s new CEO, Phil Andreopoulos, formerly from Marriott, aims to double YOTEL’s portfolio to 15,000 rooms by 2030. Supported by Al-Bahar Group, YOTEL focuses on strategic markets, balancing expansion with innovation. Key strategies include enhancing loyalty systems, investing in staff, and maintaining a challenger identity. Andreopoulos leverages two decades of Marriott experience to tackle industry challenges like rising costs and labor shortages through automation and efficient design.

🍴 Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC) appointed by Conygar as the catering and events partner for Nottingham's 36-acre Island Quarter mixed-use development. RHC to oversee Cleaver & Wake restaurant, event space, and Binks Yard's outdoor terrace events. Christopher Ware of Conygar highlights RHC's role in growth plans, while CEO P.B Jacobse commits to enhancing Nottingham's dining and entertainment scene. RHC's UK experience spans Royal Albert Hall to Sky Garden.

🏨 Rocco Forte Hotels has appointed four new general managers across Europe. Anna Gricini will lead Hotel de la Ville in Rome starting 1 November; Maximilian von Reden will manage Hotel Amigo in Brussels from 3 November; Matteo Gentile will head Hotel Savoy in Florence from 3 November; and Ulrich Schwer will manage The Charles Hotel in Munich. Francesco Roccato will oversee The Carlton Milan's opening on 6 November. Rocco Forte Hotels, founded in 1996, operates 15 properties.

🛣 YOTEL, founded by Simon Woodroffe in 2007, opened its first hotel at Gatwick Airport. As of today, YOTEL operates 23 hotels globally, aiming for 15,000 rooms by 2030. Phil Andreopoulos, formerly of Marriott, is the new CEO. Supported by majority owner Al-Bahar Group, YOTEL focuses on innovation, tech, and strategic growth. Challenges include rising costs and labor shortages, while YOTEL leverages smart design and automation to adapt and thrive.