WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the AHLA Foundation, and The BHN Group/Northstar Travel Group announced that Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group, will be the recipient of the 2026 Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. The honor recognizes exemplary leaders who advance positive societal change across the lodging industry and the communities it serves. The 2026 Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award will be presented at the Night of a Thousand Stars gala on January 25, 2026, and onsite at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) being held January 26 to 28, 2026, at the JW...

WHITWELL, TENN.—Bolt Farm Treehouse, the five-star adults-only glamping retreat, is excited to introduce its new Spa Director, Coleman Phillips, to the Tennessee mountaintops. Coleman has over 17 years of experience curating luxurious and memorable wellness offerings and is now bringing his expertise to Bolt Farm Treehouse’s LVV Couples Spa & Wellness Haven. “We are thrilled to have Coleman join our family here at Bolt Farm Treehouse and can already feel the passion, innovation, and boldness he brings to this new role,” said Seth Bolt, founder of Bolt Farm Treehouse. “We pride ourselves on bringing out-of-the-box ideas to life—from our first-to-market...

MIAMI—Starwood Hotels, the sustainable hotel brand management company founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, and includes 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, has appointed Stéphanie Segaux as Vice President of Development for the EMEA region. Based in Amsterdam, Segaux will spearhead Starwood Hotels’ development strategy in this key area of expansion, reporting to Chief Development Officer Abhay Bakaya and collaborating closely with regional teams to identify, shape, and execute new opportunities as the company enters its next phase of strategic global expansion. Segaux began her career with Starwood Hotels & Resorts before spending nearly a decade with Rosewood Hotel...

SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier organization dedicated to scholarships, education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, has named Chris Rice, Founder and President of Kellex Corp., as the 2025 NEWH ICON of Industry recipient. The organization’s most prestigious recognition, the ICON of Industry, is honored at the Gold Key Gala on November 10, 2025, in New York City in conjunction with BD|NY. The NEWH ICON of Industry award celebrates manufacturing leaders in hospitality, honoring those who have uniquely impacted the industry for more than 30 years through their innovative work, consistent dedication to the...

Name: Natily Santos Title: Vice President, Responsible Sourcing Company: Aramark + Avendra International Years in Current Position: Five years, 11 months Primary Responsibilities: As Vice President of Responsible Sourcing at Aramark + Avendra International, she drives sustainable procurement and inclusive sourcing initiatives that have contributed to advancing sustainable practices for operators and clients, as well as generated over $1 billion in economic impact through Aramark partnerships with small and underrepresented suppliers. Company’s most significant accomplishment in sustainability: “There’s no single initiative; we continue to expand and track progress across all programs annually, while identifying new opportunities for improvement. This year, we’ve prioritized growing the Avendra...

MIAMI—Starwood Hotels, the hotel brand management company behind 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, announces the appointment of Gonzalo Bustamante as Senior Vice President of Design. With more than two decades of visionary design leadership, Bustamante will spearhead the next chapter of Starwood Hotels’ design legacy. Bustamante’s experience spans both intimate boutique hotels and major global groups, blending personalized sophistication with the expertise to deliver large-scale, iconic destinations. He previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Design and Development at MGM Resorts International where he oversaw multi-billion-dollar projects across multiple continents, including the landmark $10 billion MGM...

CHICAGO—Hyatt Hotels Corp. President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian was recognized with the Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award at the 16th Annual Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator Awards Celebration, honoring Mark’s visionary leadership and contributions to both Hyatt and the hospitality industry at large. Throughout his eighteen-year CEO tenure at Hyatt, Mark’s dedication has created a lasting impact on the hospitality industry and people around the world. During the award ceremony in New York, Mark shared that Hyatt is proudly renewing its RiseHY commitment beyond 2025 with an expanded goal of Hyatt and Hyatt hotels hiring 5,000 more Opportunity...

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS—Hotels for Trees, a nonprofit organization advancing sustainability in the hospitality industry, announces the appointment of Daniel Johnson as Partnerships Officer – Technology. Johnson, a seasoned hotel technology executive and cybersecurity expert, will play a key role in accelerating the organization’s mission of planting trees in exchange for reduced hotel room cleanings through smart technology integrations. Hotels for Trees works with hotels to offer their guests the option to skip daily room cleaning in favor of planting a tree, with each selection resulting in a direct tree donation. This initiative not only reduces the environmental footprint of daily operations but...

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK—Starwood Hotels, the hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, announces the appointment of two key leaders to support the highly anticipated 1 Hotel Copenhagen, set to open next month. Isabella Gunnarsson will serve as Commercial Director, and Asbjørn Rytter joins as Director of Sales, marking a significant step in the brand’s expansion into Europe. Gunnarsson has been promoted to Commercial Director for 1 Hotel Copenhagen, where she will lead all commercial operations, including sales, revenue management, and business development. Gunnarsson spent over a decade with Skt. Petri Hotel, playing a key role...

DALLAS—The Hilton Anatole recently announced the appointment of Josh Franklin as Director of Wellness and Recreation. A seasoned leader in luxury hospitality, Franklin’s background includes designing high-impact wellness programs and innovative recreation experiences. In his new role, Franklin will oversee all wellness, recreation and fitness operations, including the renowned JadeWaters Resort Pool Complex and Verandah Athletic Club & Spa. He will also lead the development of innovative wellness initiatives, guest experiences and revenue-generating programs tailored to business and leisure travelers alike. Franklin joins the Hilton Anatole following leadership roles at Reynolds Outfitters at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, and Hotel del...